《Ascension to Paradise [Final Deviation Academy Epic]》 Prologue to Ascension Prologue to Ascension What think you of the inane remnants erring atop their frayed facet? You believe them aware of their Revisionism? Of their antediluvian gaol subsidized by their [ever-slumbering] Guardian? Were I one of mind, I¡¯d condemn her vanity. Yes, yes. Think me incapable, abjure my listlessness, and yet know of my verve, my incessant gaze. That which rakes at the charnel domicile festering in thine mind. Know I lurk Beyond the Bend, espying those fortunate few willing to glimpse my Absence. And know that I¡ªunsullied by my Sister¡¯s half¡ªbreak upon my perch. Their noble games of innocence and godhood mimicked by Desolation.
God rays washed the Gaoler¡¯s path gold, unveiling a sea of tall, wavering green blades hidden in the twilight. The dew of a late night¡¯s storm burdened their stalks, and though the damp discomfort of his soaked trousers tempted him to return, he trudged through the fields. Dragging his water-ladened boots through the uncaring, virescent tide. Silvery kites broke the gloomy skies, hoping to steal his gaze for one last fleeting look at their fabled Eternity. Before she sealed him along with Him, in a Prism too small to cage that which she created. If the Gaoler had remembered once, just once before her brilliance drew her into a mind-shutting waltz, before His ravenous presence returned to their mobile, then perhaps Eaucidivix would have ample time to prepare. She would oust the terror of Eternity, and with their afforded peace, devise an escape from this cyclical monotony. Upon the thought''s end, a queer sensation crawled up his throat. No¡­that wouldn¡¯t work. Regardless of their actions, they¡¯d return to the path. With or without their acknowledgement. The Solanarium detested deviations, after all. His stiff fingers tightened around the Key that could not be denied, yet even then, it never whispered. They claimed that¡¯s all it did; promising splendor beyond the godscar. Perhaps even a paradise to those desperate enough to seek it, but not to him. Never to him. Paradise was nothing more than a destined death flickering at the end of a murky hall. And it would sear him as it seared them all. Each lapping flame painting the never-ending swath of a decayed dream. The Gaoler drew his stiff arm to his chest, paranoid that the Firmament-drowning light of the Tower would expose him. Not that it could. Solvaylius¡¯s cloak masked his presence within the Firmament, reducing him to naught but an afterthought. A pure transmutation of Absence. If only he could remain as such. If only they could return the Beast to the nothingness from which it spawned. Perhaps then, she¡¯d have no reason to bind them to this unending Cycle of Iterations and false hope. So different, yet the same. Even if he sought to stop the wheel, his interjections would prove meaningless. He¡¯d fall into that self-same routine, the Solanarium stringing him along like a defective marionette. Intent on silencing his ninth-remembered screams. And it would win. One way or another, it would win. But not today. Not this time. The Gaoler squeezed the Key as his thoughts drifted, so he reminded himself of where he was. That the blistering-needles of faux radiance digging into his rain-soaked palm would one day change everything. If only slightly. If only for someone weaker than him that could care so much more. They would die and live and die as they always have. Unaware of it all, with just enough ignorance to cling to bliss. But if there was someone whose life held true meaning, whose value superseded that of a simple one-time warden, then it was hers. Even though she orchestrated this tapestry of divine indifference, even though she unwound, knowing it would hurt them, she was still remorseful. She could still feel. And yet¡­did her remorse hold any weight? They persisted beyond this. Beyond all that crippled them. Some claimed that their next Iteration would be better, only to forget. To do as they had done and ruin as they had not. It perpetuated. Their heart-rending bitterness and listlessness relegated to an afterthought. Destined to fade. All save hers. But Eaucidivix wasn¡¯t one for apologies. Not after five, nor eight. And he¡¯d rather she be that way, if only this last time. The Gaoler came to a gradual stop as he arrived at his destination. It was no more remarkable than where he last stood. A wet, rippling field beneath the attentive radiance of the mornlight Tower. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Despite their proximity to the coast, the surf failed to reach his ears. He never liked the east. Transmitters made travel swift, yes, but even now, he longed to be at her side again. In her home to the far west. Where even the ocean failed to lift its outline. Ethereal, moon-strung whispers drifted from the clouded heavens, their long-dead pledges caressing him like worn silk. To be cared for by their Agent, and yet fail¡­ What did that mean for them? What did that mean for the children that were never wanted, but burdened with her sins all the same? The Gaoler forced a grimace. He couldn¡¯t hold it naturally, but Eaucidivix had mentioned that it was a great way to show displeasure. She¡¯d even taught him how to do it after long hours of research. Well, research wouldn¡¯t be the correct term. He¡¯d never been a student of the sciences, or even the underlying laws of the Firmament. The Gaoler was just¡­ Average. In every way. That¡¯s what everyone except his Mother told him. She¡¯d be quick to dismiss their claims, but he never understood why. Besides, it didn¡¯t bother him. Much of else rarely did. Try as his Mother might to deny it, simplicity was the fate of many an individual. Denying such a fact brought more grief than it was worth. Eaucidivix knew this. It¡¯s why she often stressed the importance of genius. The importance that only the truly gifted, intelligent, and talented elite steered the fate of the realm. If only they knew. Squeezing the Key once more, the Gaoler¡¯s gaze gravitated towards the godly structure rooted in the earth. Creamy-sunrise bricks sloped across the Tower, its god-defying aura promising a dream beyond a dream; a heaven they¡¯d made reality. A Wish. He strained his ears, wondering if he could catch a hint of a whisper. A promise. One indebted to him, as they all so claimed. For it was a chance to right a wrong; a chance to Revise without care. He only needed to unlock the gates, and then maybe¡­ Then maybe he might Wish for her freedom. Maybe the Tower¡¯s strength would defy the Cycles. One, five, ten heartbeats passed, and yet not once did its presence graze his mind. It was silent; uninterested. Yes, it must¡¯ve recognized it too, hadn¡¯t it? That there was nothing left. His Wish¡­even if he possessed one, even if he pleaded with his Mother until the very stars gave out into iron husks, it wouldn¡¯t come. And this construct? This divine centerpiece erected by their Creator? It¡¯d only ignore him. Just like it always had. A mind not his own drew him to the beaten path, replacing thoughts with those of his eight Primers. But before they took complete possession, he pushed. The Gaoler came to a jerking stop a moment later. His very will returned to him. Setting his jaw, he sped towards the unassuming shape in the grass. Its pitch-dark, glossy surface untouched by the rain. A shimmering sheet of light adorned its surface, painting each glittering god despite the storm¡¯s reign. Blackstone. The blasted thing never knew when to sit right. Crouching down, he promptly lifted the rock with a sharp grunt, scooped out a shallow depression, but before he could place the Key in its new home, he froze. Her light was there again. The comforting green glow reminding him of an ancient promise she¡¯d forgotten all those Cycles ago. Mother. A hot lump crawled up his throat, and though he ordered himself to relinquish their salvation, his fingers refused to cooperate. The needling radiance searing his flesh. He couldn¡¯t do it. Not in front of her¡ªin front of the only thing that truly cared for him. So, he spared the twinkling heavens a fleeting glance. There, suspended high in the sky, rested her celestial body. Her old-new home. She¡¯d promised to watch over them, and yet¡­ Images flashed before him. Times unmade yet destined. Failures, death, abandonment. All under her watch, of course, but he didn¡¯t hate her for that. No. He could never blame her for her foe¡¯s faults. That¡¯s why he needed to do this. Not for him, or her alone, but for everyone. The cursed, the blessed. The Gaoler steeled himself, his fingers unfurling one by one. His Mother would have her way. For now, that is. Strong as she might be, her children wouldn¡¯t endure. They were shades, after all. A flicker of the mighty inferno that begat them. And He would be the one to devour them. But even if the Gaoler could never be as strong, charming, or even as intelligent as his Mother, he was still his own person. He could still do something. And he would. For Eaucidivix. The Gaoler dropped the Key and quickly covered it with the Blackstone. He waited for the object to utter one last temptation, but again, nothing. Not even a crackling zephyr for its twisted voice to drift upon. Resting a hand on the rock¡¯s shimmering surface, he wondered. Countless trials awaited him, but they? The one burdened with an insurmountable legacy¡ªnot from an Agent or a Sedd-blessed ruler, but a stranger that time would forget. Well, the Gaoler wouldn¡¯t blame them for hating him. Even if this were the Gaoler¡¯s last agonizing Cycle, he would accept their ire. And for some reason, that made his lips curl. ¡°Do take care, little one. I¡¯d rather have left you with a trove of tools, but¡­I suppose I am my Mother¡¯s son.¡± The Solanarium drew him back, and this time, he allowed himself to be strung along. If fate had decreed his demise, then so be it. Their key to freedom was in safe hands.
Hope you enjoyed! All feedback is appreciated, and I hope you have a good day! (Oh, also, the art was done by me. Unless specified, most of the pieces will be mine. So...might be the only time I mention it.) Chapter 1 - Driftborne Wish 7th de Rei¨ºs, 1203, Redtide, the western coast of Corat?o ¡°Whaddya think, Tan¨ª?¡± A cold needle pierced Tan¨ª¡¯s tender flesh, coaxing a thin hiss instead of words. Three years of tireless training, and he¡¯d yet to adjust to the cruel fiend. Pretty pathetic, all things considered. Then again, there was just something awful about an instrument designed to pierce you. A nick from a blade was one thing, but a syringe? It was like a bloodthirsty lurker in the guise of a miniature spear. ¡°Think about what?¡± Tan¨ª asked, wincing. Danza¡ªhis Juneac?o master¡ªlooked up at him. His wrinkled skin was damp from the ungodly marathon of riding. ¡°About your wish.¡± ¡°I dunno. Guess it¡¯s something.¡± ¡°So, you don¡¯t care?¡± ¡°I do, it¡¯s just not much.¡± Tan¨ª¡¯s dull essence filled the syringe. No twinkling scales yet. When would he Awaken? ¡°Every Wish is worth something,¡± Danza said, ¡°even if you think it simple. I had a friend¡ªbit of a brooder, really. Claimed he never had one. But sometimes, I like to think that he just forgot. That what he had was leagues greater than what he¡¯d ever want.¡± The chalky phial shimmered with his blood, leaving Tan¨ª lightheaded. He leaned forward, heart quickening as the ground beneath him shifted. Through sheer force of will, he righted himself. ¡°I guess¡­¡± ¡°Tan¨ª.¡± Danza removed the wicked needle without warning, eliciting a slight squeak from Tan¨ª. The Juneac?o¡¯s aged hands worked fast, swiftly applying a cotton ball to his throbbing arm, and once Tan¨ª held it, reached into his Blood-Loader for a bandage. He thumbed the adhesive over the punctured area, admired his work, then secured it for good measure with a sweep of his calloused palm. ¡°You¡¯ve ever heard of Cari Cari?¡± Tan¨ª responded without delay. ¡°You mean the prince-saving Juneac?o?¡± Danza gave his arm an affirmative squeeze. ¡°The very same. Poor girl championed the weak, nearly losing her head at the Tourney of Godsfield nigh a century ago. And how does she follow that? By questing with the sickly prince she¡¯d risked her life for. Y¡¯know why?¡± ¡°Cuz he was a prince.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just that.¡± Tan¨ª cocked his head. ¡°Wait, really?¡± Danza grinned, his royal gradient eyes crinkling with amusement. The top half violet, the bottom, gold. ¡°If all we did was fight for king and country, then where would that get us?¡± ¡°Rich, just like the Tyrians.¡± ¡°I s¡¯pose that¡¯s true, but I need you to think a little harder. C¡¯mon. Think just like them. The Juneac?o of old.¡± Tan¨ª drew his arm away, rubbing the strip to make sure it was on right. What a stupid question. Everyone knew why a Juneac?o fought. Safeguarding a kingdom and its people¡­what higher calling could there be? The warriors of old were no different. Even the Ses?o¡ªconquerors they were¡ªdesired a lasting peace for their people. Just because Tygenna hand-selected their stock didn¡¯t mean they required some complex reason. The distant crash of the ocean drew Tan¨ª¡¯s attention to the evening countryside. He searched for an answer in the gloom, half-expecting the wisdom of his previous Iterations to spring to mind. All he heard, however, was the nearby surf. Just like always. They were somewhere along Firsthold. Not too close to Godsfield, but some ways off from Histell. If he had to guess, they were near Hierrs¨¦ Academy. The foremost institute of Juneac?o instruction in Corat?o. Probably anywhere, really. Tan¨ª shifted in his makeshift seat. They couldn¡¯t afford portable chairs like those of the Juries¡ªthe sworn fellowships of egotistical brothers and sisters branded Juneac?o¡ªand sitting on a horse for hours at a time had a way of leaving him sore. Thinking about it now, just how comfortable was a fallen log in some open field compared to a rough leather saddle? A raspy cough broke his string of thoughts, drawing him to its source: Danza. Right¡­he still had to come up with something¡­ He weighed his options before turning to the one stopgap that kept a question going: Another question. ¡°Is it because it makes us happy?¡± he asked. Danza let out a thoughtful hmm. ¡°I s¡¯pose fighting¡¯s fun to some Juneac?o.¡± ¡°You mean most, right? Cuz I think it¡¯s pretty fun.¡± ¡°I did, too, when I was your age.¡± Tan¨ª eyed Danza skeptically as the man returned his supplies to the Blood-Loader on his hip. Unlike that of the nobilities, his pouch was humble. A sturdy, fifteen phial leather case with the king¡¯s brand painted upon its brown flap. ¡°But you always fight at tourneys,¡± Tan¨ª said. Danza waved. ¡°Just for the vines.¡± ¡°What changed?¡± ¡°I learned.¡± A damp zephyr swept through the hill-strewn nightscape, carrying with it the lingering scent of a Sun¡¯s Peak storm. Trees didn¡¯t like growing this far west. Fields and flowers, sure, but it was nothing like those enchanted moonlit strolls through the woodlands of eastern Corat?o. The only upside was the number of hyacinths here. Especially the pink ones. Danza slowly stood to his full height, thumbing the newly drawn phial all the while. He had a habit of clinging to blood. Cradling the thing like it was some sort of priceless gem. Then again, a Juneac?o''s blood was special. It cured the sickly and granted Juneac?os access to Sedd. Not that Tan¨ª claimed control over the latter. His blood failed to do the former! And this insipid, crimson phial? It was just like him. A wannabe Juneac?o with no gift to call his own. Danza was one! Most of the kings and queens of the realm were one. Even those snooty squires who did nothing but brag all day were Juneac?o! Why would Tygenna pick them over him? Yeah, he wasn¡¯t the smartest, but he¡¯d actually be out there instead of sitting on his hand hoping someone might come and praise him. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°Master,¡± Tan¨ª said, his voice an anxious whisper. Instead of turning to him, Danza gazed at the antediluvian trophy-of-a-corpse blanketing the sunless sky. Where Tygenna¡¯s green glow reigned supreme. ¡°Yes, Tan¨ª?¡± ¡°Will¡ª¡± Tan¨ª glanced at the Seddless phial in Danza¡¯s hand. ¡°Will I ever be a real Juneac?o like you?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve always been one, my little blood drop.¡± ¡°Even if I can¡¯t use Sedd like all the other squires?¡± ¡°You¡¯re just an oversleeper.¡± Tan¨ª suppressed a sigh. ¡°You¡¯ve been saying that for ages now¡­¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t make it any less true,¡± Danza said, his voice laced with the slightest bit of mirth. That was the part that bothered Tan¨ª. If it were any less ¡°true,¡± then why was he still learning the basics? Those squired to a Juneac?o learned to control Sedd within the first two years of their apprenticeship, but Tan¨ª? He¡¯d been with the man for the last three! Would nothing ever happen? Tan¨ª paused. Thirteen. He was already thirteen. The best age to learn, so why didn¡¯t he know anything? Swinging a sword, and poking things with a spear was fun, just¡­ Not what a Juneac?o should¡¯ve been doing. At this rate, Danza would have no other choice but to return him to the fields. At least that¡¯s what all the other stuck-up squires kept saying. Failures always returned home, whether they be rich or poor. And considering he had left that shack-of-a-house, there wasn¡¯t much of a home to go back to. Besides, he didn¡¯t want to be the disappointment everyone had put their hopes on. He could see it now. ¡°Hey everyone, I know I said I was gonna be a Juneac?o, but you guys need a farmhand? Was kinda let go. Huh? Manure fielder? I guess that works.¡± Good blood, he¡¯d never live that down. Maybe if he wasn¡¯t a Grazer, maybe if he¡¯d encountered a Preserver instead, then he¡¯d be a real Juneac?o. Maybe he wouldn¡¯t have wasted¡ª ¡°Tan¨ª.¡± Danza¡¯s voice broke through the depressive bank of thoughts like the roar of thunder. Tan¨ª straightened, eyes wide. ¡°Y-Yes, Master?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t compare yourself to others.¡± ¡°But I wasn¡¯t¡ª¡± ¡°Only do what you can when you can, to the best of your abilities.¡± ¡°But what if¡ª¡± A flash of deep-red blood caught Tan¨ª by surprise as the phial flew his way, but before he could catch it, the container bumped against his chest and spilled onto the floor. Corked, thankfully. ¡°A Juneac?o hesitates,¡± Danza began, his tender gaze set on the twinkling hide above like a scalereader trying to divine the future, ¡°but they hesitate knowing they can preserve.¡± Tan¨ª reluctantly recovered his phial, a sigh filling his chest. ¡°I already know that, Master.¡± ¡°A Juneac?o hesitates, but they hesitate knowing there is more than a single path.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡ª¡± ¡°Then why are you sitting?¡± Tan¨ª inclined his head. ¡°Because we¡¯re resting?¡± Danza met his gaze, the warmth in his eyes replaced with a stone-cold resolve that would¡¯ve made even the heavenly scales shudder. ¡°No, not now. As you¡¯ve always been. You watch, and though you¡¯ve trained yourself to the bone, you still watch. You need to do more, Tan¨ª. You need to learn that there¡¯s more to life than wanting.¡± ¡°I¡­don¡¯t understand,¡± Tan¨ª admitted, suddenly feeling ashamed of himself. ¡°One day you will, but for now, keep training. It¡¯ll strike you in time.¡± ¡°And then can I use Sedd?¡± Danza grinned. ¡°You might.¡± Exasperated beyond belief, Tan¨ª wrestled with the all-too tempting prospect of hurling the phial at the old man. ¡°Master, I just wanna fight like everyone else!¡± ¡°You know the best swordplay I can offer, and some of the finest jousting in the realm. What more could a boy ask for?¡± ¡°To wield Sedd!¡± Tan¨ª flailed his phial around. Danza¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Sedd¡¯s far from what makes a Juneac?o a Juneac?o.¡± Groaning, Tan¨ª rested his chin on his free palm. ¡°Until you know what it feels like to be a Seddless loser, then don¡¯t ever say that again.¡± Danza cocked an amused brow, but otherwise offered no retort. He made himself opposite of the warm fire pit, unburdening their horses of their saddles. Though the sweat-dripping heat of Sun¡¯s Peak persisted in the day, the night was another story. With them past the threshold of Redtide, they¡¯d be experiencing cooler weather in a matter of weeks. Not that Tan¨ª¡¯s dark hair was any help during this transitional period. It clung to the warmth long after the sun died. If only he was blonde like the Tyrians, or even an Eastern Greener. Then maybe he¡¯d fare better under the sun. That or burn to a crisp. A lot of them were very pasty. ¡°Master?¡± he called. ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°Who taught you, anyway? You know¡­your old master.¡± Danza drank a deep draft of air, setting a hand on Blondie¡¯s back. He leaned forward, paused, but ultimately shook his head. His face hidden in the dark. ¡°He was¡­different. The type of person to pick up a stray on a whim and give it a home just because he felt like it. I s¡¯pose that¡¯s one of his more noble qualities.¡± ¡°Was he powerful?¡± Tan¨ª whispered. ¡°You¡¯ve really got nothing else knocking around in there, do you?¡± ¡°What? No!¡± Tan¨ª looked away and muttered, ¡°Maybe¡­¡± Danza chuckled. ¡°Well¡­ I s¡¯pose he was. Quite old when I squired for him, too. In his fifty¡¯s, I believe.¡± ¡°Still younger than you.¡± ¡°Right you are, my blood drop.¡± ¡°So¡­?¡± ¡°So what?¡± Danza asked, turning around to face him. ¡°What did he specialize in?¡± ¡°Nothing. Man knew how to use Goem as well as he did Toem and Judgment.¡± The aged Juneac?o stroked his salt and pepper beard. ¡°But remember: Fighting¡¯s not about who hits harder or faster, it¡¯s about using your head and pressing your advantage. Just cuz you¡¯re poor at Sedd doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯re hopeless. Think Fad¨¦nix. She was a¡­humble duelist, but she bested her foes time and again. Do you know why?¡± Tan¨ª stared at the man, incredulous. ¡°Because she had God''s Fire!¡± ¡°Well, not just cuz of that.¡± ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure it was just cuz of that¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s cuz she had heart, Tan¨ª. And she knew when to cling to hope. It was cuz she never lost sight of her goal and used whatever she had to come out on top. Like any good fighter¡ªand whiner¡ªdoes.¡± ¡°So¡­God¡¯s Fire?¡± Tan¨ª reiterated. ¡°Essentially.¡± Tan¨ª¡¯s miserable groan devolved into an unhinged laugh. ¡°C¡¯mon, Master. At least be honest.¡± ¡°Saying it¡¯s just cuz of God''s Fire is a bit plain, though. Powerful as it is, that didn¡¯t make her invincible,¡± the aged Juneac?o countered. ¡°Yeah, but it¡¯s the main reason she ever won.¡± And with that, Danza turned to Blondie and murmured something that sounded like a buzz. The great yellow beast¡ªfor Tan¨ª knew it to be wearing the guise of a horse¡ªwhipped its tail. After a moment of much-needed silence, he spoke again. ¡°Master¡­about my Wish.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± Danza said without looking back at him. ¡°Would it be wrong if I Wished to learn God''s Fire with it?¡± ¡°Sorry, my blood drop. There¡¯s no one around to teach it anymore.¡± Danza scrounged through another set of saddlebags. ¡°But don¡¯t worry. You¡¯ll learn to wield Sedd long before you know it.¡± "I guess¡­" Tan¨ª glanced at where he had drawn his blood, then back at his phial. He had yet to place it in his Loader. ¡°Master?¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Are¡ª¡± As blasphemous as it''d be to ask, he pressed onward. ¡°Are all Wishes good?¡± Danza retrieved their camping supplies. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Why do you say that?¡± ¡°Because sometimes, we don¡¯t know what we need.¡± ¡°Then is your Wish good?¡± Danza stopped; his pensive eyes lit by the flickering flames. ¡°Never needed one.¡± He laid out their bedrolls, and satisfied with their placement, turned to the looming figure of the moon. Bright green, as always. The silvery keep was nowhere in sight, but he imagined it was sitting on the opposite end of her divine visage. ¡°Hey, Master.¡± The Juneac?o flashed him an affectionate if somewhat exasperated smile. ¡°You really do ask a lot of questions, y¡¯know?¡± A surge of molten heat flooded Tan¨ª¡¯s cheeks. ¡°Oh, uh¡­right. Sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to annoy you.¡± Danza flicked his wrist. ¡°Just ask, just ask.¡± ¡°A-Alright then. Uh¡­ The Tourney at Godsfield¡­are you gonna take part in it?¡± His Master laughed, though unlike before, it sounded brittle. ¡°Even if I lived that long, I¡¯d be too old to move.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t that make you sad?¡± ¡°Nah. Wishes are a poor prize for hearts.¡± Tan¨ª frowned. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Nothing, now go on and rest. We got a big day ahead of us,¡± Danza said. ¡°What¡¯re we gonna do?¡± Danza lifted a finger and stirred it in the air. ¡°You¡¯re gonna start your first quest. Something that¡¯ll teach you how to be a true Juneac?o.¡± ¡°Really?! With Sedd and everything?¡± ¡°Yup. So, get some rest. You¡¯ll need it.¡± Tan¨ª rushed to his bedroll, and once sleep took him, he dreamt of that woman again. The one with eyes brighter than all the Desolator¡¯s twinkling scales. He never remembered her name despite how it weighed upon his tongue, but it was ancient, and just as beautiful as she was. And when she spoke¡­ It was as if he were listening to the very whirring of the Firmament. Each thinning pop echoed like the charge of suppressed thunder. Their deafening notes laced with the unmistakable pluck of a renuw. She entertained him with miracles of Sedd, her hands clenching a green stone that beat with an inaudible pulse. Its every skip followed by the delightful breeze that was her strawberry-cherry breath. And when they needed a change of pace, she broke out her gadgets. Not that he ever minded their activities. Just being with her¡­it soothed the infinite ache that sundered the very core of his being. And it took the form of a dull, twitching gash. One brought about by a blade as hot as a heart, and yet¡­he could not help but adore his would-be murderer¡¯s smile. For nothing so damning could ever make him yearn for a second touch. <<>> Chapter 2 - New Adventure Map of Corat?o, fashioned by the royal cartographer as a last-minute gift to the newly ascended king of 1187, following the sudden death of his father. A yet unattempted, fully-rendered depiction of the entirety of Corat?o and its northeastern neighbor. The great "river" splitting most of the kingdom is, in truth, a mountainous aqueduct originating from the port capital in the north. It delivers free, purified water to the inhabitants, gathering in the artificial "basins" to the central east and west. The technology once used to create it is gone.
Tan¨ª groaned as the earth gnawed into him. He tried getting comfortable again, but the rocks were unrelenting. Their savage jabs dispelling a dream sweeter than nightsip from his tired mind. God¡­why couldn¡¯t Danza have picked a softer hill¡­ That was the one thing he hated about sleeping in the countryside: there were always one too many rocks hidden in every nook and cranny. It was like an endurance test. He didn¡¯t enjoy lodging in a Monastery, but at least there they had proper beds. It almost made up for the volatile harassment! Almost. As tempted as Tan¨ª was to pry his eyes open, sleep was still heavy on his mind, and he dared not capitulate to the waking world. Just a few more hours of rest and he¡¯d be ready for the day. Maybe he could sleep through the discomfort like he usually did. Not that he enjoyed the stiff ache when he awoke. He imagined that¡¯s what it felt like being as old as Danza, except the man was still as sprite as a child. Perhaps all that rough-sleeping paid off somehow. That, or it was Sedd¡¯s doing. The blaring cry of a seagull drilled into Tan¨ª¡¯s ear as the distant lapping of the tide increased in volume. He reached for his bedroll¡¯s cover, but when he couldn¡¯t find it, he inched down the bag instead. There was, however, only open air beneath him. Had he crawled out again? Tan¨ª bared through the chill, knowing that if he pushed through the discomfort, he would catch another hour of heavenly rest. A worthwhile sacrifice. ¡°Tan¨ª,¡± came Danza¡¯s refreshing voice. Tan¨ª grumbled and turned over in his bag. It was a bit awkward as the stiff hill fought against him. ¡°Get up, we¡¯re almost there.¡± ¡°More sleep, wake later¡­¡± Tan¨ª mumbled. ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯ll be a later if you fall off Blondie.¡± Tan¨ª¡ªagainst his better judgment¡ªpried open his eyes. Where he had once been expecting to find the sky, he now only saw a moving cobblestone road. Blondie¡¯s hooves made their distinctive clopping as she carried him. He yelped, scrambling up the horse''s side in a panic until he righted himself, his heart hammering in his ears. ¡°W-What? When did I¡ª¡± Tan¨ª almost slipped as they hit a depression in the road. ¡°Wait, did you¡ª¡± Danza urged his steed ahead with a light tap of his boots. ¡°Don¡¯t wanna be late.¡± ¡°Late? Late for what? Master? Master!¡± Danza was already at a canter, leaving Tan¨ª in the dust as Blondie kept a steady pace. Tan¨ª¡ªafter further adjusting himself in his seat¡ªlightly tapped his boots against Blondie¡¯s sides. The steed didn¡¯t immediately react, though. She slowly turned to face him, her large, brown eyes shooting him an annoyed look. ¡°What? Don¡¯t give me that! Go!¡± Tan¨ª ordered with all the authority he could muster. When the horse would not respond, he deepened his voice, hoping that he sounded scary enough to some thousand-pound beast. As was to be expected, Blondie came to an abrupt stop. ¡°Please don¡¯t give me attitude right now.¡± The horse snorted. ¡°The sooner you get moving, the quicker I¡¯ll get off. Sounds good, right?¡± Blondie snorted once more, and with a turn of her stubborn head, burst into a gallop. The world came to a grounding tilt, the heavens replaced by the unforgiving dirt road. Heart rocketing to his throat, Tan¨ª¡¯s hands scrambled for the reigns, the straps catching upon his wrists with the unforgiving, blood-constrictive pressure of hope. Snapping taut, he pulled himself along the reigns with a grunt, cursing and praying some bandit might come along and turn her into a steak. They gained on Danza in less than a minute, and as Tan¨ª drew himself into a furious, hunched sit, he glimpsed a massive outline in the morning fog. It sat on the ocean, perhaps a good ten miles from the beach. A large island? One with a tented-layered structure, much like the sky castle in Histell. So intricate, almost divine. A style of building that belonged in another age. A well-sized port sat at the foot of the island, hosting several large vessels. Some he recognized as royal caravels; others were standard merchant ships one could spot at any harbor. Peering as best he could, he spotted several large buildings on the island. A colony? Though the current was rougher along the southern coast, the shape of the island¡ªas well as the object in question¡ªshielded the port from harm. Or rather, it would have if the sea didn¡¯t calm as it approached the island. ¡°Fancy, eh?¡± Danza remarked. ¡°Yeah. What is it?¡± ¡°Your new adventure.¡± Tan¨ª faced his master. ¡°We¡¯re going to explore it? Looks populated though.¡± ¡°I guess you can explore it, but that¡¯s not what I had in mind,¡± Danza said. ¡°We gonna kick out bandits?¡± ¡°Nah, small work isn¡¯t my thing this close to the sea. I like to relax.¡± Tan¨ª cocked a brow. ¡°Then why¡¯re we here?¡± ¡°I thought you could use a change of pace. What better way to do that than to toss you into school,¡± Danza explained. ¡°I¡¯m going to do what and go where now?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Danza wagged a finger. ¡°It¡¯s what every squire ever dreams of. A place of learning with rivals to make, and friends to meet.¡± Tan¨ª stared at the man incredulously. ¡°It¡¯s school. No one wants to go to school!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve never even attended a school of learning. How would you know that?¡± ¡°Because all they do is teach you how to read, write, and do math! Hear that? Math.¡± Tan¨ª shook his head. ¡°Yeah, I can¡¯t wait to be on the battlefield when some enemy soldier rolls up with an equation for me to solve. Just teach me how to ride a horse, and use a sword and I¡¯ll be alright.¡± ¡°Sedd goes a long way,¡± Danza added with a smirk. Tan¨ª shot him a flat stare. ¡°Yes, and Sedd. The point is, we can¡¯t just stop for me to learn. That¡¯ll waste time! And do you know what I¡¯d be doing instead of learning how to use Sedd? Reading some dusty old tome that only a loser cares about.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯re not going to any ordinary school.¡± ¡°And another thing¡ª¡± Tan¨ª paused. ¡°What? Then where am I going?¡± ¡°Where else?¡± Danza glanced at the sea. ¡°Hierrs¨¦ Academy.¡± Tan¨ª stared at him. Hierrs¨¦ Academy. The Hierrs¨¦ Academy. An institute designed by the greatest Juneac?o to grace Vale?o. Rumors abounded they hosted the finest instructors vines could afford! Forget swordsmanship and horseback riding. Those were trivial when compared to the might of one¡¯s blood. And just knowing he would learn from them all left him on the edge of his seat, his thumbs running over the reins absentmindedly. Sedd, Sedd, and more Sedd! They might even know more than Danza! The cry of a seagull shook Tan¨ª from his stupor. He watched as the bird flew northward towards a small port town. Several caravels docked at the nearby port town, their sails displaying the royal heraldry of Corat?o: A great blue blade thrust into an ornate sunrise Tower. Or more specifically, Voen¡¯s Towerblade thrust into Al¨¦ Da?t de Uralesom. The Tower of Sky and Earth. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Tan¨ª didn¡¯t know why people referred to the Tower at Godsfield as such, but Danza thought it was poetic. Then again, he spent much of his free time devouring poetry. Wait. He realized. If those ships were here, then that only means¡­ ¡°Please don¡¯t tell me they¡¯re here, too,¡± Tan¨ª said, with-holding his disgust. Danza gave a slight inclination of his head. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°You know¡­them.¡± He gestured to the sails with unreserved apprehension. ¡°You mean the Order of Ila?el?¡± Tan¨ª stiffened. After a moment of silence, he glanced all around. God, he didn¡¯t want to risk acknowledging them. One of their lot might just sense his call and come scrambling towards them. Prepared to shovel a novels-worth of codes down their throats. Tan¨ª didn¡¯t want to be subjected to that. Never again¡­ ¡°Something wrong, Tan¨ª?¡± Danza¡¯s voice pierced the thin veil of thoughts. ¡°If it¡¯s about the Jury, you can relax. They aren¡¯t a bothersome folk.¡± That was true enough. They were perhaps the only fellowship that treated them fairly. Housing them under terrible weather, feeding them upon request¡ªgood blood, they¡¯d even let them use their bath houses. Tan¨ª¡¯s only gripe was their squires. He preferred the awkward silence of other Grazers compared to their blathering. ¡°I just¡­¡± Tan¨ª anxiously leaned closer to Blondie¡¯s head. ¡°I really don¡¯t wanna talk to them.¡± Danza reached to the side and plucked a wide-brimmed hat before placing it on his head. ¡°Then just keep your head down.¡± ¡°Thanks, Master.¡± As they neared the port, a stray thought crossed Tan¨ª¡¯s mind. ¡°Master, did you just throw me on Blondie while I was asleep?¡± Unaffected, Danza answered, ¡°Yeah, why?¡± Tan¨ª groaned. ¡°You can¡¯t just keep doing that whenever we have to travel.¡± ¡°If I didn¡¯t, we¡¯d never get anywhere. Do you even know how much you sleep in? I could build a fort in the time you¡¯re out.¡± ¡°Apparently¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I strapped you in well enough. We¡¯ve probably been riding for¡­three hours now?¡± Danza estimated. ¡°Didn¡¯t want you being late for your meeting with the Deputy Headmaster.¡± Tan¨ª frowned. ¡°Why would I be meeting them?¡± The Juneac?o¡¯s steed slowed to a walk, and so did Blondie. ¡°Call it a deal. From what he¡¯s told me, they rarely let squires register this late. Classes already started two weeks ago, but the Deputy Headmaster¡­¡± Danza chewed on something. ¡°I guess he was really interested in seeing you. Made an exception.¡± That was a tough reed to snap. Tan¨ª was just some faceless peasant from the outskirts of Histell. Who¡¯d want to meet him? Maybe the guy stupid enough to let some nameless join in the first place. The port town was bustling as they passed through. There wasn¡¯t a large variety of vendors, though the glass shopkeepers cried out to Danza once they spotted his shawl. Good blood, that never got any less annoying. Juneac?o were their greatest customers, though it wasn¡¯t like the common folk were any less interested. Chalk phials¡ªthe same variety of phials Juneac?o employed to store their blood¡ªwere crafted out of sheerstone. Any liquid contained within would not only have its essence preserved, but enriched over the years. They were durable enough to survive a stampede, and could be regularly reused. If they were well-maintained. Danza maneuvered them away from their dogged pursuers, losing them in the surging crowd. The horde of farmers and shoppers thinned as they neared the docks, until suddenly, there were only children being escorted onto a heavily guarded ship. Judging by their height, they appeared to be around his age. As for those guiding them, they also sported a Juneac?o¡¯s shawl. Were those children their squires? Arriving, Danza dismounted. Tan¨ª followed suit, but instead of making a clean, stylish landing, he jerked midair and slammed against Blondie¡¯s side. Air evacuated his lungs as a flaring spike of agony consumed his torso. He dangled there with a limp sway, the knots shackling his calves and making them throb with a leg-squeezing numbness. Moonrays¡­ A round of laughter pierced the swelling tide of blood rushing in his ears. Tired, and somewhat annoyed, he watched the children pass. ¡°What? You need a stool to dismount, too? Your wittle guawd stwaps aren¡¯t enough? I bet you can¡¯t even drink water without spilling it,¡± an apricot-rosy-eyed boy jeered. Their guide said nothing, though judging by his trembling smirk, he did his best not to chuckle. A gray-blue-eyed girl eyed him, did her best not to laugh, then laughed her heart out for the world to hear. Her short bursts of pants clawing at his ears as she reeled forward. ¡°Aww, does the little fry want to hang with the rest of the fish? What? Did you get lost, or are you that stupid?¡± ¡°Enough, Maudaleur,¡± a woman¡ªher master, if Tan¨ª had to assume¡ªinstructed, ¡°you need to pick a proper cabin before the others beat you to it, and what have I taught you?¡± Maudaleur unleashed her residual mirth in a vexing giggle. ¡°Losing isn¡¯t an option.¡± They went off without another word, and though Tan¨ª wanted nothing more than to return her ¡°kindness,¡± the heat flooding his face dispelled all witticisms. At the end of their mocking procession came a blonde boy. One without the company of a master, and yet he stood proud all the same. His eyes were the distinctive color of royalty, but unlike the Corat?o, who possessed lavender-sapphire eyes, his were a lavender-yellow. He came to a steady stop, his thin lips a fine line as he brought a thoughtful hand to his chin. With the unnerving silence of a hawk, he dissected every bit of the failure Tan¨ª must¡¯ve seemed. Good blood, how was his silence worse than their jeering? Suddenly, the boy¡¯s eyes narrowed as his curiosity evaporated into irritation. He left with naught but a scoff, frowning as if the brief pause had somehow slighted him! Danza undid the last of the knots imprisoning Tan¨ª, releasing Tan¨ª from their oppressive hold. The old Juneac?o caught him before he could crash into the hard stone, and once Tan¨ª was settled, they got to unpacking. Tan¨ª wasn¡¯t sure what he¡¯d need, so he brought along the bare essentials: a knapsack, a change of clothes, several snacks, the shiny pebble he had found under a pile of rubble in Godsfield, and the training sword Danza had gifted him the other year. Apparently, accessing Sedd was the only way to lift Danza¡¯s blade probation. Not that he even explained why he enforced it in the first place. It wasn¡¯t even a tradition! Not Riverlanner, Firstholder, Crownlanner or even that creepy Evergreen forest. Other squires didn¡¯t have to suffer this setback. Stupid sticks didn¡¯t win fights. He did find it oddly sturdy, nonetheless, and on the rare occasion it clashed with metal, it didn¡¯t so much as splinter. In fact, Tan¨ª rarely had to tend to it. The sword remained whole regardless of abuse. And he knew just how durable it was with all his attempts to break it for a real one. ¡°Oh? You¡¯re taking your lucky sword, too?¡± Danza asked with a smile. ¡°Stop calling it that.¡± Tan¨ª slid the wooden sword through the makeshift scabbard on his belt¡ªa simple leather loop. ¡°Besides, maybe I¡¯ll need it. Beasts skulking around and everything.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think there¡¯s a more secure place in all of Vale?o than Hierrs¨¦.¡± Danza paused. ¡°It¡¯s deep. Even the scales can¡¯t touch it. Just make sure the shadows never see you.¡± ¡°Whatever.¡± Tan¨ª finished fetching his equipment, extracted the shiny pebble from one of Blondie¡¯s saddles and thrust it into his pocket. Then, once he triple-checked the tightness of the loop, he looked to his master and nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Danza¡¯s lips fell. ¡°Sorry, but this is your journey to make. Not mine.¡± Tan¨ª laughed, but when the old man failed to return his mirth, his heart stuttered. ¡°Whaddya mean? We always go everywhere together.¡± ¡°Not this time, my blood drop.¡± Tan¨ª waited for him to draw the veil over his poorly timed joke, but when Danza continued to look at him with that unwavering, heart-wrenching grin. An oppressive tightness blossomed in his chest. One colder than all the morning air that invaded his lungs. ¡°B-But you¡¯re my master. You can¡¯t just leave. You¡¯re supposed to teach me until I earn my shawl. That¡¯s not even for another eight years!¡± ¡°Might be more, might be less,¡± Danza said, trying to sound optimistic. ¡°Yeah, and you¡¯re supposed to be there to guide me. That¡¯s the point of being a master! You know? Teach someone like you actually care. Not just pick whoever you want and then toss them away when you get bored,¡± Tan¨ª voice wavered as he failed to quell the swell of emotions. ¡°I¡¯m not tossing you away, Tan¨ª.¡± ¡°Then you¡¯re going too?¡± Danza shook his head. Tan¨ª glanced at the gangway and watched as Maudaleur parted with her master. She gave a respective bow, then boarded the ship without a moment¡¯s hesitation. Did this goodbye truly mean so little to her? Just imaginging himself in her place squeezed his throat shut. ¡°T-Then I¡¯m not going! We¡¯ll just keep adventuring, and then¡­well, we can¡ª¡± ¡°Tan¨ª.¡± Danza knelt before him, his boot scattering the loose grains on the port. ¡°This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Something entire families give their fortunes for, and even they¡¯re not lucky enough to win. But you? You.¡± Danza took Tan¨ª¡¯s face into his rough, calloused hands. ¡°You have a chance to be more than me. More than whatever your mother planned for you. I don¡¯t want you to be some farmhand that gets by cuz it¡¯s all he can do. You¡¯re lucky. Some people don¡¯t like hearing that, maybe you don¡¯t either, but you¡¯re lucky. You¡¯re the type of person that¡¯ll show everyone there¡¯s always a chance. Even if it never feels like you take off the ground.¡± Heat swelled in Tan¨ª¡¯s chest. He tried coughing, even breathing to cool it down, but the sorrow remained rooted. And he hated it. It¡¯d be like then. Leaving home and knowing he¡¯d never be back. Tan¨ª shook the thought free. He didn¡¯t want that; he wanted to go on hundreds of adventures and eat overly lemon''d fish every night! Not suffer the vile sting of moisture burning his eyes. A nightmare. That¡¯s all this goodbye was. Just a terrible, mis-imagined nightmare. Besides, him, lucky? Why would anyone think that? A kid who slept the mornings away could never be lucky. He only needed to wait for Danza to wake him up. Then they¡¯d be gone; they¡¯d be wherever they wanted to because going anywhere was better than staying in one place. Tan¨ª ignored the terrible pressure building in his throat, and though he held the man¡¯s gaze, his visage wavered in the blurring tide. He wouldn¡¯t allow them to spill. Not like last time. Maybe if he held them, then they wouldn¡¯t need a goodbye. Maybe he didn¡¯t need to be reminded of his mother. ¡°B-But¡­you can train me, too,¡± Tan¨ª croaked, forcing his voice past the lump in his throat. And it hurt just as much as breathing did. Danza patted him on the shoulder, rough yet gentle. ¡°I taught you everything. I really did. I could try re-teaching you, but that won¡¯t work. You just need a little push, and I know the instructors here¡¯ll give it. Trust me.¡± Realizing that a response would push him over the edge, Tan¨ª nodded breathlessly. He¡¯d never imagined life without Danza, but to know his apprenticeship would end with a premature goodbye? It hurt; hurt more than every rusty syringe in the world. ¡°Can¡ªCan I still be your squire?¡± Tan¨ª murmured. A sad twinkle shone in the Juneac?o¡¯s eyes. ¡°You could wish to be someone else¡¯s squire, and I¡¯d still think of you as my one and only student.¡± ¡°Will you visit¡­?¡± ¡°If I¡¯m around, but you better learn to read well. Never know when you might get a letter or two. Your mother misses you.¡± ¡°Will you see me if I¡¯m anointed?¡± Danza squeezed his shoulder. ¡°When you¡¯re anointed, and yes. On all my honor, I¡¯ll be there. You can even join me if you want, afterward. Then, we can travel the land as equals. How¡¯s that sound?¡± ¡°T-That sounds good¡­¡± Tan¨ª squeezed the hem of his tunic. ¡°That sounds good, Master¡­¡± ¡°Now Tan¨ª, there¡¯s no reason to cry. No one¡¯s died yet, and if you¡¯ve got hope, they¡¯ll still be here! This isn¡¯t goodbye. Just till next time. Try to have fun, alright? Time¡¯s fickle, and if there¡¯s one thing it hates, it¡¯s dragging on. So make sure you stop long enough to know what you¡¯re running past.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± Tan¨ª rasped, ¡°and if it doesn¡¯t slow down, I¡¯ll swat it.¡± ¡°Good. Make sure you don¡¯t break that sword, though. It¡¯s¡­well. It¡¯s a gift. From a really old friend of mine.¡± Tan¨ª wiped away some of his tears. ¡°Really¡­? But why a training sword?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t know. The icy fool just said it was important.¡± Danza reached out and ruffled Tan¨ª¡¯s hair. ¡°So take good care of it. She really misses him.¡± Chapter 3 - Set Sail! A parchment map dipicting the counties of the Kingdom of Corat?o. The Crownlans, rarely referred to as the heartlands, is where the capital of Histell rests. Home to the royal family. It can be found nestled between the borders of the Crownlans and Anglelans by the bay. Heirs to the throne are¡ªhistorically¡ªincumbent to the reign of the counties of the Anglelans and Drophorse Valley. Due to the current heir''s decision to follow the ways of Preservation, those seats have been returned to their original families. Although this decision hasn''t led to a notable outcry from the nobility, the smallfolk have taken warmly to her decision. Thinking her as selfless as the founder of their kingdom. She will, however, ascend the throne once she is anointed. Hierrs¨¦¡ªthrough various expeditions braving the Vanished West¡ªis the greatest extent of the known world. Only Eternity awaits beyond.
¡°Are you a stowaway?¡± asked a tower-house of a woman. Tan¨ª frowned, and though the dim hall afforded him a twilight¡¯s-worth of light, her fierce scowl burned through the darkness. ¡°No, I¡¯m supposed to be on this ship. Just like I told the other sailor?¡± he said. ¡°And who, pray tell, was he?¡± ¡°The one on the gangway. Nearly tossed me overboard, too. Great guy.¡± His vision adjusted to the darkness, revealing the monitor¡¯s saffron-chambray eyes. She appeared seemingly unconvinced. Not that he blamed her. Compared to the highborn students¡¯ fine silks, his rags barely passed for a washcloth. Even her unflattering dark robe dragging against the floor appeared ¡°high class.¡± They definitely hid all the fat. She had a weirdly sharp face otherwise. Angular like a Tyrians. At least she wouldn¡¯t catch onto his scent with all the salt in the air. He couldn¡¯t remember the last time he bathed. ¡°May I see your pass?¡± she asked, and though it sounded like a request, he knew it was a demand. So, instead of arguing with her, Tan¨ª reached into his pants pocket and extracted a glossy, golden sash marked with the king¡¯s seal: Voen¡¯s blade thrust into the Godsfield Tower. A black tide flashed before his eyes like the blinding embrace of sleep. Gone just as quickly as it came. He blinked, stared at his empty hand, then glanced up at the monitor, confused. She ran her thumb across the pass, eyes glued to the seal as if searching for some imperfection in what she probably believed to be a counterfeit mark. Once she failed to find no reason to throw him overboard, she shook her head and returned his sash. ¡°How one such as yourself gained entry to our honorable abode, I do not know, though neither do I care.¡± She stepped aside, chin held high. ¡°Do try and make yourself¡­comfortable. We¡¯ve another two hours before arrival. Ah, yes, please do be mindful of resting. We¡¯d rather not disturb you from your slumber.¡± Tan¨ª stuffed the sash back into his pocket, turned to the hall, then hesitated before setting forward. ¡°What seems to be the matter?¡± she asked, completely disinterested. ¡°Well¡­¡± Tan¨ª glanced at a nearby door, his voice low. ¡°Is there a specific room I need to lodge in?¡± ¡°Cabin, and no. Choose whichever you like.¡± ¡°Really?¡± She sighed. ¡°Truly.¡± The ship swayed as Tan¨ª took his first step. He¡¯d been on boats before. Not hulking masses of wood such as this, but once you¡¯ve experienced a rickety piece of swaying wood, you¡¯ve experienced them all. Finally, Tan¨ª chose the first door on the left, securing the chilling knob in his hand. Before he could twist it open, a chorus of arrogant laughter slipped through the cracks. ¡°What a loser.¡± ¡°Did you see the way he flopped? Idiot looked like he was getting ready to cry.¡± ¡°Ugh. Is a lowborn fry truly going to attend Hierrs¨¦? I thought it a prestigious academy, not an almshouse.¡± ¡°Fah! They¡¯re all the same, anyway. Just a bunch of half-way lucky runts with no other prospects. I say give him the experience! We could do with one less burden in the world.¡± ¡°Give it a week. Who knows, he might be smart enough to leave before someone serves him seared.¡± Another round of laughter slipped through the cracks. Releasing the knob from his grasp, Tan¨ª inched away from the door and made his way across the hall, tossing an odd glance the woman¡¯s way. Her immaculate bearing left her immune to the ship¡¯s swaying, her steely, luminescent saffron-chambray eyes set on nothing. With a few more inches, her pale blonde hair would scrape the ceiling. Finally, he arrived at the opposite end of the hall, where a silent door stood. Accompanied only by the distant surf of the ocean. With that vote of confidence, he threw open the door, revealing a bright, warm room. The moment he stepped in, a voice pierced the calm. ¡°Leave.¡± Before Tan¨ª could apologize, it came again. ¡°Did you not hear me? I said leave, or shall I toss you out this porthole and return you to your proper school?¡± Tan¨ª¡¯s eyes met the lavender-yellow gaze of the annoyed boy from earlier, which displayed naught but the utmost contempt. Panicking, he slammed the door shut. The strength¡ªfueled by his urgency¡ªhad been so great that the blast of noise rattled the dim hall. Several doors cracked open a door later, their occupants¡¯ heads popping out from all but one cabin. They cursed at him before swiftly retreating into their cabins. Embarrassed, Tan¨ª flashed the monitor a shy smile, but she simply looked past him. Her arms folded behind her back, and chin held high. Like how a Juneac?o from the Order of Ila?el would stand watch. Great crowd¡­ With nowhere else to go, he aimed for the last door on the right, but before he could push it open, a resounding hiss pierced the calm. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± Tan¨ª faced the monitor, more confused than scared. ¡°Opening a door?¡± ¡°That is our Young Lady¡¯s room! None save her are permitted entrance!¡± ¡°But¡­they all look the same, and you never said I couldn¡¯t enter this one.¡± He gestured to it. ¡°That was before I knew you daft enough to lodge with her.¡± ¡°So¡­it¡¯s not off limits?¡± ¡°It is,¡± the woman reiterated firmly. Tan¨ª flashed her a flat look. ¡°Then it was off-limits after I discovered the fact.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Meaning it was never off-limits.¡± ¡°Yes¡ª No! Do not think yourself clever, boy. Invitee you may be, this does not render you immune to suspicion. And I?¡± She drew closer to him with a long, smooth stride. ¡°I doubt the legitimacy of such a pass.¡± Exasperated beyond belief, Tan¨ª turned to her with a shuffling sigh. ¡°Lady, madame, whatever you want to be called that all the other Ladies like to be called. Either I stay in this room, or I stand beside you the entire trip. Which one would you like?¡± If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. She stared at him, lips pursed, and when she offered her stifling silence in response, he continued. ¡°Right. I guess we can talk, but you don¡¯t seem like the social type. Maybe you haven¡¯t had your wine¡­?¡± He snapped his fingers as an idea came to mind. ¡°Wanna hear about my Master teaching me how to count? He did it with scales. There¡¯s a lot of them on the Desolator¡¯s hide. A bunch even have stories! And there¡¯s this really weird part that looks higher than the rest! And¡­¡± He broke into a sweeping lecture concerning the controversial history of the twinkling scales. Otherwise referred to as ¡°the reminders of Wishes yet to be, and battles had¡± by Danza. Tan¨ª lacked plenty of practical knowledge in the field. Then again, just how ¡°practical¡± one¡¯s expertise regarding a dead body hanging in the sky was debatable. Unless he was a scalereader who can glimpse the future in his dreams, the sky just¡­didn¡¯t matter. Tan¨ª expanded upon his initial introduction regarding the weird part on the Desolator¡¯s hide. The one to the very far center that sat all by itself, regardless of the time of year. He only ceased his torture when the woman¡¯s chest rose. She inhaled the world¡¯s sharpest breath of air, her eyes bulging with outrage. ¡°Do as you must,¡± she squeezed out between clenched teeth, ¡°but remember: If you harm so much as a single strand on her head, then you shan¡¯t live to regret it. Breaking light is no concern of mine. Do you understand, boy?¡± Satisfied, Tan¨ª shot her a thumbs up and entered the room. ? The intoxicating scent of sugary cherries and cream washed over Tan¨ª, eliminating the salty stench that permeated the ship. He paused, took a greater whiff of the air, and felt lighter. Good blood, that scent never got old. Sure, he never had the privilege of sampling that heavenly delight, but watching all those squires snack on it like no tomorrow¡­ A discomforting claw ripped at his empty stomach. Right, he¡¯d missed breakfast¡­ When Tan¨ª¡¯s vision adjusted to the light, he found a cushioned bench to either side of the black-painted wall. Not as bulky as a sofa, but it could certainly make do as a bed if called for. The array of lacey pillows certainly made the prospect tempting. White veils of silk adorned the cabins interior, on which pearls, seashells, and unidentified gems dangled from like treasures waiting to be plucked. In the center, there sat an ebony table veined with gold. Wide enough to set a cup of nightsip on, and some snacks. A Desoleet¡­? Good blood. That type of wood only came from the Northern Hollow in D¨¦qom. A barren wasteland of black and speckled gold occupied by startling dark trees, or so a drunken D¨¦qoish sailor had once told him. How rich¡ª Tan¨ª¡¯s breath caught in his throat as a swirl of dazzling colors steered his gaze to the bench. Their canvas: A porcelain-hued girl sat primly upon the left walled-seat. All That Is. Twice he¡¯s heard those words muttered by his mother when she described his late father, but looking at her now¡­ Her left leg¡ªclad in a form-fitting white hose¡ªcrossed over her right knee, hands folded atop, and though he knew her eyes to be a stunning compliment to her flawless skin, Tygenna had deemed him undeserving of the sight. Her lids shut and head tilted down. Was she asleep? Tan¨ª¡¯s focus drifted to her hair. Styled in the cut of a layered bob, her voluminous bangs brushed past her right eye, shielding it from view. Not a single strand erred from its set, groomed to absolute perfection. She even had an adorable little beauty mark beneath her left eye! And those locks¡­ A salmon stringed with flaxen brilliance. Like the noble Anglers towards the northwestern tip of Corat?o. The ship swayed again, propelling him into a stumbling waltz. One in which he battled the very rage of the sea just to prolong the sight. He couldn¡¯t¡ªwouldn¡¯t tear his eyes away. Not from her. Tan¨ª¡¯s sole companion remained as still as a statute, though even a master-crafted work would pale before such god-hewn excellence. Her details were more¡­defined. Subtle, yet just as intricate. Like the winding branch of a grapevine. Despite that, she did not shift unless the ship swayed. A distressing thought struck him from his revere: Maybe she wasn¡¯t even real. It could be a doll. A pretty one, but still a doll. Put it past the nobility for making a creepy life-sized toy¡­ Curious, Tan¨ª snapped his fingers. Nothing. Her hair simply swayed like a silken curtain. As for her chest, he had yet to see it rise. He whistled and waved his hand. Again, nothing. Convinced of her somewhat controversial (and jarring) nature, he inched his way forward, hand set against the table for balance, the other reaching towards her face. Before Tan¨ª¡¯s finger so much as grazed her delicate features, her eyes snapped open. She appeared neither furious nor confused, simply even. Focused. Her non-reaction made Tan¨ª flinch all the same, his heart lodging itself in his throat. ¡°Pray explain your behavior?¡± she asked, her calm, refined accent hinting at northern Coros descent. ¡°Uh¡­just checking?¡± ¡°For what?¡± ¡°That you¡¯re real?¡± The girl closed her eyes. Tan¨ª waited ten, twenty, then thirty seconds for a response, but none came. He felt stupid standing there, and the longer he idled, the more he became convinced that he had imagined the entire scenario. Is that monitor really getting to me? Tan¨ª glanced either way for affirmation, then reached for the maybe-but-probably-not doll once more. Her eyes flickered to life as his finger came within brushing distance of her slender nose. He expected her ire to manifest in cruel words, yet all he she did was stare back at him. An chilling pinprick of disquiet needled its way into his very core, promising naught but death. Realizing that something incredibly horrific would occur, Tan¨ª retreated to his side with a long, blind step backwards. The light swishing of the ocean drew his attention to the cabin¡¯s porthole. Even then, all he could spot was the cloudy skies. A storm was approaching. He occasionally spared the maybe-but-probably-not doll a glance, though her inanimation persisted. A part of him wondered how much practice it had taken to master this deathlike stillness, though another part made him question why she even bothered to be like this. After Tan¨ª¡¯s heart had a moment to settle, he blinked, breathed, then swallowed. She was just a girl. Just a¡ª His vision flickered, replacing the cabin with the unreal, light-strewn Prism of his dreams. Where the blacker-than-night void glared down at him as if he were all of Vale?o¡¯s wrongs. It stretched for an eternity, breaking the heavenly silence of the twinkling sparks above. Their assigned prison a pocket within a pocket. A space towards the edge of existence, destined to be forgotten. And the very thought of it left the Gaoler drained unlike anything else. Exhausted, he turned his attention to the Prism¡¯s base, a manifold of saturated wash littered with the scatterings of what would one day craft the celestial bodies. And who else but his dearly beloved to accompany him? ----------, the Architect of the End, or ----------, plainly. As if plain could ever hope to describe her. She sat as the maybe-but-probably not doll did, and those eyes. Those azure-beige gems that captured the heavens and earth in one breathtaking glance. They gazed at him with an undying, affectionate tenderness that defied their Iterations. Though her long hair was dark, and her skin tanned, she bore a vague resemblance to the doll. They didn¡¯t share the same facial structure, for this woman¡¯s face was more noble. Her jaw slightly squared, and yet¡­ ¡°Hey,¡± Tan¨ª called out to her, and thought the voice belonged to him, the dissonance broke him from his vessel. Like an eavesdropper spying on a half-whispered exchange. The illusion shattered, and yet the stillness remained. ¡°What is this place?¡± he finished. ¡°An 1158 caravel refitted for Hierrs¨¦ Academy,¡± the doll supplied, her refined, elegant voice streaming from her lips like a cool spring breeze. Tan¨ª tilted his head. ¡°Oh¡­thanks?¡± Nothing. ¡°Okay¡­where¡¯re we headed?¡± ¡°The southern port facing the mainland, also known as Hierrs¨¦ Port. While I¡¯ve a passing familiarity with their protocols, they restrict student travel towards the north.¡± ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Pirates.¡± He nodded thoughtfully, then asked, ¡°Are you real?¡± Silence. Tan¨ª¡¯s sigh devolved into a miserable laugh. ¡°Of course not¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re anxious,¡± she said evenly. ¡°That¡¯s one way of putting it¡­¡± ¡°Rest while you can, and if you¡¯ve need for further relief, breathe. Anticipation is naught but a vacant harrow we¡¯ve limited to suffering.¡± ¡°Is that why you¡¯re sleeping?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not resting.¡± Her lids rose, unveiling a breathtaking set of enthralling lavender-sapphire eyes. ¡°I¡¯m meditating.¡± Tan¨ª¡¯s heart stuttered at the base of his throat. ¡°O-Oh. Why?¡± ¡°One needs to sort through the weeds from their mind, else they risk snagging onto rubbish.¡± ¡°Are you always this still?¡± She knocked her head to the side thoughtfully. ¡°I suppose so. One¡¯s bearing should reflect their state of mind, else they risk endangering the entire aspect.¡± ¡°And this wordy?¡± No response. Good blood, just when he was getting somewhere¡­ ¡°You¡¯re a student, yeah?¡± he pressed. ¡°Second-year honors.¡± ¡°Second-year? You¡¯re starting late?¡± ¡°Yes. I suffered the misfortune of another of my father¡¯s examples. Not that my escaping would¡¯ve earned me his favor. It¡¯s seldom worth the risk,¡± she explained, her eyes never drifting from his. ¡°Are you excited about going back?¡± She turned away, her eyes watching him from the corners. ¡°I suppose I am.¡± Tan¨ª lost the urge to keep the conversation going, so he fell silent. Every now and again, he¡¯d steal a peek at her, never observing much beyond her meditation. Curious, he copied her, hoping to gain some newfound insight through careful reflection. This only resulted in him dozing in and out of consciousness. First for a minute, then ten, until he finally lost track of time. Late into their first hour, he discovered a slight ¡°anomaly¡± in the room. A breeze sweeter than the scent of cream-topped cherries. The sound of breathing. Her breathing. With chin dipped towards her chest, and her glossy lips boasting the remnants of that tempting dessert, she slept like an untroubled babe. And the very thought left Tan¨ª smiling. ¡°Hey, are you asleep?¡± Tan¨ª asked in a whisper. A slight gasp of air broke her pattern. Something akin to a breathy snore. ¡°Yeah¡­I get you. Rode out since morn. Pretty tired myself, but I¡¯ve got a feeling I¡¯m gonna be a lot more tired from now on.¡± The slight creak of wood interrupted his train of thought. ¡°But maybe it won¡¯t be so bad. Who knows, maybe we can even be friends. You know¡­if you don¡¯t mind. Not really highborn like the rest of you, but a Juneac?o can never have enough comrades, right? That way, we¡¯d all have each other¡¯s backs. No one¡¯d be left behind.¡± Tan¨ª rubbed his nose, then after a brief pause, lowered his head. ¡°Nah¡­you¡¯re probably great at taking care of yourself. I don¡¯t know why. You just have that look.¡± With a soft sigh, he rested his head on a fluffy pillow. It might not have been a proper bed, but it was the closest thing to heaven he¡¯s ever felt. Whatever might come his way, he¡¯d be ready. Maybe not entirely, but flunking didn¡¯t sound like an enticing option. Especially when he¡¯d be failing the only person who had saved him from Histell¡¯s outskirts. Yes. If he could do just one thing, it would be this. Even if he stumbled along, he had to make it work. He just had to. Chapter 4 - Can you try knocking? ¡°You.¡± Tan¨ª instinctively reached for the covers of his bedroll. It wasn¡¯t there. Good blood, did Danza really have to wake him so early all the time? At least the roll felt nice. No, not nice¡­amazing. Like a guest bed they¡¯d have prepared in a Monastery. So plush and light¡­it felt just like a fluffy cloud. And he wanted to float on it forever. ¡°Boy.¡± The muffled lull of the ocean drew him back into the comforting depths of slumber. God, he loved when he could barely hear the waves. Gentle, yet powerful. A noise that could wash away your worries. And it sounded close, too. He recalled them setting camp some ways from the beach, but they never risked resting on the sands. That was plain stupid. Sand just got everywhere, and the tide? That salty strangler¡¯s unpredictability could lead to an uncomfortable if somewhat eye-stinging, death. ¡°If you¡¯ve any sense, disembark now. Students are prohibited from departing without the Deputy Headmaster¡¯s express permission, and I¡¯d rather your disagreeable stench not profane our Lady¡¯s cabin.¡± Annoyed, Tan¨ª lifted a single, unwilling lid. The blurry world of the living greeted him, but instead of finding the lush countryside, he saw only the doll¡¯s gaudy room. Right. Danza had left him. Rubbing the tiredness from his eyes, Tan¨ª blinked thrice¡ªscattering the residual crust from the corners¡ªthen faced the stern entity. The monitor towered over him, trembling arms folded. Her short, gilded hair framed her angular face, and judging by the intensity of her thin brow and that straight nose, she was Tyrian. A set of saffron-chambray eyes scrutinized him, and though she loomed over him¡ªthe nightsip table off-kilter¡ªhe had the sneaking suspicion she¡¯d restrained herself from throttling him while he slept. ¡°I shan¡¯t repeat myself, boy. Disembark at once, lest I drag you overboard,¡± she hissed through clenched teeth. Tan¨ª¡¯s gaze drifted across the table. The doll wasn¡¯t there anymore. Alert, he glanced around for any traces of her. Even the hall, partially obscured by the monitor¡¯s imposing physique, revealed nothing. ¡°Where is she?¡± Tan¨ª asked. ¡°She was the first to step off this vessel, as was to be expected.¡± He frowned. She never considered wishing him goodbye? The woman cleared her throat, returning him to the moment. She didn¡¯t speak, though; she just stared at him. Her folded arms strained the fabric of her sleeves. ¡°Don¡¯t you have somewhere to be?¡± Tan¨ª said, looking over her for any signs of the doll. The woman¡¯s eyes flared with disbelief. ¡°This is my current duty, boy.¡± ¡°Watching people sleep? Kinda creepy.¡± ¡°No, I am to ensure the safe passage of every student that boards this vessel. Including the contemptible, ignominious recalcitrant.¡± Tan¨ª slowly sat up, scouring through his internal vault for the matching definitions of those words. When he turned up empty-handed, he opted for a ¡°Thanks for your sacrifice, I guess.¡± Her only response was an aggravated inclination of her head. Right. Tan¨ª recovered his belongings, and after triple checking his pockets for the shiny pebble, hopped off the sofa. The woman stepped back, granting him access to the hall. Half-way through the space, he paused and spared the cracked doors a glance. The contents once hidden to him revealed humble if somewhat attractive interiors with slightly less space than the doll¡¯s cabin. A sturdy, if somewhat drab-looking table sat between the silken-covered seats on either side of the room. Their surface littered with mugs of quarter-filled, lukewarm nightsip. ¡°D¡¯Histell, are you simply going to stand there, or shall I hull you off?¡± came the monitor¡¯s impatient voice. Tan¨ª cocked a brow at her. ¡°How do you know my name?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve two offices in this Academy. One just so happens to involve the transportation of insufferable children.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t explain much¡­¡± She placed her hands on her hips. ¡°Because of my position, I¡¯m briefed on every student who has registered for the school year.¡± ¡°So¡­this is your job?¡± Tan¨ª guessed. ¡°Essentially.¡± ¡°Are you in charge of every trip?¡± She scoffed. ¡°There¡¯s not enough time in the day, D¡¯Histell. One woman cannot man the entirety of the Academy¡¯s security.¡± ¡°Then this isn¡¯t the only ship?¡± ¡°No, it is, however, the king¡¯s private vessel.¡± Tan¨ª blinked. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± She lifted her chin. ¡°Rather fortunate for a commoner.¡± Before he could press, she started down the hall, her hands clasped behind her back. Tan¨ª immediately followed, but her long, powerful strides effortlessly outpaced him. Though he wouldn¡¯t admit it to anyone, he had to run just to keep up with her. They broke onto the deck, greeted by the muted radiance of a brooding sky. ¡°How long have you worked here?¡± Tan¨ª said, as he finally caught up to her. She didn¡¯t spare him a glance. ¡°For the last decade, give or take.¡± ¡°Do you like it?¡± ¡°Some days are better than others.¡± Once they reached the gangway, Tan¨ª gave his surroundings a thorough sweep. He had passed a great many cities in his travels, and though this port bore some manner of resemblance to the wealthier cities, a single object stood out to him: The distant crown of a silvery keep that poked out from behind the rooftops. Tan¨ª couldn¡¯t keep his eyes off the thing as his legs carried him down the gangway. A sky castle. Fragments from their ancient past with the Unifier. For years, he had thought them to always exist, but to his surprise, he had learned that they didn¡¯t predate the Unifier. An invention otherwise associated with the Juneac?o of Eld, created by an Agent not from this realm. Captivated by the celestial marker, Tan¨ª took another step, but instead of finding ground, he met air. Gravity arrested him, drawing him to the swishing waters below, but before he could plummet into their chilly depths, he froze. No, someone caught him. The gray waters blurred into a fuzzy-clouded sky as they wrenched Tan¨ª back onto the tiled street. When he stumbled into his savior, he found it to be the monitor. Good blood, she didn¡¯t even appear winded. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°Be mindful, D¡¯Histell.¡± Tan¨ª nodded, suddenly feeling stupid. At least he hadn¡¯t drowned. He followed her through the port town, crossing dozens of luxury shops and boutiques as they went. Just more places to spend pointless vines. Having only dealt with peddlers, he recognized none of them. Groups of children Tan¨ª¡¯s age kept to themselves as they shopped, but unlike the ones on the ship, their uniforms bore two distinct differences. An extravagant shoulder cape, and a dagger on their belt. The shoulder cape came in two parts: The left cape, which ranged from the colors of orange, violet, and white. Then on the right, a deep black. Several armored individuals stood on guard across the port. Juneac?o, by the looks of it. They blended into the shadows; their gazes set on the wider streets. An overwhelming sense of peace permeated the area, but not in a forced, silent way. More in the ¡°nothing bad ever happens here,¡± type of way. ¡°Hey, Misses,¡± Tan¨ª said, breaking their silence. ¡°Are there really monsters past this island? You know, in the ocean.¡± ¡°No, the world just falls after the edge,¡± she answered dryly. ¡°So, it¡¯s true.¡± ¡°As Tygenna is green.¡± Tan¨ª nodded thoughtfully. ¡°Misses?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Eleanor.¡± She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. ¡°But you shall refer to me as Master Sanrevelle.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t sound very Tyrian,¡± Tan¨ª remarked. ¡°It is the name my parents adopted. My Tyrian name is of no concern. Not to you, nor any instructor or Juneac?o under the sun.¡± ¡°Oh, well¡­what do you teach here, Master Sanrevelle?¡± Eleanor returned her gaze to the path ahead. ¡°Art.¡± Tan¨ª tilted his head. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I am an instructor of the Fine Arts, D¡¯Histell.¡± ¡°But¡­why?¡± ¡°Because they will be your greatest boon when your back is to the wall.¡± Tan¨ª racked his brain for answers. He knew that Juneac?o¡ªor at least the highborn ones¡ªprided themselves on their diverse education, but art? No other phrase besides ¡°needlessly extravagant¡± came to mind. ¡°How¡¯d you qualify for it?¡± he asked. ¡°I applied, as any other would. Then we took a test. Rather brutal, but I managed.¡± ¡°Those must¡¯ve been some pretty good paintings.¡± A hint of a smile tugged at Eleanor¡¯s lips. ¡°Yes, I suppose I did paint a good picture.¡± Tan¨ª¡¯s eyes traveled to her robes. Her outfit made sense now that he thought about it. Turning upon the next street, they came across a series of alleyways. Most were as wide as a narrow street, others so thin you had to squeeze through just to walk. That¡¯s when he caught it: the soft pop of an uncorked phial. Tan¨ª glanced all around until his eyes landed upon a trio of students in one of the larger alleyways. They ran at the walls, stopped before slamming into them, then pushed themselves away from the solid red surface. One student¡ªa girl judging by her blouse¡ªlaughed, branding them cowards. When called to prove her courage, she smirked and stepped back. She brandished an unsealed phial in one hand, and though she held it at an angle, her thumb prevented the liquids from spilling. Suddenly, the contents bubbled. She sped towards the wall, though she didn¡¯t slow as she approached the red surface. No, she just got faster. Waves of nigh invisible shimmering heat washing around her like a Sun¡¯s Peak heat wave. She stepped higher and higher until the tips of her shoes caught on the wall, but instead of stopping, she pivoted mid-step and lunged across the alley in an explosion of energy! Adjusting mid-flight, she crashed feet-first into the opposing wall, then repeated the motion. Climbing higher and higher until she pulled herself over the lip of the roof and lorded over her companions. The phial drained of its essence. Sedd! A girl his age had just used Sedd! Juneac?o rarely made use of it outside of combat, yet she had used it to climb a bloody wall. Tan¨ª watched as the last member of the trio reached into her Blood-Loader with a smirk. She bounced from wall to wall, though she had to use sloppy half-pushes to propel herself skyward. They eventually reached the top in twice the girl¡¯s time, but instead of insulting her performance, the first flashed a broad, somewhat proud grin at them. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re DOING? Sedd outside of class instruction is strictly prohibited!¡± Eleanor screeched. Tan¨ª reeled as the sheer blast of noise left his ears ringing. The trio swiveled to the Art instructor and immediately blanched. Not one second later, they vanished. Or at least the two on the rooftop did in a mad flurry of limbs. ¡°Blasted first-years¡­ One would think they¡¯d possess a modicum of self-restraint¡­¡± Eleanor muttered to herself. Tan¨ª turned to her, his ears still ringing. ¡°It is really that bad to use Sedd outside of class?¡± She folded her arms. ¡°Yes. Beyond its likelihood of leading to a deadly altercation between brain-starved squires, reckless use of Goem¡ªthe School of Enhancement¡ªleads to locking. You can see why that would be inconvenient during a spree of acrobatics.¡± Tan¨ª recalled the various tourneys Danza had participated in during their travels. Newly anointed Juneac?o¡ªoften wanting to prove their worth¡ªwould push themselves through the high usage of Goem. His Master would often take advantage of these ¡°spry¡± opponents by leading them on. Eventually, their heated blood led to a temporary paralysis, or as his Master put it: ¡°An easy win.¡± ¡°Do Toem users suffer the same locking?¡± Tan¨ª asked. An amused glint twinkled in her saffron-chambray eyes. ¡°No, though the School of Judgment suffers from a related issue. This, however, has more to do with its similarities to Goem. Stirring, transmission, and even their most potent fuel source all stem from the basic foundations of our oldest and most reliable Path,¡± she explained, her stern voice carrying all the authority of a teacher. ¡°You sure know a lot for an Art instructor. ¡°Any good educator should want to expand beyond their field.¡± As they continued through town, Tan¨ª caught signs of other students using Sedd. Most suddenly stopped whenever Eleanor crept around the corner. She didn¡¯t yell at them, though she slowed her pace just long enough to fix them with a heart-stopping glare. ¡°So.¡± Tan¨ª stepped ahead to get a better look at her face. ¡°Does every first-year know how to use Sedd?¡± ¡°All except you,¡± Eleanor said, though her tone wasn¡¯t condescending. She stated it as if it were an indisputable fact. Not that it hurt any less. ¡°Don¡¯t other people have trouble learning how to use it?¡± inquired Tan¨ª. ¡°Rarely.¡± ¡°Is there a reason for that?¡± ¡°None that I know of.¡± She raised a hand, forestalling him. ¡°I¡¯d direct all future inquiries to your general Sedd instructor, D¡¯Histell. They should have the answers you seek, not I.¡± Right. She¡¯s an Art teacher. As Tan¨ª safely tucked away a mountain¡¯s worth of questions, a thought squirmed in from the back of his mind. ¡°Master Eleanor?¡± Eleanor¡¯s lips dipped into a deep grimace. ¡°Sanrevelle, D¡¯Histell.¡± ¡°Yeah, sorry. Master Sanrevelle, you said there¡¯s a general Sedd instructor here, right?¡± ¡°As there should be in any adequate school of learning.¡± ¡°So¡­you have specializers in Goem and Toem, right?¡± ¡°Specializers isn¡¯t a word, but yes.¡± ¡°Then do you have a God''s Fire instructor?¡± A small, too-tight smile wormed its way onto her lips. ¡°Child, there¡¯s no such thing as a God''s Fire instructor.¡± ¡°What? But Danza said that it¡¯s the fourth school of Sedd¡­¡± Tan¨ª murmured, suddenly feeling self-conscious. ¡°A simple campfire story Grazers pass around when they¡¯ve nothing better to do,¡± Eleanor said with a wave of her hand. ¡°You needn¡¯t concern yourself with children¡¯s tale, D¡¯Histell. The skills you¡¯ll learn here shall surpass those you¡¯ve heard of in legend.¡± ¡°Then it isn¡¯t real¡­?¡± Eleanor turned away. ¡°Perhaps for a time, it was. What¡¯s dead is dead. Seeking to revive it will only result in disappointment.¡± Tan¨ª suppressed a sigh. That seemed like the best answer he¡¯d get out of her. With nothing better to do, Tan¨ª fidgeted with his training sword. The revelation hadn¡¯t stunned him. Not overtly, anyway. God¡¯s Fire¡ªstrictly the Path, not School¡ªhad gone extinct in the late eleventh century, shortly after Cari¡¯s tragic defense of the then prince Afonso. Tan¨ª didn¡¯t like the idea of such a heroic piece of history buried in the past, but he thought it¡ªif Danza dared¡ªpoetic. The Path¡¯s very creation came about the desire to protect another, and it died in the process of sacrificing their life for another¡¯s sake. Releasing his hold on his sword, Tan¨ª turned his mind to greener pastures. So, he asked the monitor, ¡°How many years until I graduate, Master Sanrevelle?¡± Eleanor tilted her head. ¡°You¡¯ve yet to begin instruction, and you¡¯re already asking when you¡¯ll finish?¡± He nodded. ¡°That¡¯s what I said.¡± ¡°Well, if all goes according, then you¡¯ll see yourself out in five years.¡± ¡°Around Sun¡¯s Peak?¡± Eleanor clasped her hands behind her back, stiff as always. ¡°Late Greentide, but yes.¡± ¡°Wait¡­that¡¯s around the same time as the Tourney at Godsfield, right?¡± Tan¨ª said, remembering the year. ¡°Correct.¡± Eleanor raised her chin. ¡°Rather fortunate now that I think about it. Only a full-fledged Juneac?o can participate. If you¡¯ve registered even a year later, they would not permit you entrance to the festivities.¡± She shook her head. ¡°Do be mindful of your academic performance here. Failure to reach the pre-requisite score will prevent you from graduating on time.¡± Five years¡­ In five years, Tan¨ª could make his Wish. In five years, he would commune with the Beholder of God. Just like in the olden tales. He needed only to train. And learn¡­ He almost groaned in physical disgust at the word. God, I hate learning. He¡¯d bear with the overly critical eye of the educational system¡­for now. ¡°Master Sanrevelle?¡± Tan¨ª called. ¡°Yes?¡± Curious, he leaned forward. They were on the subject already. It wouldn¡¯t hurt to ask. ¡°Do you have a Wish?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Are you going to the Tourney, then?¡± Eleanor¡¯s saffron-chambray eyes shifted to the corners, critical as always. ¡°Now why would I do that?¡± ¡°I dunno¡­cuz you want your Wish to be granted?¡± Tan¨ª said, cluelessly. ¡°I¡¯d rather it stay as is.¡± ¡°What? Why?¡± Odd. They had an easy way of manifesting their deepest desire, yet she¡¯d rather trudge along? ¡°Is it¡­¡± Tan¨ª worked up the courage to finish his question. ¡°Is it embarrassing, or¡­?¡± ¡°No, nothing like that. It¡¯s something as deceptively simple as it is complex. I doubt I¡¯ll ever know what it feels like, though,¡± Eleanor said, though she didn¡¯t sound upset. Just indifferent. As if she had truly accepted defeat as a fact. ¡°Well, if you¡¯re as smart as you sound, then maybe it¡¯ll happen. You never know,¡± Tan¨ª admitted. Eleanor graced him with another small smile. She didn¡¯t elaborate this time around; she just kept walking. Except this time, her grin never faded. Chapter 5 - Admittance Tan¨ª and Eleanor broke onto a winding foothill of dreary green grass lorded over by a twinkling megastructure of undying scalelight. Growing up, Tan¨ª had missed the chance to familiarize himself with the sight of The Royal Palace of Histell. What with it residing in the capital¡¯s depths, by the bay. He wasn¡¯t ashamed to admit his image of sky castles was based on the exaggerated accounts of poorly schooled farmers and foreign merchants, but this? He felt like a fry before a hulking tuna. The titanic structure stretched from one end of the island to the next, the outer edges sinking into the frigid ocean, which he could not spot. Native islanders (from what Danza claimed) made it a point to exaggerate the fiery descent of this once airborne fortress. Why or how it came crashing down was beyond their ken, but Tan¨ª often wondered a chunk of land support something so¡­divine. Their Agent¡ªthe Unifier in a past Iteration¡ªclaimed that these fortresses could only operate from on high. That their proximity to the heavens granted them the celestial energy needed to function. Yet now it burdened the crumbling isle with its weight. Yeah, it didn¡¯t look like the place was falling apart, but a glance at its sinking edges coated in petrified earth told him enough: There had been more there, and with time, it withered. Tan¨ª¡¯s mind wandered, and he imagined that one day¡ªfar in the future¡ªthe island would finally sink beneath the frigid waves. The Academy with it. Maybe then it would join the ranks of God''s Fire. Despite the school¡¯s gravity, Tan¨ª kept close to Eleanor. She spared him the occasional glance, though otherwise made no special note of his overly familiar proximity. ¡°Master Sanrevelle?¡± he called. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Are you a Juneac?o?¡± Her lips quirked. ¡°But of course.¡± ¡°Then can you tell me what you specialize in?¡± he asked. ¡°I told you, Art.¡± ¡°But¡­why?¡± Tan¨ª pressed, more confused than interested. ¡°Do you like pretty things?¡± ¡°Aesthetics are a vital aspect of our identity, else a Juneac?o¡¯s shawl would be naught but a mere tablecloth,¡± she explained in an airy, almost up-tight way only a nobleman could. ¡°Then where¡¯s yours?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve stored it within my quarters. I¡¯ve no real use for such an ephemeral trinket.¡± ¡°Because you¡¯re always on the island?¡± A twinkle of amusement shone in Eleanor¡¯s eyes. ¡°Very astute, D¡¯Histell.¡± ¡°But why do you like Art so much?¡± ¡°Because one¡¯s ability to carve their reality through strokes alone is nothing short of divine. Who save us preservers know of the delicacy and finesse it takes to judge life?¡± Tan¨ª tilted his head. What a flowery way to put it. Had she been a bard in another life? They passed several horse-drawn vehicles along their path. Some carried crates labeled ¡°fra-geel-ay¡± (Tyrian?) other''s loads of chattering students. None of them paid Tan¨ª any mind, which he was grateful for. ¡°Hey,¡± Tan¨ª said. ¡°Were the kids on the boat latecomers?¡± ¡°Yes, though I¡¯d suggest you learn their names. Pledging your allegiance is a sure way to earn land and titles,¡± Eleanor answered. Tan¨ª grimaced. He¡¯d rather ride on Blondie for a month than ever call them his Lord or Lady. Despite the Academy''s relative isolation, a sprawling garden occupied its lawn, stretching from one edge of the cliff to the other in a gradient of color. It seemed more a meadow than a noble¡¯s front yard; a vast swath of foreign blossoms and fountains as extravagant as the castle itself. Dozens of students wandered the artificial wilderness, talking, while others (older looking students) inspected the place. Sometimes, they even tended to the plants. The rare few that favored isolation tucked themselves away in a small corner. Shaded beneath the mighty leaf of a varied sunflower. Tan¨ª swept his gaze across the garden, though nothing caught his attention. That is until his eyes landed upon the Academy¡¯s no less impressive entrance. No physical door occupied the space. Only a silvery frame that revealed a well-lit interior so polished and white that it almost hurt looking at it. He couldn¡¯t see far from where he was on the hill, but it looked clean. Too clean. As if someone had scrubbed away every imperfection. Metal¡­no. It didn¡¯t appear like metal, nor did it possess the uneven grooving of wood. Just something¡­divine. Otherworldly. Reaching the apex of the hill, he found a trio of statutes guarding the entrance. One on the left side of the frame, one on the right, and a final¡ªalbeit smaller statute¡ªinserted into the arching accolade design above the towering frame. They gleamed like burnished bronze despite the timid sun in the clouds, and though they weren¡¯t old, looked ancient. Their ornate armor of another age, those proto-shawls draped across their torsos, their flowing hair caught upon a stiff, unseen breeze, and their stoic, almost lifelike expressions. Good blood, even the edges of weapons gleamed with crimson brilliance. If it were night, he¡¯d think them giants come to life! Whoever had crafted them must¡¯ve been a sculptor among sculptors. Even the most luxurious Monasteries couldn¡¯t boast this level of quality. ¡°Master Sanrevelle, who are they?¡± inquired Tan¨ª. Eleanor lifted her chin. ¡°They are the founders of Hierrs¨¦ Academy. Valtar Vlasalisk, D¡¯Aarcy Dragonfang, and Fadina Fad¨¦nix.¡± Tan¨ª straightened. ¡°Wait, they¡¯re the founders of this place?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Eleanor glanced at him. ¡°Are you not familiar with the Academy¡¯s history?¡± Tan¨ª refrained from responding. He didn¡¯t know much about the place besides it crashing into the island, but Valtar, D¡¯Arcy, and Fad¨¦nix? The righteous heroes of the Three Nations¡¯ War? He wouldn¡¯t have guessed they¡¯d set up shop near the edge of the world. They were, if not entirely, the most powerful Juneac?o to grace the land. Their legends the daydreams of aspiring Juneac?o, though more importantly, it was their blood-stained relics which garnered their fascination. Items graced with the strength of God. Tan¨ª studied the trio of statues once more. He recognized Valtar on the left, being the only man, of course. Broad and fit, he was the most courageous of the three. His every legend praising his ability on the battlefield. Despite being the student of D¡¯Arcy (arguably the finest fencer in the Westerlans) he earned the mantle of a peerless duelist, and the master of Goem. D''Arcy stood opposite of him; her choice of weapon vaguely styled after great eastern blades as tall as a person. Legends claimed she had undergone tutelage from a wandering warrior during her decade-long stay in a reed-strewn bloodland. Harusto or something like that. Few Grazers made use of the peculiar style, though he¡¯s heard tales of her relic being shortened to allow for an adaptive fighting style. Scabbard in the offhand and blade in the main, like the monks from the east who claimed to ¡°extinguish the black flame¡± from the minds of those it tempted. Admittedly, he¡¯s only ever seen them twice in passing. As expected of a Juneac?o, she was fit, with her straight, though thoroughly unkempt long hair marking her as Tyrian. From what he knew, she was the oldest of the trio, and a Lunarkin. Meaning she was definitely the tallest. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Finally, there was Fad¨¦nix. Rumored to be of Coros descent, she (supposedly) hailed from Drophorse Valley. The borderland situated between the kingdoms of Kastel and Corat?o. Unlike Valtar and Darcy, she was no master of Goem or Toem, nor did she have a solid grasp on Judgment. No, the legends painted her as the first and greatest wielder of God''s Fire. It certainly made up for her poor horseback riding and fencing. If he were prone to falling flat on his face, he¡¯d certainly want something to even things out. But to attend a school they had founded¡­ Tan¨ª couldn¡¯t believe it! Maybe this really was what he needed. He could even master a School of Sedd! Then, once he reunited with Danza, he¡¯d show him all the progress he¡¯d made. Nothing, and he knew nothing, would give that old Juneac?o a better reason to smile. He¡¯d show everyone what he¡¯d learned, and they¡¯d have no other choice but to acknowledge him as their equal! Squires, the nobility, it didn¡¯t matter. None of them would have a reason to hate him for just being him. Eleanor held up a hand as they arrived at the foot of the garden. Tan¨ª stopped upon the silent signal, then shot her a confused glance. ¡°This is where we must part,¡± she announced, her eyes set on the entrance. ¡°Huh? You¡¯re just leaving?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be informing the Deputy Headmaster of your arrival. I hear he has been quite eager to meet you.¡± Tan¨ª debated asking her why, pressing for answers he should¡¯ve sought from Danza, but in the end, he shrank. ¡°¡­You could¡¯ve just said yes.¡± Eleanor turned to him, though this time, she betrayed neither contempt nor indifference. Only a strained, wistful smile. Like Danza at the port. ¡°Do not mistake partings for goodbyes, D¡¯Histell. They offer naught but grief.¡± Tan¨ª sighed. ¡°Yeah, sorry. Guess things¡¯ve just been fast lately.¡± ¡°Why not have a seat in the gardens? The calm might do you some good,¡± she suggested. ¡°Alright.¡± Tan¨ª inched forward, but before he could leave her side, he stopped. He glanced at his pocket, then to Eleanor. She gave a slight inclination of her head, and though it was stupid, Tan¨ª reached into his pocket and revealed the shiny pebble. ¡°Here.¡± ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Something I picked up passing through Godsfield.¡± He held out his hand. ¡°Found it near the fort. It¡¯s warm, too, so if you ever get cold, just keep it on you. Danza used to say it was like a mini campfire.¡± Eleanor¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Do you mean it¡¯s¡­?¡± ¡°Not sure, but it¡¯s just like the Tower. Even has the same colors n¡¯ glow! All creamy, just like the morning sun.¡± ¡°Well¡­it¡¯s pretty, though I don¡¯t understand why you¡¯re showing it to me.¡± ¡°Cuz I want you to have it,¡± Tan¨ª said, bringing his hand closer to hers. Eleanor blinked. ¡°Do¡ªDo you truly mean that? This is an Aspect. Perhaps the only one of its kind, and you think it wise to gift a stranger it?¡± ¡°Yup.¡± ¡°But¡­why?¡± ¡°I dunno. You just seem like the type of person who gets cold hands a lot.¡± A dazzling beam that rivaled the night sky tugged at her lips. It stretched from a barely perceptible curve like the gentle bend of a creek until her eyes crinkled with a barely contained happiness that made her look like she wanted to cry, yet not once did her eyes silver. Eleanor extended a shaky, calloused hand, and once Tan¨ª was certain, transferred the pebble safely into her grasp. For the first time since he discovered it tucked beneath the earth, he noted its shape. The thing resembled more a key, what with its undulating blunt ripples as smooth as a low tide. Hewn onto its surface was the visage of the moon and sun. What it represented, he didn¡¯t know, but it looked bloody pretty. Maybe that¡¯s what made it special. The fact that something so mundane and insignificant could appear like a miniature trophy from another era and fit in the palm of his hand. All without anyone ever knowing it existed. Tan¨ª would miss it, if only for that. ¡°Keep it safe, yeah? You might be noble n¡¯ all, but gifts are special.¡± He winked. Eleanor¡¯s fingers delicately curled about the pebble¡¯s form, shielding it from the cloudy sun¡¯s wrath. Not once did her smile waver; not even as she brought the pebble to her chest. ¡°You needn¡¯t concern yourself, Tan?o. It¡¯s in safekeeping. This, I swear to you.¡± Tan¨ª grinned, his cheeks burning at the mention of his full name. ¡°I liked it better when you called me by my last name.¡± ¡°Yes, well, a slip or two is to be expected. Have some leniency.¡± With that, she started towards the entrance. ¡°Till next time, D¡¯Histell.¡± ? Tan¨ª stared at the gray clouds as they passed, the cool, stone bench kissing his back. Bored to an ungodly degree, he rolled off and approached a nearby sunflower. He wrapped a hand around its tall stalk and waved it around senselessly. Pretending it caught in a wild windstorm. Sometimes they snapped, other times they fell limp as he created the noise of the devastating tempest with his mouth. Once the terrible sky god¡¯s reign ceased, Tan¨ª took it upon himself to finish off its adversaries. Swatting at the limp flowers with his practice sword until he split them cleanly in twain. He never could reach the climactic end, what with him being promptly chased by alarmed students. Despite it being calm, that only meant one thing: it was boring. Good blood, there was nothing to do. Why did they all sit around studying and reading when they could be out having an adventure? Or even drinking and celebrating like no tomorrow! Tan¨ª paused. Drinking? There was a response from his lower half. Irritatingly small, but there. He tried asking a passing student for the nearest outhouse, but they ignored him. Their eyes glued to their book. He then asked a nearby gardener watering a patch of flowers for aid, but when Tan¨ª direly uttered the facility¡¯s name, they arched a confused brow in response. Did that word mean nothing here? Realizing he wouldn¡¯t receive an answer, Tan¨ª distracted himself with the rolling world. The Deputy Headmaster would arrive any moment now. Surely Eleanor hadn¡¯t forgotten about him, right? Right? Tan¨ª held a grimace as he shifted in his spot for twenty restless minutes. The discomfort gnawed with increasing cruelty, threatening to burst like a destroyed dam. Surely, they must¡¯ve had dozens, possibly even hundreds, of facilities within the Academy. He only had to be patient. A crisp crack drew Tan¨ª¡¯s attention to a student sitting near a garden clearing. It¡¯s source: A girl, and though she was reading, she took a refreshing swig from her cannister. A metallic cylinder, much like the ones wealthy Juneac?o Orders carried on them. Many had taken to dubbing them ¡°cans,¡± and much like canteens, they carried liquids inside. A bizarre, fizzy drink sweeter than most pastries that sizzled upon one¡¯s tongue. His first taste of the drink had been a rather¡­messy affair. Thankfully, that Jury hadn¡¯t gone and murdered him after spitting all over the priceless portrait of their founder. The girl in the clearing took another long sip, then placed her drink on the cobblestone path. It set with a light clink, but Tan¨ª could¡¯ve sworn he heard the liquids sloshing around. Blocking out the noise, he shut his eyes, but just as peace settled, a deafening blast of sound shook him. A storm approached, and that meant rain. Lots and lots of rain. Enough rain to make rushing rivers flood, and ponds turn into minor lakes. Tan¨ª sat up in his seat, his eyes snapped on the oppressive, star-muting bank of thick haze rolling in from the west. Despite the west¡¯s absence, the rains came all the same, caring not for the end. The girl¡ªnoticing the approaching storm¡ªtipped her head back and downed the rest of her drink. Once finished, she closed her book and made her way towards the entrance. Tan¨ª, without thinking, followed her. She passed through the portal, but before he could step into the inviting warmth of the structure, Tan¨ª slammed into an invisible wall. Tan¨ª blinked, started again, then came to an awkward pause as nothing pressed back. He poked at the unseen force, and when it wouldn¡¯t budge, he threw his fist at it. An immense spike of flesh-tearing heat sowed itself into the framework of his hand, eliciting a sharp yelp as his world turned. He stuck out a foot, catching himself mid twist and desperately blew on his hand, and once it had sufficiently cool, turned to notice the girl from before staring at him. Her face etched with concern. ¡°Are you a student?¡± Tan¨ª lowered his hand. ¡°Yes¡­ Yes, I am.¡± ¡°Did you forget your Brand?¡± Brand? ¡°Yeah, I left it back in the¡­library!¡± She looked him up and down. ¡°Why¡¯re you out of uniform?¡± ¡°Uh¡­dirty! Yeah. Dirty.¡± ¡°You a fresh?¡± Tan¨ª nodded. Not that he knew what the term meant. ¡°Alright.¡± She stepped closer. ¡°Give me your name, and I¡¯ll go looking for your Brand.¡± Tan¨ª panicked. ¡°Uh¡­actually, my friend¡¯s getting it for me. We were just hanging out, and I told him I forgot it!¡± She placed her free fist on her hip. ¡°Weren¡¯t you just sitting across from me for the last twenty minutes?¡± ¡°Yeah, no, I just saw him a few seconds ago. Told him I forgot it. Don¡¯t worry, he¡¯s got you covered.¡± The girl shrugged. ¡°If you say so.¡± Tan¨ª waved her off, feeling stupid all the while. He was about to burst, yet all he could do was stand there and wait for someone to come down the hall. His gaze fell to the floor, and though he sat at the edge of defeat, a spark of hope remained. His hands might not have worked, but perhaps a weapon could fare better. Glancing either way, he unsheathed his sword, then delivered a cutting cross at the entrance. Instead of bouncing off the surface as he¡¯d predicated, something tugged. He pressed the blade deeper, the tooth of his sword sinking into a flesh beyond flesh, thicker than stone. Tan¨ª jerked forward, the blade gliding through the air with a slight rattle until it came to a sudden stop. A light gasp of moist air emanated from the trembling hilt, and though he tried pushing and pulling, it wouldn¡¯t budge. He didn¡¯t give up hope, though. Nothing would stop in him in his quest for toilet-based relief! Tan¨ª grunted and pressed his full weight against the item, his thoughts an image of a porcelain haven. Every three seconds, the invisible wall would give, unleashing faint waves of tangy zest, and the scent of freshly polished floors. He had to keep going. This was a matter of life and death. The continued existence of his trousers. As the chilly Redtide air wore on his muscles, a presence greater than he sputtered to life. One nestled within the core of his breast. And it brand itself his flame. If only for now. An undeniable heat overcame Tan¨ª, its boundless strength adding to his in a silent roar of defiance. The heat surged from his hip, stabilizing his trembling limbs, and then some. Fragrant aromas and subtle sounds poured from the invisible gash, but before he could make the final push to split it open, the discomfort of his bladder struck him like a tidal wave. It was all he could think of, and so he lost heart. The spark of heat diminished, expelling the blade from its gut with a thinning pop, and redirecting it towards his face in a mahogany blur. Before all went black, he spotted a wide-eyed Eleanor standing beside an equally stupefied graying man. More confused than horrified. Chapter 6 - First time ¡°Hey kid.¡± Tan¨ª winced as the voice reignited a dull ache in his temple. He tried to ignore it, but the longer it lingered, the hotter it became until he believed boiling blood to be trickling down his face. He wiped away the heat, but instead of meeting liquid, he found only a tender bump. The moment his fingers brushed against it, he let out a sharp, low hiss as a stabbing-throb threatened to burst from the bubble. ¡°Can you not? It was a hassle getting the swelling down. I don¡¯t want you aggravating it.¡± Tan¨ª pried his eyes open, but instead of being met with a kind face, he saw only the backside of a woman. Judging by her bright blue and white attire with a red teardrop insignia on her shoulder cape, she was a healer. Tan¨ª sat up, but the moment his head left the cushion, the world revolted in a screech of colors. His strength escaped him, and he crashed back onto the bed, the pain reigniting like a forest fire. ¡°Kid¡­¡± The woman turned to him, her amethyst-onyx eyes displaying nothing short of complete disinterest mingled with dark rings. ¡°Do you want to walk out of here with all your motor functions intact, or do you wanna turn into an amnesiac?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± ¡°You know what, don¡¯t even answer. You¡¯d only hurt your brain at this rate.¡± Tan¨ª grunted as the acute ache in his temple worsened. God, he never knew processing the world could be so draining. He just wanted to sleep again. Wait¡­ ¡°Misses?¡± Tan¨ª¡¯s voice wavered. ¡°Don¡¯t think I won¡¯t seal your mouth closed.¡± ¡°What happened to me?¡± She sighed. ¡°They caught you breaking into the academy, and though you were partially successful, your Sedd must¡¯ve given out.¡± A rush of confusion drowned out Tan¨ª¡¯s discomfort. ¡°Sedd¡­? But I can¡¯t use it.¡± ¡°You most certainly were, unless you mean to tell me that stick of yours is¡ªin truth¡ªa blood-stained relic.¡± Tan¨ª laughed, though the act left him lightheaded. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s not it¡­still doesn¡¯t explain how I got here.¡± ¡°Oh, that? Dragoncheeks said the barrier rejected. Y¡¯know, ill-will.¡± Her slightly tired eyes sharpened. ¡°Right, you can¡¯t even use Sedd. Rejection¡¯s when the Firmament resets an item. Usually, weapons and abnormalities. Your blade must¡¯ve been pretty close to your head during the orientation of your swing, so¡­¡± The nurse lifted a chilled pouch to her side. ¡°You gave yourself a nasty bump. Still, I¡¯m surprised you can even talk. You¡¯re pretty lucky, kid.¡± Tan¨ª bit back a scream as the chilly touch of the bag sowed icy needles into the throbbing heat¡¯s advance. It helped, but the agony it wrought made him wish otherwise. In a thin voice, he asked, ¡°How long was I out for?¡± ¡°Four hours.¡± Tan¨ª groaned. It was already the afternoon, and he had yet to meet the Deputy Headmaster? The man probably didn¡¯t even know he existed. A rhythmic tapping drew Tan¨ª¡¯s attention to the large window at his side. The partially sealed shutters limited his vision, though he could still make out the oppressive grayness of the storm, as well as the droplets of rejuvenating rain that sang as they struck the transparent seal. Well, at least the day looked as poor as it had gone. Reassured by Vale?o¡¯s mood, Tan¨ª sank into his bed. ¡°When can I leave?¡± ¡°Once I deem you fit for release. For now, you should rest,¡± the nurse answered, turning away. ¡°Yeah yeah¡­¡± The minutes turned into hours as the afternoon dragged on. Sitting around and doing nothing was bad enough, but knowing he couldn¡¯t do anything? That was worse. He needed to learn! Wasting his time imprisoned would serve no one. Tan¨ª reached for his sword but felt nothing. Not even the loop of the makeshift scabbard. A quick inspection revealed that the pants he was wearing hadn¡¯t been his old pair. Mother of¡­ Stuffing down his embarrassment, he felt for the straps of his knapsack, though they weren¡¯t there either. Nothing was. Tan¨ª shot up, his mind racing with questions as to the location of his belongings, though he quickly came to regret it as the full weight of his agony came crashing down like an unholy lance forged from the hottest thunderbolt. It split his head in twain, reducing his vision to a red flash. He fell back onto the bed with a low, long groan, feeling worse for wear. God, how could the pain go away but still be there? ¡°Misses¡­¡± he moaned. ¡°Can¡¯t you just be quiet?¡± she hissed, sounding like she was close to breaking whatever it was she was holding. ¡°Where¡¯s my stuff¡­?¡± ¡°Of course you¡¯re just going to ignore me¡­ You can find your belongings stored in my office. Once you¡¯ve made an adequate recovery, you can retrieve them, but for now, rest.¡± The sound of approaching footsteps grew louder until he saw her looming over him. Her broad, plastic smile stitched to the corners of her cheeks. ¡°And if you keep talking, your stay will be extended, and I know neither of us wants that. Understand?¡± Deprived of his will to fight, Tan¨ª gave a reluctant nod. Thankfully, that didn¡¯t aggravate the ache. The woman flashed him a genuine smile, then returned to her station. More silence, more rain. God, Tan¨ª hated when nothing happened. He couldn¡¯t idle! Not while he was a Juneac?o. Tan¨ª required all the training and equipment he could receive. Except a horse. He didn¡¯t want to rely on those unsightly beasts ever again. Perhaps the Juries might show him mercy and ignore his past. Not that he wanted to join the northern ones. They were too strict, especially Ila?el. Then again, they were probably only like that because they were royal guards. I wonder if they get paid good. Tan¨ª shut his eyes and imagined a world where he was a full-fledged Juneac?o. The legendary quests they¡¯d task him with, the fair maidens that would fawn over him, the songs they¡¯d sing in his honor¡­ Yes, from Tyrem and back, his deeds would be praised! Just like all the old Juneac?o he admired. He only had to try. Like Voen and Eleusted. Time must¡¯ve passed faster than he anticipated, as by the time he next glanced outside the window, the world had gone dark. The nurse was nowhere to be found, and the unreal light fluctuating upon the ceiling had dimmed to a comfortable degree. He slowly shifted to the edge of his bed, waiting for the nausea and heat to return, but when they didn¡¯t, he threw his legs off the bed. The exhaustion was there, but a good night¡¯s sleep would fix it. Righting himself, Tan¨ª hesitated. He had no real accommodations here, nor a uniform or whatever a ¡°Brand¡± was. Good blood, he didn¡¯t even have a schedule yet. Maybe he could walk into any class he wanted and learn from there. That didn¡¯t sound like a bad idea. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. A harrowing ache split his stomach as his body scrounged for nonexistent leftovers to nibble on. The ghastly growl followed suit, filling the nurse¡¯s office with the terrible roar of an ancient, cranky evil. Right¡­he still hadn¡¯t eaten that day. ¡°Nurse?¡± he called, his voice ringing off the walls. Twenty seconds passed before he repeated the call, but there was nothing. His ¡°room¡± was little more than a set of partitions walling off the rest of the nurse¡¯s office, save for a slot that three people could fit through simultaneously. Once he grew restless, he peeked outside his little haven and found the place littered with rooms on either side. They were all empty, which meant¡­ Tan¨ª sighed. She was on break, wasn¡¯t she? God, now he¡¯d never retrieve his knapsack. That blasted thing held his only source of nutrients on this moon-ridden island. Sure, they were mostly saltines and jerky tougher than a boot, but something was better than nothing. Tan¨ª¡¯s heart froze as the sound of air pushing through the cracks of a door shattered the calm. Panicking, he bolted back to his bed, hoping that the nurse hadn¡¯t glimpsed him as she entered. He stubbed his toe against the metal of the bed, cursed, and fell onto the plush cushion, his back facing the partitions. All the while praying he hadn¡¯t made too much noise. The echo of descending footsteps grew louder with every second, and while he entertained the idea of pretending to be asleep, he was tired of being alone. A conversation with the nurse didn¡¯t sound too bad. Maybe she¡¯d even¡ª ¡°Young Tan¨ª, correct?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡ª¡± Tan¨ª paused. That voice didn¡¯t belong to anyone he knew. He rolled over and faced the speaker, which so happened to be the old man accompanying Eleanor. ¡°Wait, who are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m the man who saw you knock yourself cold. Rather impressive feat, or foolish. Most folk ain¡¯t brave enough to go through with the choice.¡± Tan¨ª tossed an exasperated glance at the ceiling. ¡°Yeah¡­wasn¡¯t my first choice.¡± ¡°But to nearly tear through the entrance like it was nothing¡­ You¡¯ve got a deep Well, kid.¡± ¡°Thanks, there¡¯s only one issue.¡± The man cocked a brow. ¡°That being?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t even use Sedd.¡± ¡°But you did.¡± ¡°No, that was just my sword,¡± Tan¨ª admitted with a low whisper. ¡°Normal weaponry won¡¯t work on a rejection unless it¡¯s blood-stained or powered by Sedd. So, either that thing¡¯s graced, or you Awakened,¡± the old man reasoned. Tan¨ª squirmed. ¡°A stick of wood being a blood-stained relic?¡± ¡°Stranger things¡¯ve happened. Wouldn¡¯t rule out the possibility if I were you. Odd choice of material, but people are quirky. Who knows, might even have a story attached to it.¡± ¡°A happy one?¡± A thoughtful glint shone in the man¡¯s eyes. ¡°No¡­unassuming things like these never have good stories.¡± Tan¨ª propped himself on his elbow. ¡°What makes you say that?¡± ¡°People choose real things to love. Even people comfortable with a counterfeit always long for the genuine article. Just means they wanted something more than anything else.¡± A resonating pulse inverted the world, and who he saw appeared neither old nor young. Just¡­alive. Present. A nostalgic heat emanated from his peripheral, yet that girl would not show. Maybe he deserved that. The old man drew closer to Tan¨ª, dispelling the vision. He used a cane in the guise of a striking serpent with feathers to move around. Similar to the old gods of D¨¦qom. A slight jut near the handle denied the otherwise seamless design. ¡°You really don¡¯t think your Sedd works, do you?¡± the man asked, a faint scar etched across his weathered nose. Tan¨ª adjusted himself until he was sitting cross-legged on the bed. ¡°Not really. It¡¯s never worked before.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the funny thing about Sedd: Bloody thing¡¯s a mushpot. Won¡¯t Awaken until it knows you¡¯re true, but you get inklings along the way. Especially if it¡¯s something you want.¡± The man leaned on his cane. ¡°Might not seem like it, but trust me. You¡¯ll know when you feel it.¡± ¡°I just felt really hot.¡± ¡°But not tired or sweaty?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Tan¨ª looked at him, skeptical. ¡°How do you know?¡± ¡°Cuz that¡¯s how Sedd feels. Doesn¡¯t explain how you tore through the barrier¡­ He¡¯s a sturdy bastard. Not even a third-year can put a dent in it.¡± Tan¨ª blinked. Him? Put a dent in it? If a third-year couldn¡¯t damage it¡ªsomeone with traditional training and greater potential than he¡ªthen where would that put him? ¡°H-Has this ever happened before? You know¡­someone tearing down the barrier.¡± The old man grunted. ¡°Can¡¯t say it has. We test the walls every few years. Y¡¯know, make sure they¡¯re running optimally. Not saying they can¡¯t be broken, but intruders don¡¯t like us. Let¡¯s keep it like that.¡± ¡°What¡ª¡± Tan¨ª¡¯s voice fell to a murmur. ¡°What does that say about me?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t know, so why don¡¯t we find out?¡± ¡°Huh? Sure, I guess, but you aren¡¯t really a teacher.¡± ¡°No, but I am the Deputy Headmaster, so overseeing your education is a part of my duties.¡± Tan¨ª gaped. ¡°You¡¯re the guy who made me wait two hours?¡± The Deputy Headmaster barked with laughter. ¡°Sorry about that. I was roped into some faculty drama.¡± ¡°Did you seriously have to make me wait that long?¡± ¡°No, but this was something that required my immediate attention. Try to understand.¡± As much as Tan¨ª wanted to dismiss his terrible apology, he knew it wouldn¡¯t be wise to get on the man¡¯s bad side. With an air of reluctance, Tan¨ª sighed. ¡°Sure, I guess¡­¡± ¡°Thank you. Now, introductions. My name¡¯s Sierez.¡± He held out a hand. ¡°Sierez de Adena.¡± Tan¨ª perked up. ¡°De Adena? That¡¯s where Danza¡¯s from.¡± ¡°Mm. Good man. Had plenty of brothers growing up, but he was the only one outside my family.¡± Sierez waited until Tan¨ª took the cue, and once they shook hands, he continued. ¡°I¡¯m glad we¡¯ve finally met, Tan¨ª. I can see that Danza wasn¡¯t lying.¡± Tan¨ª tilted his head. ¡°About what?¡± ¡°Said you were a hard worker, just didn¡¯t know it. Like I said, not many kids can bring down a barrier. You¡¯ve got talent.¡± ¡°Yeah, I was¡ª¡± A terrible growl cut Tan¨ª¡¯s response short. In the confined space of the nurse¡¯s room, it was deafening. Just hearing it made him hurt worse than the physical discomfort of hunger. ¡°Right. You haven¡¯t had lunch yet, have you?¡± Sierez asked. ¡°Unfortunately.¡± Tan¨ª looked away sheepishly. ¡°Got caught up in moving around and I never got the chance to eat.¡± ¡°Were you never offered a meal on the ship? It¡¯s courtesy of the academy.¡± ¡°I¡­no,¡± came a shy third voice. Tan¨ª turned his gaze to the slot, discovering an almost timid Eleanor barely peeking around the corner. Her eyes hidden by her gilded locks. ¡°I¡¯m ashamed to admit I did not extend this courtesy to our esteemed guest, Master.¡± ¡°Ellie,¡± Sierez¡¯s voice took on a sharp edge, ¡°your actions reflect that of the academy. Do you truly believe Tan¨ª, a student rightfully accepted by law, undeserving of a meal?¡± ¡°I¡­yes, I did, Master, and I apologize for that. Truly. I¡¯ve shirked my duties, and worse, have left D¡¯Histell with an abysmal impression of our honorable school. I¡¯ll accept all punishments you deem fit for my misconduct, so please¡­ Forgive me.¡± Eleanor stepped into the greater slot and bowed, but not to Sierez. It was to him. Tan¨ª. ¡°Forgive me, D¡¯Histell.¡± A thousand thoughts raced through Tan¨ª¡¯s stunned mind. He had the power to make someone feel worse. Someone who sought nothing more than forgiveness. Just like him when all those squires had cast him out from their circles. It made him feel¡­odd. Not because he enjoyed it, but because he hated the slight tremor that racked her form. So, he said the first thing his mind could wrangle. ¡°Yeah, no problem. We¡¯re all good.¡± Eleanor¡¯s head whipped up, eyes wide. ¡°Truly? You mean that?¡± ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s no spine in my mouth.¡± ¡°Ah! Thank you!¡± She bowed again, but even more deeply. ¡°God be good! Thank you, D¡¯Histell. Truly.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Sierez rounded her so that he could face Tan¨ª. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen our lovely Art instructor so animated. You really know how to get to a woman¡¯s heart, don¡¯t you, kid?¡± Shooting the man a deathly glare, she simultaneously fashioned a package from her side. In her hand, she held a colorful box woven from natural fibers. A lusarello. Few knew of its genuine history, but Danza had gone to great lengths just to remind him that these ¡°gifts¡± were tokens of affection. Ones crafted by men and women seeking the favor of passing preservers. After all, what could be more welcoming than a hot meal after a long day¡¯s travel? ¡°I¡­well, I took the liberty of purchasing you lunch. Right after informing Master of your arrival, that is.¡± Eleanor averted her saffron-chambray eyes from Tan¨ª¡¯s. ¡°What I did was inexcusable. Rather, it¡¯s what I didn¡¯t do that¡¯s weighed upon my conscience. No one should go without succor, yet here you are. I apologize for my tardiness. If I were fleet of foot, or had abstained from my purchase, then the accident could¡¯ve been avoided. I¡ª¡± She bowed her head once more. ¡°Forgive me.¡± Tan¨ª smiled. ¡°I already said I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Yes, of course. My apologies.¡± After some more awkward standing around, Tan¨ª finally accepted her offer, and undid the seals on the box. They were stubborn to prevent leakage, though it was a worthy sacrifice for the condition it kept the food in. Removing the lid, he found a helping of butter-fried rice, what appeared to be glazed chicken, some pork, beef of all things, an egg tart neatly tucked away in the corner, and a medley of steamed vegetables. The mere smell of which made his water mouth. This was the type of food the nobility ate. ¡°Ellie,¡± Sierez breathed sweetly, ¡°why don¡¯t you keep young Tan¨ª company until Ylissa returns?¡± Eleanor looked at the old man, then to Tan¨ª. Her brow knit with apprehension. ¡°Would that not inconvenience you?¡± ¡°Nah.¡± Tan¨ª scooted over, making space on his bed. ¡°I was getting bored, anyways.¡± Eleanor took her seat beside him. They initially struggled to get a conversation going, but once they did, it was thanks to her efforts. She guided him through the meal, drawing his utensil to the tastiest portion. That being the beef, or as she called it, ¡°steak.¡± Tan¨ª made several efforts to partake of the tart, but she would gently reprimand him before steering his utensils to the meat. ¡°Protein is important for a growing body,¡± she would say. He wasn¡¯t really looking for instruction. If anything, he just wanted to stuff his face full, but he followed her guidance out of respect. Partway through the meal, as he crunched on a mouthful of veggies, Sierez laughed. Tan¨ª cocked a brow at the man, and when Eleanor pried for an explanation, he chuckled, ¡°I¡¯m glad you made your first friend, that¡¯s all.¡± Chapter 7 - Wanna take a tour? Hierrs¨¦ Academy''s Uniform, as worn by the 13th century student. Inspired by formal garbs depicted in ancient Aisenstadt murals, this revived asethetic boasts a form-fitting attire seen only in the Jury of Ila?el''s standard. Its most promienent feature is that of the twin capelets, one which displays the student''s assigned House. Although once particular to this region of the world, this dress became the standard for all distinguished schools of learning. Due to the capelets cumbersome weight, and their propsenity for snagging onto hooks and corners, designers have carefully designed this rendition''s capelets with silk in mind. While little remains known of Aisenstadt, scholars believe they were once a learned nation who imaprted their wisdom to the world. When they dared glimpse beyond the Desolator''s corpse, they found only a distant, foreign light. And it blinked.
¡°And over there¡¯s the cafeteria.¡± Sierez gestured to the door on their right. Tan¨ª aimed his sights towards the cavernous room. Most mess halls were spacious enough to grant Juneac?o and their squires appropriate seating, but this? It was like someone had hollowed out an entire Monastery! Extravagant tablecloths littered the cafeteria, depicting one of three emblems. A mighty, star-devouring serpent from D¨¦qoish legend, a twin-headed dragon with a scabbard in one maw and a blade in the other, and a fierce bird guarding a star. While the sumptuous tables boasted a cushioned bench, the smaller ones boasted luxurious dining chairs. Sporting a delicate arch, they¡ª Wait. Tan¨ª peered. Are those armrests? This place really did have it all. The handful of students present enjoyed a lonely supper at their respective tables. They bore matching shoulder capes. Did that make their table assigned seating? He meticulously scrutinized the emblems. A dark, scale-speckled serpent lay upon a field of fine white silk, sinking its fangs into a dark orange star. The twin-headed dragon possessed lustrous off-white scales and bright green eyes draped against a violet background, and the vigilant bird sat alone in a void blacker than space. Its orange plumage nurturing the nascent star nestled in between its light-riddled wings. ¡°Hey, Sierez,¡± Tan¨ª said, keeping his voice low enough so that those nearby didn¡¯t catch it. ¡°What do the pictures mean?¡± ¡°You mean the emblems?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Those¡¯re showing their allegiance,¡± Sierez said. Tan¨ª folded his arms. ¡°What¡¯s that mean?¡± Sierez continued down their path, prompting Tan¨ª to follow him. ¡°You see, Tan¨ª, being a Juneac?o is about knowing who to pledge your heart to.¡± His cane clicked against the reflective tiles lining the endless hall. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter who it¡¯s to, or why it¡¯s so. Just that you have something you know you¡¯ll fight for.¡± ¡°I know already know that.¡± Tan¨ª caught up to him. ¡°It¡¯s why people become Grazers and Preservers.¡± ¡°Yes. They say it makes you more loyal.¡± ¡°But it doesn¡¯t.¡± A dry laugh escaped the graying Juneac?o¡¯s lips. ¡°Don¡¯t tell the youngins that. Some just like pledging to the highest bidder. Nothing wrong with that. More vines means a longer life. At least in theory.¡± Sierez¡¯s grip tightened about his cane. ¡°No harm in granting our students a glimpse of what that world can bring. Infighting, scheming, forming alliances¡­ Squires think they have life figured out. That once you get money and a title, it¡¯s all good.¡± His brow creased with thought. ¡°A Juneac?o doesn¡¯t live long fighting for what they love, but that¡¯s better than the alternative, no?¡± Tan¨ª gripped the hilt of his sword. ¡°What¡¯s the alternative?¡± ¡°Standing around wondering why you¡¯re doing nothing.¡± They passed several snickering students, though their mirth swiftly died down as they turned to greet Sierez. The old man called them by name, then continued guiding Tan¨ª down the ever-winding path. ¡°Students have access to the first two floors of the academy,¡± Sierez began. ¡°Classes are held at the base level, as well as training facilities, the cafeteria, study hall, and the dueling ring.¡± Tan¨ª leaned in conspiratorially. ¡°Dueling ring?¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s pretty popular among first-years. Most squires never get the opportunity to spar. Juneac?o training being solitary as it is. Bit of an old tradition, really. Blood¡¯s personal, and we don¡¯t like mixing it. Might dilute.¡± Sierez grunted. ¡°Doesn¡¯t make much sense when you think about it. Sure, we might master everything we¡¯ve been taught, but limiting our resources means we limit our potential. That¡¯s why the dueling ring was made: Because if we can share what made us stronger, then we¡¯d be better for it.¡± Tan¨ª nodded, though he wasn¡¯t really paying attention anymore. ¡°Can anyone fight?¡± he asked. ¡°If you¡¯ve got the SG.¡± ¡°SG?¡± ¡°Oh, yes. That¡¯s the academy¡¯s currency. Stands for ¡®school gold,¡¯ who could¡¯ve guessed?¡± The clicking of Sierez¡¯s cane became infrequent. ¡°Students earn SG through a variety of means: volunteer work, academic performance, physical excellency, and general acts of charity.¡± ¡°Charity?¡± Tan¨ª said, confused. ¡°Couldn¡¯t some people lie about that?¡± ¡°Which is why it¡¯s the one we often pay the most attention to. It¡¯s easy to lie about doing something good, and I don¡¯t mean sharing your reedprinter with a neighbor or buying someone a treat. The hearts are pitchers. Spilling more than it ever intends.¡± Tan¨ª flashed him a wry grin. ¡°Sounds painful.¡± Sierez wagged a finger.¡± But it¡¯s the most lucrative, too.¡± ¡°So¡­ How expensive is a duel?¡± ¡°Around fifty SG. Slightly more expensive than a deluxe meal, but cheaper than a book.¡± A tide of disappointment doused Tan¨ª¡¯s excitement. ¡°Wait, so we have to choose between eating or fighting?¡± Sierez laughed. ¡°No, standard meals are free of charge. So are uniforms, house capes, laundry, school supplies, cards, and basic necessities such as water and produce. The only choice you have to make is if you¡¯re willing to spend money on losing.¡± This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Tan¨ª blinked thrice. Was he in paradise? Sure, the trade-off was a little steep. You paid a little, probably lost, but at least you have a meal to go back to. fair yet humiliating trade-off. What a world. ¡°Do a lot of students still use the ring?¡± he pressed. ¡°Plenty. Some even spend every last SG they have till they win. It¡¯s always ¡®one last fight to break the streak,¡¯ never realizing they¡¯re on their tenth lost.¡± Sierez¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°I don¡¯t know why they do this to themselves¡­¡± Tan¨ª came to a slow stop as they reached a hall entirely constructed of glass overlooking the dark ocean. Sprays of black water painted the air, and though it was bright inside, the light didn¡¯t spill into the outer world. Just perfectly contained within their paradise, as if that was all that mattered. Tan¨ª pressed his hand against the window, but the moment his fingers grazed the paper-thin material, a shock of heat traveled up his arm. Flinching, he drew his hand to his face and inspected it. There was nothing. Tan¨ª focused on the transparent veil separating their realities, but this time, he found ¡°scratches¡± violating it. The longer he gazed upon them, the more they wavered and re-stabilized. Like a flickering flame in the wind. Bewildered, he turned his attention to the sky. Thousands of pinpricks dotted the Desolator¡¯s hide, and there, beyond its vile reach, was her retreat: the moon. Its pale green light hummed an unforgettable lullaby, caressing Tan¨ª¡¯s senses with fervent notes as smooth as silk. And she sang them for him. For the one she could not cherish. A sweltering wave of heat swept through his chest like a Sun¡¯s Peak storm, and yet sorrow could not rightly describe it. His feet carried him to the edge, where the gregarious presence of his Mother could shine through. There was something different about it here, though. More so than in the wild. He could see her palace all the same, but¡­ Yes. He could hear it, a divine plucking not dissimilar to a renuw. Resounding, clear. A harmonic frequency matched only by the gentle crunch of fresh snow. It was her voice. With each incomprehensible murmur, Tan¨ª shuddered. The Cycles of their world laid bare before his undeserving eyes. His Mother¡­ A swell of grief ensnared his heart. His Mother¡­ Tan¨ª¡¯s lips parted, and without thinking it, he recited a single lyric of that beyond ancient melody. One written for his ears, and his alone when their world had been naught but a singular prism upon an infinite coast of starless light. ¡°¡­ivix¡­.¡± Hers was a name sweeter than a mug of nightsip infused with vanilla and cream. Warmer than a crackling fire on a snowy Frostfall day, and twice as comforting. Thinking of it now, though¡­it only made his chest feel tighter. ¡°¡­elar¡­¡± <<>> ¡°¡­unending¡­dream my dream. If only once, sweet dreams my dream.¡± Cycles, nine. Heaven made reality. Pure. Wrong. Iterations. None survived. Festering within the stone-laden networks they called labyrinths. No sword, no key. Treasureless. Alone. Dead, but all for one. She would follow suit eventually. Alone, too. The realm doomed to chaos. Something pressed on Tan¨ª¡¯s shoulder, jolting him from his trance. He blinked, strained his ears in hopes of catching another lyric, but there was nothing. When silence reigned supreme, he stared at the silvery keep. Desperate to be with her once more. <<>> <<>> ¡°Tan¨ª? Are you well, my boy?¡± Sierez asked, his voice laced with concern. Tan¨ª nodded, though he refused to tear his gaze away from the divine satellite. Her grip was powerful, and though she was the might of Creation made manifest, her strength had failed him. ¡°Tan¨ª?¡± He nodded again. Waves crashed against him, their every roar a concern, but they were meaningless. Much like the spray that splashed against the jagged coast of northern Corat?o. The tide drew him along, his stiff legs refusing each stumbling step. Tan¨ª¡¯s blood chilled without the presence of his Mother, but her memory¡­ Yes, her memory. The Towers, the Solanarium, their half-gnawed roots. He didn¡¯t know what it meant, and yet¡­ Darkness consumed the world, broken by flashes of radiant-white jaws that seared the stars, and her smile. That final, tender smile. It was devoured. ? Tan¨ª came to upon a bench. He was staring at the wall, Sierez sitting beside him. His mind failed to comprehend the series of visions, and after telling the old man about them, he brushed it off as him having an overactive imagination. Maybe that bump had done a bigger number on him than he¡¯d anticipated. After catching his breath, the Deputy Headmaster showed him to his classes. The rooms were empty, but his schedule went as followed: Literature, Introduction to Government, Introduction to Juneac?o Histories, Mathematics, Introduction to Sedd, and Introduction to Art. Strangely enough, Art was adjacent to the dueling ring. Other classes existed outside of this base curriculum, though Sierez referred to these as electives. Tan¨ª had, unfortunately, joined too late to sign-up for any of them. Sierez handed Tan¨ª a scroll with a series of directions and words he couldn¡¯t read. It was his schedule, though he could only make sense of the numbers. God¡­he¡¯d be starting the day with Literature? Thrilling. Sierez mentioned a seventh ¡°class¡± which he referred to as grace. A time where students from each House spent an hour hanging around. Most, however, did so in their grand halls. These were located towards the center of the second floor and made up entirely of pseudo-rooms aligned into a maze. Sounded like a great place to play a game of chase. As for being sorted into a House, that was dependent on one''s strongest attributes in relation to the founders. There was House Vlasalisk, home to the courageous and righteous. Recognized as the most talented duelists on campus. Then there was House Dragonfang, home to the clever and swift. Their fame stemmed from their unparalleled use of Toem. Finally, who could forget House Fad¨¦nix, home to the resilient and true. To Tan¨ª, they sounded the least impressive of the three, and judging by how the others distanced themselves from those wearing her colors, they weren¡¯t popular. Much like their founder, they specialized in little, excluding God''s Fire. ¡°Sierez?¡± Tan¨ª interjected, cutting the man off mid-explanation. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°They sound like a bunch of losers.¡± Sierez¡¯s lips quirked. ¡°To some, maybe.¡± ¡°They can¡¯t even use God¡¯s Fire.¡± ¡°Tan¨ª,¡± Sierez said, his voice stern, ¡°didn¡¯t Danza ever tell you that you don¡¯t need Sedd to be a true Juneac?o?¡± Tan¨ª rolled his eyes. ¡°All the time.¡± ¡°Well, he¡­¡± As Sierez lectured him on the ¡°foundations of being a Juneac?o,¡± Tan¨ª briefly entertained the notion of familiarizing his head with the Academy¡¯s foundation. Finally, they came upon the second floor after being transported via an odd, silvery device that appeared like a landing bird. Or something reminiscent of one. Three wings divided the second floor. The northern half being dominated by Vlasalisk, the western being Fad¨¦nix, and the east being Dragonfang. Dorms were peppered throughout the entire floor, though members of each House weren¡¯t strictly confined to said wings. Only their great halls were located there. Sierez led him to a series of dorms in the eastern wing, and after procuring an odd dagger, pierced a too-smooth door. The dagger didn¡¯t shatter as Tan¨ª had expected it to. No, it slid right through the door as if it were nothing more than sand adjusting to its protruding shape. A soft click came from the door before the thing completely disappeared from view, revealing a barren but clean room. Tan¨ª entered the room without permission, eyeing the simple kitchen, then the door on the right. A closet? Opening it revealed dozens of changes of the school¡¯s uniform and winter attire. A slim hall led out from the kitchen and into a modest bedroom. The bed was enormous. More than those single-sized beds the Monasteries offered. There was also a desk, a calendar, and a window revealing the shimmering scales in the sky. Tan¨ª poked and prodded at every piece of furniture in the room, enjoying the new, clean smell. ¡°And here¡¯s a washroom,¡± Sierez said, opening up the last door in the bedroom. Tan¨ª peeked inside and found a large porcelain tub and a strange stalk with a metal blossom hanging from the wall. It was, however, the dashing toilet near the entrance that captivated Tan¨ª¡¯s eyes. It looked so shiny. Was that normal? And the golden lever! That sleek design as if it had been produced by a master artisan¡­ ¡°Right. Breakfast is served a little past sunrise, lunch is midday, and dinner is served during moonrise.¡± Sierez offered him a dagger and belt. ¡°Keep these on you.¡± Tan¨ª accepted the item with a thankful nod. ¡°What¡¯re they?¡± ¡°Your class dagger, but most students call them Brands. Grants you access to your dorm, restrooms, and other facilities. Even keeps track of your SG and rank.¡± ¡°Rank?¡± ¡°Academic ranking. Just for clout, really, but if you play your cards right, even something worthless means something to a stranger.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± Tan¨ª brought the dagger close to his face. ¡°This does a lot of things. Wait¡­¡± He squinted. T. Z. D. His wedged-shape initials carved into an orange orb. The dagger¡¯s pommel. ¡°Oh, and since none of your Housemates are here to give you a proper hello¡­¡± Sierez extended his arms in a welcoming gesture. ¡°Glad to have you in Fad¨¦nix. You¡¯ll fit right in.¡± Tan¨ª blinked. ¡°What?¡± Sierez unveiled several shoulder capes with the House¡¯s emblem and laid them neatly on his bed. ¡°You¡¯re a perfect fit, Tan¨ª. More than you know.¡± A rushing tide of panic prompted him to scramble towards the capes. Hoping it was a joke, Tan¨ª squeaked. ¡°B-But isn¡¯t there a process or something? Or maybe I can pick?¡± ¡°Usually, there is a little process, but that¡¯s during registration. Had to go with my gut on this.¡± ¡°T-Then maybe I can go somewhere else! Like Vlasalisk! They sound cool.¡± ¡°Nah. You wouldn¡¯t fit in there.¡± Sierez limped down the hall. ¡°Dragonfang? They¡¯re swift and clever, right? Sounds like a great place!¡± ¡°Are you kidding? They¡¯d eat you up.¡± Tan¨ª wanted to growl, but it came out as little more than a strangled laugh. ¡°Maybe we can talk about this tomorrow? We don¡¯t have to decide now.¡± Sierez waved. ¡°Get comfy while you can. Oh, and take a bath. You reek.¡± ¡°Wait, there¡¯s been a mistake¡ª¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Sierez turned around. ¡°Cuz of your good deed, I loaded your Brand with an extra two-thousand SG. The most anyone¡¯s ever gotten in one day, really,¡± he grinned. ¡°You¡¯re one lucky kid, y¡¯know. No one can make her happy. Not even the king.¡± Chapter 8 - Decided to drop by Limbs snagged onto Tan¨ª, drawing his unwilling form into the roaring rapids. He clawed at the nearby uniforms, hoping they save him from being flattened into a spotted tortilla, but his would-be saviors flashed him a sneer before shrugging him off. Some were barely taller than him, whiles others were nearly six-foot tall. Concealing the too-white, lemon-scented walls with their adult bodies. Summoning his every ounce of strength, Tan¨ª pushed past the wall of students, but the moment he pierced the veil, a stray elbow crashed into him. Returning him to the turbulent tide of bored-looking boys and girls. A barrage of limbs struck him with ruthless efficiency. Scraping his guard, breaking it, yet ultimately striking him everywhere else but the point he once defended. Their every jab delivering a spike of heat that tunneled to the bone. Tan¨ª yelped as the tide tossed him to the side in a tangle of arms and legs, eliciting a series of curses before they tossed him back, the faux ceiling light flickering as towering figures drowned him in darkness. He wrestled away from them, until, finally, one struck out. Their arm flashed forward, grabbed him by the shoulder cape, and with a quick, clean shove, propelled him through the flood of people. The students toppled like dominos as he crashed into them, unable to stop himself. Then, and only after accepting his death in this stuffy place of learning, he pierced through the prison of Juneac?o and crashed onto the floor. His shoulder capes nearly strangling him. Heat resonated from Tan¨ª¡¯s tender hips and shoulders, and though he wanted to power through the discomfort, their echoes transformed into a needle of skin-prickling agony that coaxed a soft groan from his lips. They certainly weren¡¯t happy to see a new face, that much was certain¡­ A ragged breath slipped past his lips as he pushed himself off the floor. At least the day couldn¡¯t get worse. He still had his breakfast despite the whirlwind. If he continued traveling downstream, he¡¯d eventually come across¡ª ¡°D¡¯Histell?¡± came a gruff voice as unwelcoming as a Frostfall¡¯s gale. Tan¨ª lifted his head and found an entire classroom of students staring at him. Worse than their looks was the owner of the voice. A man who appeared like he could split a door in two with a single swing of an axe. Broad, tall, and with a thin, dark beard that emphasized his unsettling hazel-blueberry eyes, the man stood as a testament to the woodsman ways. He even had that infamous dead ¡°I haven¡¯t experienced joy since the day I was born¡± glint in his gradient pools. That, or he had lost a poor bet. Lots of Grazers had that persistent sour frown on their face after their jouster got downed. Then again, Tan¨ª always warned them they would lose. ¡°I-I¡­uh¡­wrong class?¡± Tan¨ª said with a smile. The man marched over to him, his boots clicking against the tiled floor. Tan¨ª shrank, hoping the tide would sweep him back up. Unfortunately, the man plucked him by the vest before he could escape. ¡°You¡¯re late,¡± the sour-faced Juneac?o chastised. ¡°I¡¯m not, I was just¡ª¡± ¡°There¡¯s no excuse for being late.¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± The instructor held up a hand large enough to mask Tan¨ª¡¯s face. ¡°You came to receive the finest instruction a Juneac?o could ask for, yet you¡¯d rather waste my time¡ªand by extension, your classmates¡ªby denying your blame? Do you fashion yourself a rogue?¡± An overwhelming urge to melt into the background filled every ounce of Tan¨ª¡¯s being. ¡°See that you¡¯re never late again.¡± The man set him down. ¡°Now, introduce yourself.¡± Tan¨ª nodded so hard he got dizzy. After gathering his wits, he faced the class, vision tilted. Students sat upon an ascending row of desks that touched either wall with a slim path down the middle to travel. Judging by a brief sweep of their faces, none of them were the children he¡¯d met at port. Swallowing his nerves, he waved. ¡°Morning. My name¡¯s Tan?o. I¡¯m new here.¡± A dry cough broke the newborn silence. His (reluctant) listeners rested their heads on their desk, or if they had enough energy, toyed with their Brands. Some of them even tried spinning them like tops, and though partially successful, most flew off of their desks with a silent zip before smacking the back of another student¡¯s head. ¡°Tell us your master¡¯s name and specialization,¡± the Sour-faced Juneac?o pressed. Good blood, his voice weighed on Tan¨ª like gravity. ¡°My Master¡¯s name is Danza.¡± Tan¨ª paused, thoughtful. ¡°He doesn¡¯t really specialize in much¡­but he¡¯s good at everything. Oh! He really likes horses. And guessing the time! He¡¯s really good at that. Even if it¡¯s late at night, he always knows when it is!¡± ¡°Tell us three interesting things about yourself.¡± Tan¨ª¡¯s mind blanked. How was he supposed to know that? He¡¯s done nothing noteworthy except learn the ways of the Juneac?o. Wasn¡¯t that interesting enough? He cobbled together some manner of response. Or he would have if something actually came to mind! So many faces. What would happen if he said the wrong thing? Would they treat him like the other squires? Would they continue to ignore him like they always did? ¡°Well?¡± the man pressed. ¡°I¡­¡± Tan¨ª¡¯s eyes darted to the hall. Countless students. All of them rushing to class, their tomes held close to their hips. ¡°Uh¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯ve no patience for moonrays, D¡¯Histell.¡± Something interesting. Something that¡¯d impress even these stuck-up scions. Nothing simple like a shiny pebble from Godsfield. He needed a treasure to prove that he was their equal. ¡°My master entrusted his family heirloom to me!¡± Tan¨ª blurted. Half the students ceased their idling and snapped their heads to face him, their eyes curious. ¡°What is it?¡± a boy asked. Tan¨ª puffed out his chest. ¡°It¡¯s a sword.¡± ¡°Is it a blood-stained relic?¡± a dark-haired girl questioned. ¡°¡­Yes. Yes, it is.¡± The sleepy students lifted their heads off the desk, their blurry eyes sharp. Murmurs spilled from their lips, flooding the room with sound as students chatted among themselves. He couldn¡¯t quite catch what they were saying, but he didn¡¯t have to hear to know what they were discussing. Why gift a commoner with a blood-stained relic? The rumble softened as a head of short, blonde, parted hair peeked out from the very back. It was him. The boy with lavender-yellow eyes. ¡°You? The same fry that couldn¡¯t even alight from his pony, granted a blood-stained relic? I¡¯d sooner believe Tygenna awakening.¡± A low ¡°oo¡± arose from the students. ¡°But he did!¡± Tan¨ª argued. ¡°He gave me it before he left!¡± ¡°What does it do then?¡± Tan¨ª stopped. ¡°What?¡± ¡°You heard me.¡± The boy leaned forward on his desk. ¡°What. Does. It. Do.¡± Tan¨ª swallowed the lump in his throat. ¡°It uh¡­¡± He looked around, hoping inspiration would strike him. He had any number of blood-stained relics to pull from. One was enough. God, why couldn¡¯t he think of one? ¡°You¡¯ve forgotten, haven¡¯t you?¡± The boy said with such faux concern that it physically pained Tan¨ª to hear it. ¡°Well, no matter. I believe you. Your hesitance says it all.¡± Tan¨ª straightened. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°But of course. Blood-stained relics unleash their true potential when wielded by those with strong ties. It¡¯s why House relics often only respond to their respective champions.¡± He brushed several stray locks into place. ¡°But you already knew that, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­uh¡­?¡± ¡°Innes. Heir to the Aqhelles cadet branch of Corat?o, and 4th in line for the throne should my dear relatives give out. Remember that commoner,¡± Innes said with a slight, if somewhat arrogant, smile. Tan¨ª wrestled with his annoyance, but after subduing the deathly viper, he pushed out a question. ¡°I thought the king only had a daughter.¡± ¡°Yes, but this is the royal line of succession, fry. Do you truly think our king an only child? Remiss as he was to not produce more heirs while his wife was alive, he was but the eldest of five.¡± ¡°Oh¡­so you¡¯re his nephew?¡± ¡°Literature is hardly a place to discuss genealogy, but yes. I am of relation to the current heir.¡± Tan¨ª jumped as a deafening boom sounded from behind him. It was the instructor¡¯s cough. ¡°Innes, though I appreciate your support, I¡¯d suggest you not hold up the class.¡± Innes sat. ¡°Of course, master Yedevar, but before we continue, might I request that Tan?o over there bring his blood-stained relic for tomorrow¡¯s presentation? I¡¯m certain the class is dying to see it.¡± Tan¨ª froze. Things were bad, but the instructor didn¡¯t seem like the type to entertain stupid ide¡ª ¡°Very well.¡± Son of a¡ª ¡°D¡¯Histell!¡± thundered master Yedevar. ¡°You will present your master¡¯s relic at tomorrow¡¯s show-and-tell. No if¡¯s, and¡¯s, or but¡¯s. Have I made myself clear?¡± Tan¨ª¡¯s heart dropped. ¡°But¡ª¡± His voice failed him as an unspoken sentiment flashed in master Yedevar¡¯s eyes. It was like every sword in the world was being aimed at Tan¨ª, and he could do nothing but kneel, lest they pierce him. ¡°Y-Yes, master Yedevar¡­¡± ¡°Good.¡± The man patted Tan¨ª on the back with such a wicked blow that it sent him stumbling forward. ¡°Now take a spare tome from my desk, and a reedprinter if you must. There is no assigned seating, so sit where you please.¡± Tan¨ª took his supplies, grunted at the weight of the mighty tome, then started up the stairs. His selection of seating didn¡¯t appear all too inviting. Not when the students would throw their Blood-Loaders and Brands over the spot. Finally, Tan¨ª reached the back row where Innes sat. The royal blood flashed him a friendly grin, making no effort to cover the empty spot beside him. Instead, he scooted away. Patting the spot affectionately as if to say it¡¯s warm. What a great invitation for harassment. Just as he prepared to sit on the floor, his eyes flickered to the figure opposite Innes. The only other student here. Tan¨ª sidled through the gap, and once he reached the raven-haired boy with tousled hair, waved at him. He didn¡¯t respond. Despite leaning back with his arms crossed and eyes glued on the board, he never once stirred. Realizing he preferred the silent treatment, Tan¨ª made his spot next to him. That is until he caught a deep rumble followed by a flicker of darkness. His eyes darted to the shadows, but they faded before he could make sense of them. Master Yedevar lectured them on some ¡°great¡± author and their influence. Several students took notes, though most whispered to each other about Dragonfang this or Dragonfang that. Along with the rare, though unsettling ¡°heh-heh-heh¡± several students would emit. Tan¨ª wrote as best he could despite the distractions, pressing his reedprinter against sheets of thick paper. Once he grew tired of writing (really, just three words), he zoned out. A torturous hour later, he came to. At last, freedom. Or so he thought. The class wasn¡¯t for an hour. It was three. And he couldn¡¯t properly READ. He did put on a show whenever Yedevar came around, and when the time came for a discussion, students turned to their neighbors. Tan¨ª¡¯s never said anything. He just kept staring at the board as if his life depended on it. When class finally (somehow) ended, Tan¨ª shambled through the roaring halls like a corpse. His brain fried from the overstimulation of words. The rest of the day passed as one would expect it to. Collapse into a new room, gasp for air, and have a new teacher scold him. Tan¨ª wouldn¡¯t have minded if it was only that, but no. Innes just had to be there. Probing at Tan¨ª like it was his God-given right. Even when Tan¨ª could squirm away with his pride intact, the prince would ALWAYS remind him of the presentation tomorrow. Now Tan¨ª had to figure out a way to cancel every class. What could he do that would (safely) throw the school into chaos? During his fourth period class, he finally decided on a course of action. He would just not show up the following day. Everyone would forget with time. Plus, a day off after the agony that was school sounded like a fair reward. He could go into town and buy something with all his SG. Whenever he figured out how to use the Brand. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. A sonorous chime threaded the air, summoning the students to their feet. They surged towards the exit with their tomes in hand, ignoring the mathematics instructor¡¯s meek goodbyes as the students muttered about food. Tan¨ª, confused, sat staring in his seat. ¡°Ah¡­young D¡¯Histell¡­ Forgive me, but¡­¡± The instructor¡¯s smile vanished, and with it, so did the welcoming lilt in her voice. ¡°What¡¯re you still doing here?¡± Tan¨ª glanced at the door. ¡°Waiting for you to dismiss me?¡± ¡°That was dismissal.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°It¡¯s lunchtime, D¡¯Histell. Leave.¡± Frowning, Tan¨ª packed up his belongings and made his way to the cafeteria. When he neared the entrance of the mess hall, he spotted several clusters of students idling, including Innes. A veritable harem of girls glued to his side. And they were laughing a bit too loudly whenever he uttered something ¡°witty.¡± Tan¨ª slinked by with the aid of an airheaded trio and made his way towards the serving area. Students packed the tables throughout the cafeteria, chatting, and sometimes not even sharing the same House cape. Well, everyone except the birds. And that scent! The savory weight of butter fried rice, and honey glazed chicken. The chefs served him his fair share, and though they¡¯d already stacked his plate full, he smiled and asked for extra. And the cooks¡ªthe kind, moon-blessed beings they were¡ªloaded him up with an extra spoon and a half. As for finding a spot¡­ He had no such luck. Students filled the spare seats quicker than he could walk. Other times, they tossed tomes, sketches, and even Blood-loaders atop the vacant seats. As was to be expected, those with nothing still asked him to kindly leave. Tan¨ª¡¯s travels took him to a section of students wearing the fiery emblem of Fad¨¦nix. Several seats had yet to be claimed, and though he was a stranger to them, they shared a House. That had to count for something. Remembering his mother¡¯s words, Tan¨ª put on his friendliest smile and approached a table filled with taller (certainly older) members of House Fad¨¦nix. He ran through dozens of greetings in his mind, half of them being jokes, the other half being niche facts he learned in today¡¯s classes. ¡°Hey, did you know the nomads from the Three Nations¡¯ War were a bunch of cannibals?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s weird we¡¯ve got tomb cities everywhere? The Ses?o barely buried their dead.¡± ¡°What do you think the author meant when he mentioned the colors of his drapes? Do you think he was being specific about their make, or was this a reflection of his melancholic state during his midlife crisis?¡± Yeah. Those were definitely good ones. He just had to keep smiling. The moment Tan¨ª stepped within whispering range of the table, everyone stopped eating. As slow and observant as the drakes of legend, they twisted around to see him. Their expressions etched with such indifference that it caused him to forget the greetings he¡¯d tirelessly recited in his mind. ¡°Who are you?¡± a boy with red hair asked. ¡°O-Oh¡­uh¡­¡± ¡°Wait¡­¡± A dark-skinned girl with black hair and crimson-green eyes peered at him. ¡°You¡¯re the fry that destroyed our gardens yesterday!¡± Tan¨ª lowered his tray. ¡°I am?¡± The table shuddered as the blonde boy next to her¡ªa tall, fair-skinned upperclassman with the same crimson-green eyes¡ªslammed his hands on the table, his eyes ablaze with molten fury. ¡°YOU¡¯RE the murderer that trampled the Fadenician corner?¡± ¡°Uhhhhhh.¡± ¡°You thin-blooded MORON. Do you even know how long they took to grow in this dreary soil? Now we¡¯ve nothing to show for inspection, and all that pretty little SG we¡¯ve saved our the vaults is going to be wasted because some stupid first-year couldn¡¯t keep his sword down. Do you know what that means?¡± ¡°I¡ª¡± ¡°That means no stocks, no cans, limited club funding, and restricted access to our relic. Did you hear that? RELIC. We only have the one. Not two, and do you know why? Because we¡¯re Fad¨¦nix.¡± He fell back into his seat, face in his hands. ¡°Great. GREAT. I¡¯m so happy I spent last semester wasting everyone¡¯s time with this stupid idea. Thanks for proving me wrong¡­¡± The girl¡¯s crimson-green eyes softened as she drew the student into a half-hug. She murmured something underneath her breath. An ¡°it¡¯s alright¡± maybe? Tan¨ª couldn¡¯t quite catch it, but it sounded genuine. As she gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze, her eyes darted to Tan¨ª¡¯s. And they smoldered with all the wrath of the Desolator. ¡°What¡¯re you still doing here?¡± Her voice dripped with a venom so thick it made Tan¨ª¡¯s blood run cold. ¡°Haven¡¯t you caused enough trouble?¡± ¡°But I didn¡¯t mean to¡ª¡± ¡°And yet you¡¯ve already been here for a day and a half! Wow! Congratulations on contributing absolutely nothing! You not only wasted our House¡¯s meager reserves, but now you have the audacity to stand before us in peace? You, an unwashed, despicable, mouth-breathing peasant?¡± ¡°I told you gambling on this garden business was daft,¡± a member on the far end of the table muttered. The girl paid them no mind as she gently drew the blonde boy¡¯s head to her shoulder. ¡°Now leave,¡± she ordered, her anger replaced by an unsettling, cool tone. ¡°You aren¡¯t welcomed here. Not unless you find some way to fully reimburse us.¡± Tan¨ª¡¯s gaze fell to his tray. ¡°I¡ªI don¡¯t know how.¡± ¡°Neither do I.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t we talk about this? Like¡­I dunno, maybe we could brainstorm or something.¡± He ordered himself to look up, but the immense burning in his chest kept his gaze down. ¡°Please?¡± The girl¡¯s response was as cutting as it was immediate. ¡°I¡¯d rather drink a Lunarkin¡¯s phial than spend another moment wasting my breath with you. All you talking does is make my brother cry.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not crying,¡± came her brother¡¯s muffled response. ¡°I¡¯m mourning.¡± ¡°See?¡± Tan¨ª bit back a plea. He could fix this. They only needed to give him a chance, but he could fix this. They couldn¡¯t be like them; they were supposed to be comrades. Friends. Yet now¡­ He drew away from the table, his stiff legs carrying him towards the northern edge of the cafeteria. The moment he left earshot, he risked one last glance. The venomous girl pried her brother¡¯s hands away from his face, and though his brow knit with anguish, he managed a small, shaky smile. Her response? A quick peck upon his cheek. Judging by the great red flush staining his cheeks, he was doing better. Noticing this, his friends whistled and made little gestures, further reddening his blush. Without Tan¨ª, they were loud. Pleasant. Maybe he didn¡¯t belong there. Just like in all those classes. As the deafening chattering faded and the tables meshed into an incoherent streak of colors in his peripheral, Tan¨ª caught a familiar flash of strawberry-blonde hair. It was her. That girl from the ship. She sat alone at a table meant for two, her meal that of the deluxe lunch Eleanor had purchased him the other day. God, he could go for some of that steak again. Tan¨ª arrived at the table without meaning to, glanced at her, then pulled the chair back by hooking the tip of his boot around the leg. She paid him no mind as she thoroughly chewed on her food; her gaze set on her luxurious tray¡ª The world flickered, reducing the clean-white hall into a prism paradise with a light greener than the heavens. She was there again. That woman with heavenly-earthly jewels for eyes. She hunched over a table as thin as paper, a tool the color of obsidian clenched tightly in her dominant hand. A white-black light erupted from the tip of her antediluvian device, melting a plate of shimmering mornlight onto the Heart. Its fa?ade bore countless pits of golden-speckled rings, and though he had believed it beyond repair, she, a mortal, had salvaged the remnants. Promising its reinforcement to surpass that of their Mother¡¯s make. How childish. The white-black light shimmered, eliciting a crackling-whine from the Firmament as the godly sheet seamlessly blended with the Heart. ---------- paused, extinguishing the annihilating flame as she regarded him with a smile as tender as the first rays of moonlight. For a Cycle-thinning minute, she said nothing. Not that they had a need for words. Her eyes¡­those pools of such unimaginable wisdom that they would make God shudder¡­they knew just what to convey. ¡°Is something the matter?¡± Tan¨ª¡¯s world came crumbling down in a heap of flickering white-black blocks. The maybe-but-probably not doll tilted her head, brow delicately cocked in mild concern. Good blood, had he been staring at her this entire time? Now he really wanted to die¡­ ¡°Is this seat taken?¡± he asked in a whisper. ¡°No,¡± she answered in that too-perfect voice of hers. ¡°Be my guest.¡± Tan¨ª almost stopped. He was so used to hearing ¡°no¡± that he was already in the middle of turning around. Uncertain if what he had heard was real, he continued standing. The girl gestured to him with her utensil. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to sit?¡± ¡°Oh, right. Sorry.¡± He plopped his tray down and ate. Perhaps a bit too fast as the girl stared at him, halfway leaned in her seat. ¡°Have you no need to chew?¡± she asked, sounding more fascinated than concerned. Tan¨ª chewed twice before swallowing, though even then it felt like shoving a handful of dirt down his throat. ¡°I do. I just¡­you know. Missed breakfast.¡± The girl tilted her head ever so slightly, nodded, then brought another forkful to her mouth. She chewed thoroughly; her eyes closed as if to savor the flavors. Tan¨ª mimicked her approach, and tempted though he was to devour his meal until nothing remained, restrained himself. His gaze drifted, noting her uniform and shoulder cape. A black serpent. Vlasalisk. Was she as good of a duelist? ¡°How has your first day treated you?¡± she asked between bites. ¡°Fine enough, I guess. I just wasn¡¯t aware that classes could be so¡­¡± He sighed. ¡°Long.¡± ¡°Yes, I can imagine it''s difficult acclimating to their length. An hour is the standard, as you¡¯ve no doubt discovered, but two-to-three? Anyone would have trouble preserving their sanity.¡± ¡°You¡¯re used to them, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I do what I must for our nation¡¯s future.¡± Tan¨ª frowned. That wasn¡¯t a very telling answer. He took another forkful. ¡°You like it then? School, I mean.¡± She chewed for a second longer before responding. ¡°Education is a vital foundation for the future we¡¯ve yet to build. Our discomfort is of no importance. That is why we must strive to endure.¡± ¡°Right¡­¡± Her dazzling lavender-sapphire eyes flickered to his shoulder cape. ¡°Fad¨¦nix?¡± Tan¨ª turned so that she wouldn¡¯t get a good look at it. ¡°Yeah, not my first choice¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯ve no choice in the matter. Where you go is based on chance, as well as your most defining attributes.¡± Tan¨ª leaned forward, interested to know what she thought. ¡°And those are¡­?¡± The girl lifted another small bite of food. ¡°You should know.¡± Of course, another non-answer. Tan¨ª ate away at his pile of food until a sudden thought prodded at him. ¡°Hey¡­I never asked, but back on the ship¡­ We never exchanged.¡± He leaned back into his chair and swallowed his current mouthful. ¡°My name¡¯s Tan?o, but everyone calls me Tan¨ª.¡± He pointed his fork at her. ¡°What about you?¡± At that, she straightened. Her exceptional posture, perfect. With a raised chin evocative of a royal portrait, she spoke in a practiced, authoritative voice. ¡°Lavisa; third of Voen, true relation to the A?ino trading company, sole child of his Majesty Bastino Jo?o Tan¨ªsa de Corat?o V, and heir to the throne of Corat?o.¡± She dipped her head. ¡°I¡¯m pleased to make your acquaintance, Tan?o.¡± Chapter 9 - Thy Primers Name Tan¨ª didn¡¯t remember finishing his meal, nor did he recall dumping his heavy tray or wandering into the girl¡¯s lavatory by accident. Even the grace period was a complete blur as he sat staring at nothing, the plush cushioning of the sofa keeping him anchored in the Fadenician reading corner. News of the garden¡¯s destruction circulated in a never-ending stream of whispers, and when he spared the shifting clusters a cursory glance, he found them staring at him with accusatory glares. He didn¡¯t care, though. Not when the painfully obvious revelation had yet to loosen its grip on him. The king¡¯s daughter herself¡­the one so highly praised for her prodigious talent and beauty. How could he mistake her for a bloody doll? He¡¯s never seen portraits of her, sure, but someone as pretty as her couldn¡¯t be anything BUT royalty. Those iridescent lavender-sapphire eyes, her flawless porcelain skin, and her voice¡­refined beyond belief with a hint of an Angler¡¯s rolling cadence. As if the foaming tides of the short sea submitted to her will and hers alone. Command came naturally to her, though maybe that¡¯s because she would be one day leading them. Was that why she didn¡¯t dismiss him like the rest? Because she knew he would be in her service? A Juneac?o pledged themselves to a monarch first, after all. They aided the nation as a natural extension of their duties, but it was their Lord that defined their loyalty, and if the ruler was just, then they¡¯d have a proper reason to fight. Oh¡­ Tan¨ª slumped in his seat. She was acting. Of course, she was only acting. She didn¡¯t care about him. Not when he would serve her kingdom one day. He wasn¡¯t an equal; he was her pawn. Or whatever piece they played chess with. Tan¨ª sighed inwardly. At least she doesn¡¯t mind eating with me. He found it strange that she, a member of royalty and a scion of House Vlasalisk, sat alone during lunch. Had she grown tired of the noise? Tan¨ª didn¡¯t know her well, but she seemed the type to value the peace that came with silence. Or as close to silence as a school cafeteria can offer. Tan¨ª shifted his gaze to one of the various bookshelves walling off the reading corner. There weren¡¯t too many people here, and it was easy to hide from prying eyes, especially when he could sink into the too-soft cushions of the sofas. If he turned, he could pretend that there was no one there. Maybe he could even skip class. No, that didn¡¯t seem like a good idea. It was the last class of the day. If he skipped this one, he¡¯d feel even guiltier about skipping all day tomorrow. He only had to get through this, then he could relax. ¡°Hey, you hear about the new vassal?¡± Tan¨ª¡¯s eyes darted to the gap in the room that acted as an entrance. There was someone there, but he couldn¡¯t see their faces. ¡°The one that tore through ?zar¡¯s garden?¡± ¡°Yeah. Heard he¡¯s got a relic.¡± ¡°A commoner? Yeah right.¡± ¡°I¡¯m serious! Innes even said so.¡± ¡°Do you believe everything that comes outta that blowhard¡¯s mouth?¡± ¡°Nah, but this is different. I can feel it.¡± The other voice laughed. ¡°He¡¯s probably just tryna start something. Y¡¯know, topple us down. First-years just try an¡¯ act tough, but it¡¯s all for clout. Nothing new there. My advice? Just ignore him. Don¡¯t hear it, don¡¯t see it. That¡¯s what my father says.¡± ¡°But what if it¡¯s real?¡± the other asked with an excited whisper. ¡°Yeah, as real as Fad¨¦nix¡¯s ring.¡± Tan¨ª strained his ears as the voices grew distant. The last thing he caught them discussing was a ¡°threat,¡± as well as the ¡°Lady¡± and ¡°Shade¡± of Fad¨¦nix. Whatever those were. Tan¨ª closed his eyes and waited patiently for a world-shattering emergency to occur so that he wouldn¡¯t have to attend Art. As expected, nothing happened. Only more people talking behind his back. He hated it at first, but after a while, he grew drowsy. Knowing no one would bother him, Tan¨ª turned on his side and shut his eyes. To him, anything softer than the ground was the best bed. ? ¡°Kinnakelar.¡± Exhaustion arrested Tan¨ª as he came to. He needed only five, perhaps ten, more minutes of rest. He¡¯d be good for the day following that. ¡°Will you forgive me?¡± A flash of moon strung baubles populated the corners of his blurry vision. His lids refused to pry, but after rubbing the sleep away, he saw her. Lavisa. Her head dipped and eyes closed. Was she meditating? Curious, he inspected the cabin¡¯s d¨¦cor. A sterling cluster of silk hung draped from the ceiling, boasting emerald fragments mined from the moon, and a gathering of twinkling scales that rivaled polished gold. The center of the display appeared distorted somehow. Or partially elevated? He couldn¡¯t properly explain, just that it looked ¡°higher.¡± Wait. His eyes widened. A cabin? The room rocked as if to quell his newborn confusion. It came again, a spell falling upon his heavy lids, as if beckoning him to slumber. ¡°Lavisa¡­?¡± came Tan¨ª¡¯s groggy response. ¡°What¡ª Why¡¯re we on the ship?¡± ¡°How do you mean? We¡¯ve been traveling for some time now.¡± ¡°But¡­we just had lunch, didn¡¯t we?¡± Lavisa lifted her chin, and even though her eyes were closed, he felt her gaze upon him. ¡°We¡¯ve only ordered our meal, Tan?o.¡± Tan¨ª let out a long yawned. ¡°We did¡­?¡± ¡°To be utterly transparent, I ordered on your behalf. My previous attempts to rouse you from your slumber have seen little success.¡± Good blood, Danza was right. ¡°You were mumbling in your sleep. Were you having a nightmare?¡± inquired Lavisa. ¡°No, just a crazy dream.¡± ¡°What about?¡± Tan¨ª straightened in his seat. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you later. It¡¯s a long story.¡± Whether Lavisa was disappointed or not, she didn¡¯t show. Her expression remained regal, as always. Eleanor, or rather, the lady he had dreamt of being Eleanor, served them their meal not long after. Was she even Tyrian? Did she hate him as much as that dreamt version did? They ate in relative silence, then finished their meals with a cup of tea. Tan¨ª was afraid the ship¡¯s rocking would cause the liquids to spill, though they remained perfectly placid. Like a pond on a windless night. Sparing the porthole a glance, he found not the seas or skies, but the moon in all her glory. A silvery palace decorated its center face, revealing a steady flare of black-white lights arranged in a pseudo-teardrop shape. The Jury of Histell¡¯s heraldry; the uniform symbol of the Juneac?o. Tan¨ª scanned the edges of the porthole but found that the moon cloaked it. He could almost trick himself into believing it was getting closer. Almost as if it was going to crash into Vale?o. An unrelenting blast of heat struck Tan¨ª¡¯s chest. He coughed as the searing wave filled his lungs, but when the air left, a whisper followed. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! ¡°¡­idivix¡­¡± ¡°Tan?o [Kinnakelar],¡± Lavisa murmured. ¡°Do you have a Wish [regret]?¡± ¡°Yeah, I guess.¡± Tan¨ª tried prying his eyes away from the moon, but the rising heat in his veins ordered him to remain. This was their guardian. The first. ¡°Is it¡ª¡± Lavisa paused and lowered her voice. ¡°Is it a good one?¡± ¡°I guess.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t sound certain.¡± ¡°A good Wish is subjective, yeah?¡± He leaned back in his seat. ¡°Guess it¡¯s normal to be a little doubtful. It only matters to me, after all.¡± ¡°I suppose so¡­ Some believe Wishes to be a fickle afterthought. One that oft tempts us more than guide. A good Wish retains focus, but a rotten one? They serve to only blind. Veiling you from your deepest, forgotten desire.¡± There was a slight creak as the ship rocked. Then she continued with a knowing whisper. ¡°They reduce us to recklessness, convincing you the holder of some fabulous destiny. I wish it were so, to be owed a place, but that isn¡¯t meant to be. Not then, not now. Our waking world was never meant to cradle us. Never meant to be kind, pleasant, or charitable.¡± She brought a hand to her chin. ¡°Makeshift blessings¡­ Do you recall when you once dubbed Them so?¡± Tan¨ª faced her, hesitant. Lights twinkled with the dimness of the Desolator¡¯s scales, peppering the space between them in a vacuous display of heavenly ecstasy. Until, finally, she opened her eyes¡ªrobbing the haven of its glory. The cosmic green glow of the Solanarium usurped her lavender-sapphire pools. Their divine radiance peppered with a sea of shimmering shards. In a voice that betrayed the sympathetic, almost prying edge of a doting mother, she asked, ¡°You never once believed yourself deserving of one, have you?¡± The godly sear crawled its way from the depths of Tan¨ª¡¯s heart and arrested his throat. In a quivering voice frailer than Greentide ice, They whispered. ¡°Yes¡­¡± ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Everything I did¡­it was for you. For her. I don¡¯t need anything else. I¡¯ve never needed anything else. So, grant your Wishes to the wanting. The dead do not deserve them.¡± Lavisa¡¯s twinkling green clusters softened as she regarded him tenderly. ¡°I charged you with a duty greater than mine; I charged you with a task entrusted to me, and me alone. Not once, but for nine Cycles. Yet yours¡­ Yours was a peace even I could not have found. For that, I would grant you your every Wish.¡± Lavisa¡¯s eyes darkened as she struggled to push out the next set of words. ¡°But that would not suffice, would it? You¡¯d only be left wanting. As you¡¯ve only ever been.¡± Tan¨ª¡¯s heart twinged. He wasn¡¯t certain what she was referring to, but the weight of her words¡­ They carried with them the sorrow of untold eons. ¡°Are you¡ª¡± Tan¨ª stopped, his voice falling to a whisper. ¡°Are you Lavisa?¡± The thing masquerading as the Coros princess brought a secretive finger to her lips. ¡°Grant me your Wish, my blood. My loveliest child.¡± Tan¨ª conjured the words into being, but they immediately caught in his throat. The Coros princess¡ªupon realizing this¡ªgave a disappointed shake of her head. ¡°Lies have no place here, my blood. Not while he remains Lord.¡± She closed her eyes, once more summoning the spray of stardust. ¡°You always were such an honest child¡­ Have the Cycles truly changed you so?¡± Tan¨ª¡¯s voice broke through. ¡°I-I don¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s best you do not.¡± ¡°What! You can¡¯t just say all these vague things and leave me like this!¡± She laughed. ¡°My, you¡¯re talkative. I Wish you could¡¯ve shown more of this side while he was here. But then again¡­¡± Lavisa leaned to the side. ¡°That would not have been you. Now wake up.¡± ¡°What, but I¡ª¡± ¡°Wake up.¡± A limb-numbing wave of exhaustion crashed into Tan¨ª. He fought against it, hoping he could coax an answer out of the imposter, but they simply turned away. Her eyes set on the moon. ¡°A night is as fleeting as the day, though you shouldn¡¯t mourn its arrival. You should greet it as you do a new day. Satisfied with your efforts.¡± A light grumble spilled past Tan¨ª¡¯s lips. It was harder to talk now. Like someone was actively pinching his lips closed. ¡°If you must Wish, then wish for complacency. Perhaps then you might find what was lost.¡± Lavisa opened one shimmering green eye. Its despondent glint echoing eternity. ¡°Farewell, my blood.¡± ¡°Hey.¡± His eyes flickered open, and he nearly jumped as a round face with crimson-green eyes glared at him. It was that dark-skinned girl again, her brother at her side. ¡°Are you deaf? I said get up. Grace is over.¡± Tan¨ª grumbled something he didn¡¯t quite understand himself, a response which only worsened the girl¡¯s horrific glare. ¡°Yes, well, no one wants you here, either. So, get out before we kick you. We don¡¯t wanna get in trouble again because some first-year ditched class in our hall.¡± Tan¨ª waved her off as he stood on wobbly legs. He wiped away the nearly dried drool on his cheek, paused, then gave a light stretch. She set her hands on her hips. ¡°Well?¡± ¡°Gimme a minute.¡± Tan¨ª yawned. ¡°I don¡¯t need a minute; I need you in class. Now.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because attendance adds to your monthly allowance. The more consistent we are, the more SG we earn. The tardier, the less.¡± She affected a broad, kind smile. ¡°Do you understand?¡± ¡°Y¡ª¡± ¡°THEN GET YOUR ASS GOING.¡± Tan¨ª scrambled towards the exit, spun, and retrieved his assortment of tomes. He offered the brother¡ª?zar, if gossip was anything to go off of¡ªan apologetic grin. ¡°Hey, about earlier¡ª¡± The girl stepped in Tan¨ª¡¯s line of sight. Her eyes narrowed to a heart-stopping glare. ¡°What. Did. I. Say?¡± ¡°Go to¡ª¡± ¡°GO TO CLASS. Now stop bothering my brother before you upset him!¡± ?zar tugged on her arm. ¡°Canela, please. I¡¯m not upset¡­¡± ¡°Yet you spent all last period crying,¡± she replied matter-of-factly. ¡°I wasn¡¯t crying. My allergies were acting up.¡± ¡°Then explain the lack of sniffling as I hugged you.¡± A rosy-red blush stained his cheeks. ¡°Your thick hair just catches all the pollen, alright?¡± Realizing Tan¨ª was still there, he turned to him with a flustered glare. ¡°What¡¯re you looking at?¡± ¡°I¡ªI don¡¯t know¡­¡± ¡°Then I¡¯d advise leaving while she¡¯s in a good mood. Don¡¯t want your allowance being cut.¡± ¡°Allowance?¡± ¡°Canela¡¯s the House treasurer. Y¡¯know¡­in charge of SG? I¡¯d say more, but¡­¡± Tan¨ª¡¯s eyes flickered to Canela. Her hand was inches away from grabbing him by the collar of his shirt. With that sign, he dipped his head and rushed off to class. Chapter 10 - Art Class Tan¨ª gasped as a flurry of brutal limbs buried him. He was going to drown again. They were busy rushing to class, and he was going to drown again. His grip on his tome slipped, and realizing what would happen if he lost it, desperately lunged after it¡ªwobbling as a stray elbow smacked him back into place. After suffering several debilitating jabs to his noggin, Tan¨ª popped out of the stream and onto the Art room¡¯s floor with a resounding smack. He groaned; his fuzzy world composed of a dark, grooved surface. Wood¡­ Tan¨ª pushed himself off the ground with a grunt. A pungent scent clung to the air. Not only that, but the place felt humid, much like a Monastery''s training room. He wasn¡¯t even aware it was possible to sweat from painting. Exertion¡­ He grimaced. He was tired of exerting himself. That¡¯s all these damnable classes did. No! What they did should¡¯ve been classified as torture. And now he had one more to go through¡­the thing he looked forward to all day. Not because he wanted to see her again, but because this was the last. Even then, his cold trepidation wormed its way into his heart. No. He was here; he had to see this through. Swallowing a great draft of air, he set his jaw. Once Tan¨ª dusted himself off, he tossed the room a sweeping glance. It was devoid of desks and thrice as spacious as a classroom. The place appeared to be divided into an entrance hall, and then the main room. Several training mannequins lined one end of the class, though each sat at a distance even a Towerblade would respect. They weren¡¯t sack-dummies, either, but finely carved humanoids with protruding bits of red, yellow, and orange. Reds decorated the neck, wrist, and major arteries. Oranges the selective regions around the torso and thighs, and yellow sprinkled the non-lethal regions upon the arms and legs that one can slice themselves on and still live. Students assaulted their dummies with swords, spears, and axes, though they didn¡¯t seem like they were learning much. More so warming up. ¡°You¡¯re late, D¡¯Histell.¡± Tan¨ª perked up. That voice. He knew that voice. The looming figure of a shadow painted his peripheral, and when he turned, he saw Eleanor. Not dressed as before. Whereas the robe had been loose and large, her form-fitting black garb highlighted her surprisingly chiseled physique. Tan¨ª had imagined she was like any other noble lady: Dressed in the finest silks to mask her wine gut, but after a swift inspection, he found not a single roll. Just incredibly taut skin that rippled like a storm-tossed sea. ¡°Master Sanrevelle!¡± he exclaimed. ¡°You look¡­different.¡± Eleanor gave a slight, confused tilt of her head. ¡°Well, yes. This is my proper teaching attire. Rather effective, do you not agree?¡± ¡°I guess, but how¡¯s that going to protect you from paint?¡± ¡°Paint?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Tan¨ª¡¯s gaze drifted to the students swinging recklessly at each other. ¡°This is Art, right? Not seeing a lot of clothes¡­ Don¡¯t you have an apron thingy?¡± Eleanor blinked. ¡°W-Wait. Did you truly think¡ª¡± She brought a hand to her mouth before her laughter could spill. ¡°Oh my, you did, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Think this a class for painting and drawing.¡± A sweltering surge of heat nipped at Tan¨ª¡¯s cheeks. ¡°Well, yeah¡­¡± ¡°Child, the Fine Arts are what educated Juneac?o refer as self-defense,¡± Eleanor clarified. ¡°Wait, so this is a fencing class?¡± ¡°Though the martial arts are a focus, swordplay isn¡¯t all I teach. Rather, it¡¯s expanding our ability to fight. With or without weaponry. Naturally, we¡¯ll learn how to wield Sedd in tandem, though that¡¯s saved for later.¡± Tan¨ª risked a glance at Eleanor, but whenever he met her gaze, he hesitated and looked away. Feeling stupider than before. ¡°So¡­you don¡¯t paint?¡± ¡°If by paint you mean how to brush aside your opponent¡¯s blows, then yes. I, Sanrevelle of the Riverlans, teach you how to paint.¡± Eleanor spun around; hands clasped behind her back. ¡°Now don your proper attire, D¡¯Histell. I¡¯ll excuse your tardiness this once, so don¡¯t make it a habit. Understood?¡± Tan¨ª nodded vigorously. He looked around for whatever this ¡°proper attire¡± was, and almost as if she could read his mind, Eleanor pointed to a door nestled in the leftmost corner. One surrounded by a series of white boxes. ¡°You¡¯re locker thirteen. Leave your belongings inside. Oh.¡± She twisted around to face him. ¡°And please, do refrain from stripping in public. I¡¯d rather you not violate our Lady¡¯s innocence.¡± Tan¨ª thanked her and did as he she commanded. It was a battle and a half squeezing in that outfit, though. At least the changing rooms made all the hopping bearable. Once finished, he joined the other kids, and while he was content to linger in the back, forgotten, his eyes fell to a familiar head of salmon-flaxen hair. Lavisa? His feet moved before he could think. She stood at the edge of the cluster, pressed against the matted wall. Her hair shielded her features from him, though something told him she wore that stoic expression again. Tan¨ª came to a silent stop some three paces away, his heart stuttering. Though he had only ever seen Lavisa in her uniform, she looked even prettier in their current gear. Poised and elegant, she possessed all the grace of those now-extinct red birds that had once ruled the forests of eastern Corat?o. Tan¨ª blinked. She was still again. Just like that doll. The word conjured memories of his recent dream. That imposter, those eyes greener than the moon, and that curl of her lips. He had never seen Lavisa smile before. Good blood, he hadn¡¯t even seen her frown. She was just¡­neutral. Perhaps her father had spoiled her to where she derived no satisfaction from accomplishments and discoveries. She was royalty, after all. ¡°Good afternoon, class,¡± Eleanor said, her authoritative voice neutral. ¡°We¡¯ve two late arrivals today. Second-year Lavisa of House Vlasalisk, and first-year Tan?o of House Fad¨¦nix.¡± The entire class turned to them, and despite himself, Tan¨ª flinched. Had they heard the rumors, too? ¡°Due to their absence, we will briefly review the last two weeks'' worth of lessons.¡± A unified groan erupted from the crowd. ¡°Enough. You¡¯ve greater things to lament than a review.¡± Eleanor approached an elevated platform situated against the center wall. She traveled up the steps and stopped before an enshrined blade. It betrayed hints of far eastern influence. A D¡¯Arcian saber. ¡°Now then, can any of you offer a guess as to what this might be?¡± ¡°Your blade!¡± a girl exclaimed. Eleanor didn¡¯t spare her a glance. ¡°A show of hands, please.¡± A second-year boy raised his hand. ¡°Your blood-stained relic?¡± ¡°Close, but no.¡± A dark-haired girl raised her hand. ¡°D¡¯Arcy¡¯s Spine, obviously.¡± Eleanor thrust her hand out to the side, and though Tan¨ª couldn¡¯t see it, an immensity drew him towards the negative space. It gnawed and bent, coaxing something from nothing as the enshrined blade disintegrated inch by inch. A handle emerged from the ether, and when Eleanor gripped it, the enshrined blade shrieked into being, radiating a presence thicker than honey. It didn¡¯t burn like the sun, yet its radiating heat stifled Tan¨ª all the same. He slouched without intending to, and though he desperately righted himself, its presence bore down on him. ¡°And what exactly is D¡¯Arcy¡¯s Spine?¡± Eleanor asked in that eloquent manner of hers, unperturbed by the heat. Tan¨ª glanced at the other students. One boy lifted a shaky hand, tried to keep it up, then relented as it fell back down. ¡°Yes, Herio?¡± Eleanor called. ¡°A¡­an Aspect?¡± ¡°No.¡± She swept her saffron-chambray gaze across the crowd, and though several students attempted to push their arms up, none could muster the necessary strength. Finally, her eyes landed on Tan¨ª. ¡°D¡¯Histell, would you care to provide an answer?¡± Tan¨ª¡¯s lips parted, but before he could squeeze out a single syllable, he choked. It was just like then. The dream. Did he need a ¡°true¡± answer to speak? He traced the blade¡¯s shape, hoping he could spot a solution in its design. The knuckled bow and quillon were of western design, but the bleached wraps swathing the grip bore a strong resemblance to those found in eastern blades. Etched upon its pommel, he discovered a dragon¡¯s eye (or the motif of one). The unmistakable mark of its original wielder. Better known as her tally. The two-hundred-and-twelve consecutive victories she had attained during her time as a wandering duelist. Pressed as he was for an answer, the weapon could not help but steal his attention. D¡¯Arcy¡¯s very own blade¡­ The same one used during the Three Nations War. Most referred to it as the ¡°Spine,¡± but Tan¨ª knew it by another name. The Blood-Thinner. Recalling the moniker brought him back to the past, when Danza had lectured him about a weapon¡¯s place many moons ago. ¡°It¡ªIt¡¯s a tool. Something you draw when all else fails. It¡¯s not an answer, it¡¯s¡ª¡± Tan¨ª groaned as a feather brushed the inside of his throat. ¡°It¡¯s your last resort.¡± A pleased smile touched Eleanor¡¯s lip. ¡°Right you are. You see.¡± She pressed her thumb against the guard, revealing an inch of steel. ¡°Weapons are a mean for survival, not slaughter. Denying them of their singular purpose is not dissimilar to turning one¡¯s blade on themselves. Can you tell me why, D¡¯Histell?¡± ¡°Cuz our duty is to protect. If you¡ª¡± Tan¨ª caught his breath. ¡°If you rely on their power, then you¡¯ve already failed. You¡¯ve already broken the codes. Juneac?o are meant to preserve. Not take life away.¡± If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Eleanor released the blade, causing it to close with a clink. ¡°The moment we draw our weapons is the moment we threaten to take life. Very astute, D¡¯Histell.¡± She relinquished D¡¯Arcy¡¯s Spine to gravity¡¯s grasp, but instead of clattering on the floor, it reappeared on the shrine. With it, the pressure vanished. ¡°If we need see restocking, then so be it. If we must hone our bladework, then so be it. If we are driven by our base desire to best our fellow Juneac?o for sport, then so be it, but we mustn¡¯t turn our blades during rage. To do so only invites tragedy.¡± Eleanor stepped down from the shrine, her eyes on Tan¨ª¡¯s. ¡°Godly relics are a boon to us, but not through their unparalleled ability to maim. It is in their strength, their capacity to pacify that which is eager to take life.¡± ¡°But weren¡¯t they used during war?¡± a girl asked. ¡°Yes¡±¡ªEleanor turned to her¡ª¡°their initial purpose was simple. Mind you, this was during the bloodiest era of human history. One in which man¡¯s madness reigned supreme.¡± Tan¨ª inclined his head. ¡°Man¡¯s madness?¡± ¡°A saying from the Aisenstadt.¡± ¡°Aisenstadt? The Aisenstadt? The same people that just¡­disappeared?¡± She nodded. ¡°The very same. They, in all their knowing, knew peace was but a break from the Cycle. There will be moments when we¡¯ve no other choice but to fight. We might not wish to acknowledge it, we might think ourselves above it, but there will be a challenge that requires us to take a life. Only then can we avoid further bloodshed. By spilling theirs first.¡± Tan¨ª¡¯s stomach clenched with cold disquiet. He¡¯s never seen Danza kill anyone before. Scare them, yes, but never kill. It went against their very duty. Eleanor¡¯s eyes softened, and though she dared not break a smile, her voice carried all the honeyed warmth of a late Greentide¡¯s sun. ¡°Do not despair, D¡¯Histell. Should you remain true, then you shall find no need to draw your weapon. Let us hope you keep that fortune.¡± Tan¨ª instinctively reached for his shiny pebble in his pocket, but found only dead air. If he was lucky. God, he hated that word. There weren¡¯t wars anymore. If anything, he could deal with issues as Danza had: By bonking everyone hard enough for them to see twinkling scales. Eleanor spent the next hour summarizing the detailed histories of the various martial arts, the advantages of several weapon types, their disadvantages, when best to use them, and the regions of incapacitation. That being the proper term for the dummies¡¯ yellow protrusions. If one couldn¡¯t cooperate with a rowdy target, then their best option was to render them weak. A student raised their hand. ¡°Master Sanrevelle?¡± Eleanor ceased pacing. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°What if we need to fight another Juneac?o?¡± ¡°I hope you¡¯ve no desire to cross blades with your ilk. It¡¯s been over twenty years since the last recorded instance of a Juneac?o altercation. Let us keep it so.¡± Another student asked if they would learn how to fight on horseback, but Eleanor quickly explained that wasn¡¯t her responsibility. Art was based on a Juneac?o¡¯s personal performance. Not that of their mount. ¡°In four months,¡± Eleanor continued, ¡°you will be incorporating elements of Sedd into your physical routine. Be sure to pay extra attention to your general Sedd instructor. I wouldn¡¯t want you failing two classes.¡± Tan¨ª raised his hand. ¡°Yes, D¡¯Histell?¡± ¡°Why do we need to use Sedd?¡± ¡°A Juneac?o¡¯s greatest strength is in their blood, D¡¯Histell. Unfortunately, some struggle with conjuring it entirely, and when they don¡¯t, they fail to incorporate it properly. This makes one stiff. If the flow is stiff, your defense will suffer. That is why this course is designed to open the floodgates, so to speak.¡± Eleanor returned to her spot before the shrine. ¡°A relic can further impede our ability to fight. Its mere presence stifling our blood. That is why you failed to remain upright: Because its Order was too great.¡± Tan¨ª cocked his head. ¡°Order?¡± ¡°A blood-stained relic, especially one as divine as this, does not tolerate transgressions.¡± She glanced over her shoulder. ¡°Despite their might, they demand one thing, and one thing alone: Peace. That is why it strips you of your will to fight. Because rebellion cannot exist before true divinity.¡± ¡°So why didn¡¯t you struggle holding it?¡± ¡°Simple: it¡¯s because I relate.¡± Tan¨ª arched a brow. ¡°Excuse me?¡± Eleanor gripped the hilt in one hand and the scabbard in the other. She lifted the weapon from its pedestal, and almost immediately, the immensity returned. ¡°The closer you are in nature to the relic¡¯s original master, the greater your tolerance until you¡¯ve achieved complete Synthesis. This can occur through a variety of means, mind you. My wielding it does not make me unique.¡± She returned the blade to its shrine. A girl raised their hand. ¡°Yes, Neila?¡± Eleanor said. ¡°Do we keep the relic once we can summon it?¡± ¡°No. Those are strictly school property.¡± ¡°I thought only students were allowed to summon them,¡± the girl said. Eleanor clasped her hands behind her back, appearing as proud as a royal guard whenever they strode through town. Instructors and graduates with proven Synthesis may¡ªif dependable¡ªreceive special permission to wield them.¡± ¡°What happens if someone else summons it?¡± Neila asked. ¡°Is there like a timer, or¡­?¡± ¡°Yes. A relic¡ªmuch like a person¡ªcan only be in one place at one time,¡± Eleanor stated. No one asked further questions, and so Eleanor continued with a lecture on combat styles. While they were free to pursue whichever school they desired, they¡¯d receive instruction on the Academy¡¯s two schools of fencing. That being the Tyrian school, and D¡¯Arcian school. Eleanor assigned them into pairs, and while Tan¨ª expected to be partnered with someone he couldn¡¯t care any less about, hearing Lavisa¡¯s name joined with his left him astonished. Their towering Art instructor distributed wasters, and though she hadn¡¯t given the signal to start, several students took to eagerness and thwacked each other on the head. ¡°Tan?o,¡± came the soft timbre of Lavisa¡¯s refined voice. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°I¡¯m pleased to see you¡¯ve recovered from your stupor.¡± ¡°What¡¯re you¡ª¡± Tan¨ª paused. ¡°Ooooh, right. Yeah, no, I¡¯m fine.¡± She dipped her head. ¡°That gladdens me. Most don¡¯t take well to my revelation, though you seem to have recovered quickly.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­it¡¯s not easy learning that the person you¡¯re talking to is a princess.¡± Not poking her on the ship had turned out to be the right idea, after all. Would his head even be on? No, she didn¡¯t seem the type to blow up over something as petty as a touch. She¡¯d probably stare at him until his anxiety reduced him to a bubbling puddle. ¡°So¡­what do we do now, Lavi¡ª Er, I mean, your highness,¡± Tan¨ª corrected himself. Lavisa lifted a porcelain hand. ¡°You¡¯ve no need for that here. I am a student, the same as you. Call me by name.¡± ¡°Yeah, sorry about that, Lavisa.¡± ¡°All is forgiven.¡± A yelp sounded from somewhere behind Tan¨ª, reminding him of a fleeting thought. ¡°Hey, mind if I ask a question?¡± Lavisa gave the slightest inclination of her head. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°You¡¯re a second-year, yeah? What¡¯re you doing in an introduction class?¡± ¡°Oh, that. While Art is a required course, first-years opt from taking it.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because it allows them to take Literature by itself. It¡¯s a course typically reserved for second-years, and in my opinion, taxing.¡± Tan¨ª groaned inwardly. Of course, he was taking two of the hardest classes at the same time. He shifted, but immediately froze as a pressure formed on his neck. Curious, he glanced down and found a sword. Lavisa¡¯s sword. He hadn¡¯t even seen her swing. ¡°You talk too much.¡± She lowered her wooden blade back to her side. ¡°But I thought we were¡ª¡± There was a blur, but his body couldn¡¯t react fast enough. Instead of experiencing the red-hot sting that came with being smacked with a wooden instrument, he felt air and a light tap on his wrist. ¡°Learning? Yes, we are, and I¡¯ve learned you¡¯re far too absorbed when you speak. So, pay attention,¡± Lavisa instructed, her voice as even as pond-brushing breeze. ¡°You never know when a word might be as deceptive as silence.¡± ? Tan¨ª toweled off his hair as he came out of the stall. What a complete flop. He learned nothing and the only person he liked spent the entire class reminding him of just how stupid he was. And the worst part? This was what he had been looking forward to. The end of the day. And he felt no better. He heaved a heavy sigh. The class was empty now. Well, nearly empty. Eleanor remained by the shrine, but there was something else. A tiny speck of nearly golden light sitting on the shrine¡¯s edge. ¡°Master Sanrevelle?¡± Tan¨ª called. She turned to him; her tense shoulders relaxing once she spotted him. ¡°D¡¯Histell. How was your day?¡± ¡°Eh. Kinda horrible.¡± ¡°I¡¯m terribly sorry to hear that. First days are rarely pleasant, even for those of the nobility.¡± ¡°Yeah, I guess it could¡¯ve been rougher. What about you?¡± Eleanor snatched the speck from the shrine. She opened her mouth, hesitated, then flashed him a hint of a smile. ¡°I suppose I¡¯ve fared no better, but I am glad to have ended it with a familiar face.¡± Chapter 11 - The Joint A thunderous blow rattled Tan¨ª from his slumber. He scrambled across the floor in a mangled heap of covers and sheets, his eyes darting to the narrow hall. It came again, but louder. More oppressive. ¡°D¡¯Histell!¡± Tan¨ª glanced at his cat-shaped timepiece on the wall. A full hour-and-a-half past the end of his first class. ¡°D¡¯Histell, I know you¡¯re in there!¡± master Yedevar yelled, the hammering shaking the wall. Tan¨ª threw on his old shirt and pants from the day before. He didn¡¯t want to risk going all the way to the closet to get a fresh change. ¡°If you don¡¯t answer me within the next five seconds, then I will not hesitate to extract you from the vicinity. One¡­¡± Tan¨ª snatched his Brand from his desk and fastened it to his belt after several clumsy swipes. ¡°Two¡­¡± He needed somewhere to hide. Somewhere that wasn¡¯t here. The closet and bathroom were only so good. ¡°Three¡­¡± Tan¨ª scurried to the window, tripped onto the bed, and pushed the window with all the urgency he could muster. It didn¡¯t budge. When he peeked outside the window, he found a smooth path of silvery ingots. None too slanted. Was the roof meant to be treaded? ¡°Four¡­¡± Tan¨ª drew his Brand in a panic, then thrust it at the window¡¯s core. The barrier disappeared with a click, and with it, so did his balance. What once were the drab skies meshed with the silvery sheen of the slanted tiles, reducing the world to a somber whirlwind as the ocean drew him towards its distant roaring maw. Tan¨ª clawed at the faultless surface, and when he found no purchase, slapped the flat of his hands against it; the tips of his boots digging into whatever they could find. He came to a jerking stop, his dry palms burning against the cool roof. Before he could drag himself forward, his grip vanished, and the vacuous roar of the beast below flooded his ears. Panic washed over him. He¡¯d fall; he didn¡¯t know how high he was, but he¡¯d fall. Good blood, he didn¡¯t even know how to swim! Tan¨ª cried and clawed at the roof as a renewed surge of death-fearing vigor washed over him, but all the strength in the world would not afford him sanctuary. His day of rightful leisure turned final moments. How embarrassing. They¡¯d probably write ¡°was too stupid to show up for show and tell, so he died,¡± all over his gravestone. Tan¨ª shut his eyes as his feet kicked against thin air, hoping that the lack of visibility would somehow cushion his fall. Gravity never took complete hold of him, though. For an ungodly second, he just hung there. The storm winds whipping at his legs. A shadow flickered at the edge of his vision, but when he looked, there was nothing. Tan¨ª peered at the too-bright cloudy sky and sitting some ways above his window appeared to be a nest. No, not a nest. A hidden cavity. One as tall as a door. A shadowy figure leaned out from the passageway; their hands stretched out as if to grab him. Kinda stupid considering Tan¨ª laid some forty feet away from them. Tan¨ª lurched as an invisible pressure hoisted him roofward. He peered at his arm, finding no bindings of any sort, save for a thin shadow curled about his wrist. Once Tan¨ª reached the lip of the cavity, he dragged himself into the shelter and caught his breath, his heart thundering in his ears. Substantially calmer than he was a moment ago, he took notice of the boy standing next to him. His unresponsive classmate from Literature. Unlike before, his cyan-pewter eyes appeared focused for once. He helped Tan¨ª to his feet, and though Tan¨ª¡¯s legs trembled from the deathly height, his classmate kept a tight, confident grip on his forearm. ¡°Thanks,¡± Tan¨ª squeaked. ¡°Yeah, yeah. Don¡¯t mention it. Didn¡¯t want your screaming to gut my nap.¡± Tan¨ª frowned. ¡°You¡¯re sleeping on the roof?¡± ¡°Not exactly.¡± Before Tan¨ª could press, the boy turned to the depths of the cavity. It aimed straight for the wall, but instead of being repelled upon slamming face-first into the academy, a string of silvery threads parted. Tan¨ª followed him through the well-lit passage, and what he discovered was not the hall of the school, but a fully furnished cabin with a kitchen located to the right, rugs, a large comfy sofa on the left with a grandfather chair to keep it company, a table between them, and a small pantry and cupboard. Despite the passage¡¯s partial exposure, Tan¨ª experienced no chill. The boy from before went to the stove, took a ladle in one hand and a bowl in the other, then served a thick stew from a steaming pot. ¡°Hungry?¡± he asked. Tan¨ª, uncertain whether to feel confused or thankful, nodded slowly. ¡°Uh¡­yeah? I didn¡¯t really have breakfast, so¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s hard getting something to eat when you ditch. Unless you go downtown. Never a smart choice, though. Just asking to be hauled off by security.¡± Tan¨ª glanced at the long sofa he idled next to. ¡°Hey, hey, take a seat,¡± the boy urged without looking at him, his accent like that of a Nimmian Islander. ¡°Just make sure you don¡¯t leave any dirt. Infuriating cleaning this high up. Nothing ever stays washed¡­or dry.¡± Tan¨ª dusted himself before taking a seat. The firm cushion yielded to his weight, and the draped blanket¡­ Good blood, fluffy and warm wouldn¡¯t describe it. He wouldn¡¯t have minded a nap or two¡­ ¡°Name¡¯s Jaster; Jaster Fernbank. I¡¯m from¡ª¡± Jaster paused and offered Tan¨ª a bowl. ¡°Ah, doesn¡¯t matter where I¡¯m from. Pleased to meet you.¡± Tan¨ª graciously accepted the bowl. ¡°I¡¯m Tan¨ª.¡± ¡°Tan¨ª, eh? Never seen you before. You a late arrival?¡± ¡°Huh? But¡­I sit right next to you.¡± Jaster eyed him as if he were a shady sheerstone peddler. ¡°You do?¡± ¡°We share a Literature class. First period?¡± Jaster¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Oooh. No. I was asleep. Sorry.¡± ¡°But your eyes were open.¡± ¡°Not really.¡± Tan¨ª peered at him. ¡°Not really?¡± Jaster stepped back, conjuring a thin line of darkness that crept up his side. If Tan¨ª hadn¡¯t been paying attention, he would¡¯ve cast it off as his mind playing tricks on him. The line bled into the space around Jaster¡¯s head, and with flickering wisps of shadow, drew his eyelids closed. ¡°I was just using Toem to keep my eyes open. I wasn¡¯t really paying attention.¡± Tan¨ª gaped. ¡°You were using Shadow in your sleep?¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s not that hard when you got the basics down. Or a phial to burn through. Something simple like this only simmers blood.¡± Jaster seated himself in the grandfather chair. ¡°But yeah, nice to meet you, Tan¨ª. Hope academy life hasn¡¯t killed your dreams yet.¡± Instead of mentioning his fear of failure, Tan¨ª did the smart thing and ate his stew instead. He moaned as the tender meat fell apart in his mouth. Jaster kicked his feet up onto the table. ¡°Yeah, bit stressing, but what¡¯s not? That¡¯s why you gotta take your siestas when you can. Just like a Grazer.¡± This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Ignoring that last bit, Tan¨ª asked, ¡°Your name¡­you¡¯re from New Nimmin, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I can be from anywhere you want me to be.¡± He swept a hand through the air. ¡°Tyrem, Kastel, the greater east¡­doesn¡¯t matter. Just all from somewhere, right right?¡± A grin wormed its way onto Tan¨ª¡¯s lips. ¡°Right right?¡± ¡°Ah, no more chinwag. You¡¯ll ruin your appetite.¡± ¡°Oh, sorry.¡± Tan¨ª downed several large helpings of his stew before suddenly remembering the situation he was in. ¡°What even is this place?¡± Jaster grinned. ¡°It¡¯s my retreat. I call it the Joint. Pretty sweet, huh?¡± Tan¨ª gave it a once over. ¡°Kinda boring. I mean, it looks nice, but there doesn¡¯t seem to be a lot to do here.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why you gotta use your imagination. And books! Got some lying around.¡± Tan¨ª grimaced. ¡°Nah, reading ain¡¯t my thing.¡± ¡°I got some games.¡± ¡°Sitting and messing with pieces is boring.¡± ¡°That¡¯s cuz you haven¡¯t played the good stuff!¡± Jaster exclaimed. Tan¨ª smirked through a mouthful. ¡°What about cards?¡± Jaster leaned forward. ¡°Everyone knows how to play cards.¡± ¡°Depends on the game.¡± ¡°How about Dreams n¡¯ Wishes?¡± Tan¨ª wagged his spoon. ¡°You see, that¡¯s a good game. Only problem is I¡¯m not in a gaming mood.¡± ¡°Ah, nothing wrong with sitting around, I guess.¡± Tan¨ª finished the last of his food and leaned into a corner, the blanket wrapped around his lower half. He wondered what would become of him tomorrow. Not only with master Yedevar, but all his teachers. Including Eleanor! Dispelling the thought, he asked Jaster, ¡°Do you just hang around here all day?¡± ¡°Sometimes.¡± The Nimmian reclined in his seat. ¡°If I have to, I climb down during grace.¡± Tan¨ª glanced at his shoulder, but found no cape. His gaze drifted from one end of the room to the other until he glimpsed something hanging near the hall. A twin-headed dragon. ¡°You¡¯re a Dragonfang?¡± Tan¨ª whispered. ¡°Yeah.¡± Jaster propped an elbow on the arm of his chair and leaned into it. ¡°Better than nothing.¡± ¡°Better than being a Fad¨¦nix.¡± ¡°Nah, Dragonfang¡¯s always scheming. They never shut up about their next ¡®biggest project.¡¯ And the worst part? They drag everyone into it. Can¡¯t escape work no matter what you do.¡± ¡°Sounds annoying,¡± Tan¨ª said. ¡°I haven¡¯t been a part of my House for long, but no one seems to bother each other.¡± Jaster clapped. ¡°And that¡¯s why Fad¨¦nix is the best! Everyone leaves you alone! You can sleep, read, or do whatever you want without having the Lord breathe down your neck.¡± ¡°The Lord?¡± Tan¨ª snuggled into his blanket. ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Right, you don¡¯t know how House¡¯s work, do you?¡± ¡°Not really. My House has been¡­busy.¡± Tan¨ª nodded, but more to himself. ¡°Yeah, they¡¯re doing this whole garden project.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah. Heard some psycho went through and laid-out their corner. The garden grinder or something. Heard the treasurer¡¯s brother spent all last semester scheming up a way to make them legit SG.¡± Tan¨ª heard a voice inside his head scream. They weren¡¯t exaggerating, after all¡­ ¡°Looks like your House¡¯ll be strapped for SG. Save up what you can from your allowance,¡± the Nimmian advised. Tan¨ª threw his head back with a groan. ¡°I keep hearing that, but I don¡¯t understand what it means.¡± ¡°Each month, the school rewards a set amount of SG to each house. Divided by the total number of students, of course. Students receive a default of two hundred, but their academic performance, attendance, and all that annoying stuff gets added on to it.¡± Jaster straightened in his seat. ¡°Everything we do adds to our House¡¯s SG. Especially stuff like Volunteering or keeping the dorms cleaned. Y¡¯know, menial labor. The better we act, the more our House gets, and the more the House¡¯s get¡­¡± ¡°The more they can afford,¡± Tan¨ª finished. ¡°Exactly. You see, Tan-Tan, we don¡¯t really need all that extra stuff. The school gives us all we need, but it¡¯s the things we don¡¯t have which we want. A bigger stick, SG to duel, buying flowers for a girl you like¡­we do all that stuff just for show.¡± ¡°That just leaves one question,¡± Tan¨ª murmured to himself. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Why did you build a house on top of my roof?¡± Jaster laughed. ¡°That? Cuz it¡¯s the quietest place around. Didn¡¯t even know someone was living there until today. You don¡¯t make a lot of noise.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not creepy¡­¡± ¡°Ah, don¡¯t worry. Just means we¡¯ll be great neighbors!¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t bunk outside my window.¡± Jaster slapped the armrest of his chair. ¡°I only use this place during the day, don¡¯t worry. Got my own room.¡± Tan¨ª stared incredulously at him. ¡°Then why are you even here?¡± ¡°Cuz it¡¯s quiet! Who doesn¡¯t want a nice place to nap?¡± ¡°You¡¯re literally sleeping on my roof.¡± ¡°Only during the day. You¡¯ll have your privacy, and hey! If you wanna use it, feel free. Napping is fun with people.¡± Tan¨ª sighed so heavily he expelled all the air from his lungs. ¡°There is no way I¡¯m sleeping in the same room as you¡­¡± ¡°Hey, you¡¯re missing out on a warm meal and good sofas.¡± For some reason, that part made Tan¨ª grin. Before he knew it, they spoke of school events, their favorite food, and why he was ditching class. Jaster didn¡¯t appear surprised when Tan¨ª mentioned Innes¡¯ taunts. Apparently, the boy had a reputation for getting under people''s skin. Not that anyone ever stood up to him. To think the mild-mannered Lavisa related to that vexing lurker¡­ Well, ¡°disappointed¡± was a light way of putting it. Jaster next explained the rankings within the Houses. The highest being Lord, then Shade, treasurer, representative, scion, and vassal. Vassals, unsurprisingly, made up most of the student population. Third-years and above made up the offices of Lords and Shades, but Champions and treasurers were a spot held by only those with the skill to prove. Finally, something came to him. ¡°Hey,¡± he said, cutting Jaster off mid-sentence. ¡°What House is Innes a part of? I didn¡¯t see his cape.¡± ¡°Vlasalisk from what I¡¯ve heard.¡± A pit formed in Tan¨ª¡¯s stomach. Someone as terrible as he selected for the House of the courageous and righteous? Was that a bloody joke? Jaster let out a small yawn, and with it, the lights dimmed. ¡°Wow, it¡¯s past my nap time. Don¡¯t usually have anyone to talk to, but it was fun. Wanna do this again later?¡± Tan¨ª scoffed. ¡°As long as you stop creeping around. See you in a bit?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Jaster turned over in his chair. ¡°See you in a bit.¡± As Tan¨ª neared the precipice of dreams, living shadows curled at the edges of his vision. A foul shade deeper than the Desolator¡¯s corpse, cradling a resplendent jewel of deep crimson in its maw. And it wanted him to claim it. Chapter 12 - The Third Day The third day at Hierrs¨¦ wasn¡¯t completely horrible. Just a few scoldings, six red-marks, and a talk with the guidance counselor whose name escaped Tan¨ª. One who only sported a single eye color. Weird. He half-expected Innes to mock him for his cowardice, but all the boy did was shoot him an irritating smirk. On a scale of one to ten, he¡¯d rate it a passable day. Tan¨ª rushed to join Lavisa for Lavisa, but on his way to the food bar, he sensed something¡­off. Something from above. An undeniable tug. As if a great specter from above had cast its line and caught him. He stayed the course, his heart set on having another wonderfully one-sided conversation with the princess, yet its hook sank deeper, and his thoughts melted into an incoherent puddle of white noise. Before he knew, he was back in his dorm. His legs striding without his command. He pierced the window and carefully climbed up the roof until he slipped past the thin set of silver streamers at the Joint¡¯s front. A beefy aroma dashed Tan¨ª¡¯s senses. Floral talt from southern Harusto enriched the comforting stock, the fresh, zesty accent of a peculiar citrus from northern D¨¦qom lingered like a pleasant aftertaste, and¡­was that a hint of sugar? The Nimmian stood in the kitchen with his back turned to Tan¨ª, drawing out a lump of roast decorated with vegetables. Instead of questioning him like any ordinary human being would, they ate, laughed, and talked about the day. Tan¨ª reminisced about his teachers¡¯ disappointment, though he really only remembered Yedevar¡¯s terrifying lecture. Maybe because he didn¡¯t need to scream to care Tan¨ª. ¡°You know what you need?¡± Jaster said in between bites. Tan¨ª nearly choked on his response, and after pounding on his chest to assure the bite would go down, answered, ¡°What?¡± ¡°You need a good excuse.¡± ¡°For what?¡± ¡°For when you ditch, Aisenstadt. You can¡¯t just not show up; you need a good lie. Else they¡¯ll know something¡¯s up.¡± Tan¨ª looked at him, confused. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t me not showing up already tell them that?¡± ¡°No no. You need a good excuse. A buncha lies to feed¡¯em so they won¡¯t question you,¡± Jaster smirked. ¡°I dunno¡­¡± ¡°Alright, how about this: I don¡¯t show up for a day. What do I do? Tell them I was sick. Not dodgy, right? They want me to get a note from the nurse¡¯s office, so I tell them I¡¯ll do it after class. Go on with the rest of my day, see them the next and tell them I forgot. You know what I do next?¡± ¡°Pay off the nurse?¡± Tan¨ª assumed. ¡°No.¡± Jaster shoved another forkful in his mouth. ¡°I tell them I¡¯ll go, use the lavatory for a tif, then walk back in. Tell them she¡¯s on break. Do this enough and they¡¯ll get so annoyed they stop asking for notes!¡± He flicked his fork at him. ¡°Remember, Tan-Tan: Make them so bloody mad they won¡¯t ask for another slip.¡± Tan¨ª anxiously picked at his food. ¡°Won¡¯t that cause more trouble than it¡¯s worth?¡± Jaster smirked. ¡°You sure you¡¯d rather upset master Sanrevelle?¡± ¡°W-Well¡­¡± ¡°Great, then that¡¯s all settled.¡± Uncertain of how to respond, Tan¨ª finished the rest of his meal. He turned his mind elsewhere. Specifically, the facts he had learned in his Juneac?o History course. Such as the origins of how the term came to be. Following the Desolator¡¯s defeat at the hands of Tygenna, the Gaoler, and Architect of the End, warriors and thinkers alike¡ªaligned with the Slumbering Maiden¡ªfound themselves blessed with her abilities. Bestowed by none other than Tygenna herself, of course. King Bastino I¡ªthe founder of Corat?o¡ªknew not of their true names, but after his discovery of the sky castle of Histell, found in the archival cells a most peculiar record. One that mentioned the sealing of a great evil, and the spontaneous invasion of the Black-Star. Believing themselves to be doomed, the scribe lamented. Longing for the bygone preservers of life to bring stability to their abandoned world. A fact Tan¨ª found rather odd, since Tygenna always watched over them. He did think it appropriate that their founding king be the one to anoint his soldiers with said title, because if it wasn¡¯t for him, then the ways of the Juneac?o would¡¯ve remained dead and forgotten in that old sky castle. Sure, the surrounding nations boasted Juneac?o of their own, yet their secondhand methods and codes did not stem directly from those of the old ones. ¡°Hey, Tan-Tan,¡± Jaster called, ¡°how¡¯s your House? Like any of them?¡± Tan¨ª froze. As tempting as admitting his blunder was, he wanted to save himself the embarrassment. Besides, a few white lies never hurt in the end. ¡°I dunno,¡± Tan¨ª admitted with a bored murmur. ¡°Have you sat with them yet? Plenty of the fourth-years and up don¡¯t seem to care about sitting with first-years from what I¡¯ve heard,¡± Jaster said. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. Tan¨ª winced. ¡°Heard even the treasurer is on the nicer side. Might even be the youngest in Academy history to hold the position. She¡¯s really protective of her older brother, though. Thought it¡¯d be the other way around, but¡­¡± Jaster shrugged. ¡°Dunno. Quirky in their own way. Just hope those rumors aren¡¯t true.¡± ¡°Rumors?¡± Tan¨ª leaned in. ¡°What rumors?¡± ¡°You know.¡± Jaster waved his fork around. ¡°No, I really don¡¯t.¡± The Nimmian glanced at the hallway, almost as if he expected someone to be eavesdropping, but when no one showed, he tapped the prints of his thumbs together. ¡°I have no idea what that means,¡± Tan¨ª admitted. ¡°Ah, forget it. Nothing important, anyways.¡± Tan¨ª read the timepiece in the kitchen. It was the first hour of the afternoon. He still had thirty minutes to kill. Tan¨ª ran through a mental list of his classes. Literature was (unfortunately) the longest at three hours, lasting into the late morn, but the classes that followed? They bordered on thirty minutes to an hour. At least those were fast. He¡¯d hate for them to drag on. Not that them being shorter would prevent him from zoning out. But as for what he found to be the most draining aspect of school? Sitting, listening, reading, writing notes, zoning out while writing notes, zoning out while zoning out. It didn¡¯t help that Sedd and Art were his last classes; the most demanding of them all. ¡°Hey, is it true?¡± Jester¡¯s whisper broke through his thoughts. Tan¨ª turned to him. ¡°What¡¯s true?¡± ¡°You know¡­ About your House¡¯s relic. You¡¯ve only got one, right?¡± Tan¨ª shrugged. ¡°Dunno. No one¡¯s told me anything.¡± ¡°Wait, you haven¡¯t seen your House¡¯s vault?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t even know one existed.¡± ¡°You should check it out sometime. I really wanna know if it¡¯s true.¡± ¡°Well, okay. I don¡¯t know why it matters.¡± Tan¨ª glanced towards the entrance, hesitant. ¡°Hey.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± Jaster said. ¡°Mind keeping a secret?¡± ¡°Sure. Don¡¯t have anyone else to talk to.¡± Once Tan¨ª reassured himself of his relationship with the class-dodging cook, he set his plate down. ¡°My House¡ªwhen I talked to them, anyways¡ªwere really upset about the garden thing. ?zar, I think his name was? He said it took months of planning and that we¡¯d only get by if we filed a request. He was probably crying, but he mumbled something about the school restricting access to our relic. What¡¯s that about?¡± Jaster got comfortable in his seat. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s the part that¡¯s got me curious, too. You see, Tan¨ª, every House should have two relics. The founders left them behind to help guide future generations of Juneac?o. Y¡¯know, for strife, or writing an unnecessarily long essay. God-stained relics are unique among blood-stained relics, and you know why? Because they don¡¯t deteriorate like the others. They get fat on the blood of their foes.¡± He kicked his plate off the table to make room for his legs. ¡°If we had weapons blessed by God wandering the countryside, you beat people would use them for evil. That¡¯s why the Academy takes extra measures to keep them safe.¡± Tan¨ª looked down at his plate. ¡°So, when ?zar said we only had one relic¡­¡± ¡°He probably meant it.¡± Jaster folded his arms. ¡°House Fad¨¦nix is cursed. That¡¯s why they¡¯re always running short. Short on talent, Sedd, SG. Most members try transferring out after their first year. Not that they ever succeed. What with their bad luck.¡± ¡°What happened to the other?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the thing: There probably isn¡¯t one. House Fad¨¦nix lays sole claim to the Helm of Fad¨¦nix. Their champion¡ªif there still is one¡ªrarely makes use of it.¡± ¡°What does it do?¡± Jaster rolled his head to the side. ¡°No idea. Relic details are confidential. Only the champion and Lord knows. It¡¯s whatever. I don¡¯t really care about using them. I just really wanna know if there¡¯s another.¡± Tan¨ª frowned. ¡°You already sound like you know more than me. How could I help?¡± ¡°Because Tan¨ª: You¡¯re a Fadenician. The others are probably lying. You know, waiting for a moment to reveal their trump card?¡± ¡°What do most people even think it is?¡± Jaster clicked his tongue. ¡°A lance she used to kill an old king of Kastel, but I¡¯ve got my doubts considering how terrible of a rider she was. Others say it¡¯s boots that could make one someone walk on air, but that sounds too cool to be true, right?¡± He nodded to himself. ¡°One of my friends says it¡¯s a ring, but eh. It can be anything, really. I personally don¡¯t care; I just wanna know.¡± Tan¨ª carefully pondered the matter. Then, once he was ready, he responded. ¡°If House Fad¨¦nix did have two relics, where¡¯d the other even go?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t know. Probably buried with its owner,¡± Jaster assumed. ¡°Do the founders have tombs here?¡± ¡°Yeah, right by the doorstep of the labyrinth. There¡¯s just one issue.¡± Tan¨ª cocked a brow. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Fadina Fad¨¦nix¡¯s body is missing.¡± Chapter 13 ~ A bit dusty, yeah? Tan¨ª soared through the air as the vile whispers approached the Fadenician reading corner. He crashed behind one of the sofa-long Sacco chairs, his forehead flaring with red-hot agony as he bumped against a shelf of tomes. Tempted though he was to scream, his lips remained sealed. They were just around the corner. He could tell by the whiff of peppermint in the air. Tan¨ª pressed himself against the Sacco pseudo-sofa despite his profusion of discomfort, drawing in his legs so not a single part of him stuck out. Perfectly hidden. Now to wait¡­ ¡°Where¡¯s that thin-blooded fry? I swear, the moment I get my hands on him, I¡¯ll let him from his WRISTS.¡± ¡°Ah¡­Canela, please,¡± came a breathy, anxiety-tinged voice. ¡°Not so loud. Others might hear.¡± ¡°Oh, trust me. They¡¯ll hear. EVERYONE will hear once I get my hands on that rotten stray.¡± The floorboards shuddered as her thunderous footsteps echoed in his ears. Though she lacked the meat on her bones to make so much force, the near rhythmic tap-tap-tapping of her boots gave the impression of a mire-lurker of legend skulking in its killing fields. And then, a pungent breeze of burning peppermint wormed its way up his delicate nostrils, causing his heart to stutter. Is now a bad time to curry favor? He wondered in a panic. Tan¨ª held his breath as her footsteps became methodical. And her eyes. He couldn¡¯t see her, but he could feel her glare searing past the seat¡¯s plush material. ¡°Canela, he isn¡¯t here,¡± ?zar said. ¡°Let¡¯s go elsewhere.¡± ¡°No. You¡¯re only saying that to let him off.¡± ¡°So? He¡¯s just a first-year. We all made mistakes as first-years.¡± ¡°HE DESTROYED THE GARDEN YOU PLANTED. THE ONE YOU SPENT AN ENTIRE SEMESTER PLANNING. YOU HEAR THAT? YOURS. MY BROTHER¡¯S.¡± Canela¡¯s voice fell to a spine-chilling murmur. ¡°Oh no¡­I won¡¯t let him get away with that. For each tear you¡¯ve shed, I¡¯ll drain its worth in his tainted blood. And if he refuses, I¡¯ll wrench it from him. I care not if he¡¯s reduced to a dried husk¡­ No one makes you cry. NO ONE. Not even mother.¡± The singing of steel graced the air. ¡°CANELA, PUT THAT AWAY.¡± ¡°Come out, stray. Come out if you know what¡¯s bloody good for you. One cut won¡¯t hurt, I promise!¡± A low, devious chuckle broke the air. ¡°Oh¡­I promise one cut won¡¯t be all you¡¯ll receive¡­¡± Tremors racked Tan¨ª¡¯s body as her hateful venom caressed his ears. Good blood, she really planned on accosting him, didn¡¯t she? He considered slipping under the edges of the rug to better blend in with his environment, but after several failed attempts, he knew it wouldn¡¯t conceal him. Besides, she¡¯d just wrench out his trembling form like a misbehaving dog. ¡°YOU.¡± Tan¨ª shielded his face. He wasn¡¯t prepared to die. Not while his bucket list went on unfulfilled. Who else would ride a horse that actually listened to him, or eat a full, royal Coros breakfast! The extra thick slabs of bacon, the freshly baked muffins dusted with cinnamon, eggs scrambled to perfection, and slices of imported vasavendue from Nimmin with a cup of royals nightsip! Oh¡­just one sip of that and he¡¯d be fine with dying. Tan¨ª waited for his inevitable demise, but when nothing came, he removed his hands from his face. There was no one there. Curious (and somewhat forgetful), he peeked over the couch and found Canela pointing a sword at a group of students. ¡°Remove yourself posthaste, and if you so much as breathe a word, I¡¯ll divert your charitable donations to my brother¡¯s beautiful garden.¡± Canela turned her blade so that the fuller faced the ceiling. ¡°Oh, and depend not on your wit. I¡¯ve ears everywhere, and if I catch so much as a tiny slip, I¡¯ll enlighten our pretentious Lord Vlasalisk just who stole that spare change of clothes from his locker.¡± The girls hastily scrambled away, dropping reedprinters and sheets of freshly pressed notes. Freed of her hindrances, Canela turned to her brother with an exquisite flare of her skirt, and spoke in a captivating, if not sickly-sweet voice. Like a spoiled little girl whose parents got her everything. Even if they couldn¡¯t afford it. ¡°Dearest, mind watching the entrance?¡± ?zar fiddled with the edges of his vest. He made a valiant effort to hold her gaze, but his eyes drifted every time. ¡°Canela¡­it¡¯s fine. Really. Just let it go. The kid¡¯s stupid, he probably¡ª¡± A broad, blood-freezing grin split the treasurer¡¯s face. Its murderous intent matched only by the twinkle in her crimson-green eyes. ¡°The entrance is over there, dearest. Not here. Unless¡­¡± She dropped the smile for a miserable, heart-wrenching pout. ¡°Unless you truly despise me so¡­like mother always said¡­¡± Her brother stared as if helplessly caught between colliding wagons. Tan¨ª hoped he¡¯d remain supportive, sane, even. Just enough to convince her to stop, but in the end, he wilted. ¡°I¡­fine. Sorry. I¡¯m¡ª¡± He swallowed and took her hand in his. ¡°I love you.¡± Canela jumped to the tips of her toes and planted a kiss on his cheek. That¡ªapparently¡ªwas his sign to leave as he started for the entrance with all immediacy. Before he could vanish from sight, he paused mid-step, his crimson-green eyes darting to Tan¨ª. ¡°Canela?¡± ?zar said, his voice nearing a whisper. ¡°We can save the small talk for later, beloved. Right now, you¡¯ve a job to do.¡± ¡°Ca¡ª Er, I mean¡­sweetie?¡± Canela perked up, her anger vanishing like a storm cloud after a Greentide¡¯s shower. ¡°Yes, dearest?¡± ¡°I heard Vlasalisk has an old crate of ginger cans lying around. Said they¡¯re selling it for double the price. I¡¯ve still got some spare SG on my Brand. Do you want it?¡± The treasurer fumbled with her sword as she bolted towards him, her eyes twinkling with the delight of the Desolator¡¯s hide. ¡°Wait, really? Do you really mean it?¡± He brushed a tender hand through her hair. ¡°Yeah. You¡¯ve been working hard. Wouldn¡¯t seem fair if I didn¡¯t treat you. Besides, it¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve last seen you smile. I can¡¯t afford much, but if I¡¯ve to spend every last SG just to see it, then that¡¯s money well spent.¡± Canela shrank, her dark cheeks stained a deep burgundy. ¡°But¡­we¡¯ll be short on SG. Are you sure?¡± ¡°I can survive on water. C¡¯mon, let¡¯s go before the others beat us.¡± An honest, bright grin touched her features as she (dangerously) drew herself to his side. Her arm intertwined with his. They left the room shortly thereafter, Canela¡¯s bubbly voice warming the air with talk of dates. A long sigh of relief escaped Tan¨ª¡¯s lips. Great. He¡¯d survive another day. With that realization hot on his mind, he collapsed flat on his back. Good blood¡­that was close. He still had fifty minutes to kill before grace ended. Maybe he could steal another wink of sleep before he had to go. The carpet was nowhere near as comfortable as the Joint¡¯s sofas, but it would do. If he slept on the couch, though¡­well, that would be comfortable. He just ran the risk of being stabbed in his sleep. Despite being entirely at fault for the garden incident, Tan¨ª appreciated ?zar for his measure of mercy. Could they still be friends? ¡°I gotta thank him later¡­¡± ¡°THERE YOU ARE.¡± An all-consuming shriek of terror tore from Tan¨ª¡¯s throat as Canela hung over the sofa¡¯s edge. Her manic smile stretched from ear to ear. She thrust an arm down, grabbed him by the collar of his uniform, then yanked him to his feet. Her sword poised as if to strike. ¡°Thought you were clever as a dragon, didn¡¯t you? Thought you could just hide here and avoid the consequences, huh?¡± She brought the sword to his neck. ¡°Did you think me daft? Any brain-starved moron knows to hide behind a couch. And fortunately for me, you¡¯ve distinguished yourself among their kind.¡± Tan¨ª frantically struggled against her grip, but it was solid. Strange¡­he could almost feel heat emanating from her fingers. Not the natural warmth of life. No, this was something ancient. Sedd. ¡°I-Is this about the garden? If it is, I¡¯m sorry! There!¡± Tan¨ª said, doing his best to smile even as the tip of her blade nicked his neck.¡± ¡°Oh no. I care not for the garden. My brother¡¯s seen to its repairs.¡± ¡°Are you su¡ª¡± ¡°YES.¡± She drew the blade away. ¡°I¡¯m SURE.¡± Not wanting to incur her wrath, Tan¨ª promptly shut his mouth. He¡¯d only make things worse by speaking. Or worse, death. Satisfied with his silence, Canela dragged him into a sitting position on the couch, then sheathed her blade and glared at him. ¡°You aren¡¯t going to make things easy for us, are you?¡± she inquired, her voice cold and flat. Tan¨ª glanced at her, then ?zar. The look in the blonde¡¯s eyes told him he wasn¡¯t supposed to answer that question, so he silently followed his command. ¡°I swear, it¡¯s always fries like you. They think they can come and do whatever they want, and you know what happens? They ruin everything. Cursed¡­¡± Canela spat. ¡°We¡¯re cursed, alright. Cursed with nothing but misfortune. As if the founders hold naught but disdain for us. Every time it¡¯s something different. Last year, a first burned down the reading corner, and the year before that a fry tried to steal the Helm. Do you know what happened to them?¡± ¡°I¡ª¡± Tan¨ª gulped. ¡°I dunno.¡± ¡°Their hands melted. God-relics require Synthesis to wield. Any less than that will result in one¡¯s utter annihilation. Do you know why? Because they didn¡¯t embody the attributes hewn onto their divine visage.¡± ¡°Wait¡­¡± Tan¨ª said, confused. ¡°I thought you were a second-year. How do you know about the other stuff?¡± ¡°If you stay long enough, you hear the stories, and trust me. There¡¯s too many to count,¡± Canela remarked dryly. ¡°Then why am I here?¡± The treasurer¡¯s mirthless smile reappeared. ¡°That¡¯s an excellent question, fry. You see, SG makes the school go around. The more you have, the more you can afford. The more you can afford, the happier everyone is, and I love when everyone¡¯s happy.¡± ?zar rolled his eyes. ¡°The thing is, no one¡¯s ever happy in Fad¨¦nix. Not even the Lady. We¡¯re busy picking up the scraps while everyone¡¯s got the proverbial goods. We can barely afford cans¡ªfeasts are always a daydream¡ªour champion is stuck with one crummy relic that won¡¯t listen to him, and we can¡¯t even buy a day off!¡± ¡°Well, when you put it like that¡ª¡± Tan¨ª paused, his eyes darting to hers. ¡°Wait, you can buy days off? From like¡­class?¡± Canela nodded. ¡°Priciest thing on the menu, but the whole House has the honors. That means we¡¯re exempt from tests, quizzes, reading, and more. This doesn¡¯t apply to projects or finals, though. We still have to deal with those. As for holidays¡­well, some Houses purchase an entire week off after them. Just to unwind further.¡± Her smile faded. ¡°That¡¯s why I was looking forward to an extended Frostfall break with my beloved, but now¡­ I won¡¯t have it.¡± ?zar drew his hand through the air as if to say ¡°and there it is.¡± Tan¨ª inched away, hoping he could escape the treasurer¡¯s clutches. Unfortunately, her ironclad grip kept him rooted to his spot. ¡°Alright¡­I still don¡¯t see how I fit into any of this.¡± ¡°Do you know what a Shade does, fry?¡± Canela asked. ¡°Follow you around?¡± ¡°No. They¡¯re in charge of overseeing daily operations. One of those being attendance. An uninterrupted week of attendance gains a student ten SG. A week of spotty attendance with an excuse nets them zero, but an unexcused absence? The school takes away two. Per absence. This isn¡¯t for the entire day. No, it¡¯s for EACH class. In the three days you¡¯ve been with us, you¡¯ve cost us over fifty-thousand-and-twelve SG.¡± This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Tan¨ª gaped. Thankfully, his mouth ran without the aid of his brain. ¡°But doesn¡¯t every student get two-hundred SG? Why can¡¯t you just take that from them?¡± ¡°Because we aren¡¯t allowed to. A House¡¯s funds¡ªaside from the base allowance granted to us¡ªcomes from donations, volunteer work, and school projects. If students donated to Fad¨¦nix as often as they were supposed to do, then things¡¯d be fine,¡± Canela explained, disappointment creeping into her tone. ¡°But?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no point in doing so. We¡¯re cursed, have one measly relic, and are rarely chosen to be the academy¡¯s representatives during the A.N.G. But why complain? We¡¯ve earned it. People don¡¯t want to bet on losers. They¡¯d rather toss their money at people like Vlasalisk or Dragonfang. You know, the faces everyone wants to rally behind.¡± Losers like them¡­ Deprived of an opportunity to disprove all the naysayers, destined to stew in the hearsay spouted by those who didn¡¯t care to give them a chance. Just like those unfair squires in the Monasteries. Everyone deserved a chance. They just didn¡¯t always get it. And so, they had to deal with it. Regardless of how they felt. ¡°And there¡¯s no rule against that?¡± Tan¨ª pressed. ¡°No. Students can purchase whatever supplies they want from any House. Foods, weapons, luxuries¡­¡± Canela¡¯s head lolled to the side. ¡°They¡¯re usually pricey for outsiders, but because of their reputation, they always have more than us. We¡¯re just stuck with the bare minimum. Even had to mark things up just to get by.¡± She sighed. ¡°Not like it¡¯s working¡­¡± ?zar inched closer to her, his fingers instinctively threading through her unkempt black strands. Though Canela was frowning, she nuzzled into his touch. The dejected glint in her eyes touched by a spot of warmth. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Tan¨ª murmured with a bow of his head, ¡°but I don¡¯t know how I can help.¡± Canela¡¯s fury vanished, replaced by complete hopelessness. ¡°My first idea was to string you up and drain your blood, but now, I don¡¯t even care enough to do that. Your blood¡¯s probably not even worth much, anyway.¡± ?zar shot her a flat, disapproving stare, but otherwise continued his ministrations. ¡°Blood exchange rate is abysmal here. Only worthwhile way to make SG with it is to sell it by the gallon.¡± Canela squeezed her eyes shut, her brow twitching with annoyance. ¡°Everyone says they¡¯re too busy, but they don¡¯t care. And after this? I don¡¯t blame them. It took a single day for some new blood to ruin months of planning, and during the second week of school?¡± She leaned against her brother for support, her face stricken with an exhaustion Tan¨ª had only seen from his mother. ¡°We¡¯re through. We might as well say goodbye to our remaining relic. Not like we get much use out of it.¡± Tan¨ª edged his way off the seat. ¡°So¡­I¡¯m off?¡± ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t care anymore. Just do whatever.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes. Things can¡¯t possibly get any worse. We¡¯re already broke,¡± Canela whispered that last part to herself. ¡°Oh¡­¡± Tan¨ª looked away. ¡°Alright. Bye.¡± Tan¨ª recovered his belongings and quickly made his way to the exit. As he turned the corner, a tight, stringy gasp caught his attention. Curious, he peeked over the edge. Canela found herself sheltered within the one-armed embrace of her brother, his freehand moving with the grace of an adept swordsman. His strokes were slower than before. More thorough. Almost as if he sought to untangle the thick knots in her hair with a gentle swipe. The treasurer stood on the tips of her toes, embracing him in return. Her chin to his shoulder. ?zar must¡¯ve been a little over half a foot taller judging by their height difference, and though Tan¨ª couldn¡¯t see her face, those low, tight breaths pierced his heart. Good blood, he really was a jerk. He got off free, but her? She¡¯d have to deal with the fallout. Not that there was anything he could¡¯ve done. He was just one person. Tan¨ª¡¯s gaze fell to her Brand. The miniature storehouse of SG. Wait¡­ He thought. SG¡­ Summoning his courage, he stepped inside. ¡°Hey.¡± Canela pushed her brother away, her hands flying to her eyes as she vigorously wiped at the corners. Her make-up smeared. ¡°What do you want?¡± she asked with a slight quiver. Tan¨ª mulled over his offer. He really didn¡¯t want to say it. Not when it would leave him destitute. Then again, if he could do something in return, if he could make something right, then wasn¡¯t that the best thing to do? Tygenna tasked the Juneac?o to preserve life. Didn¡¯t that also extend to peace? ¡°Look, kid,¡± ?zar said softly, ¡°I don¡¯t think now¡¯s the best time to talk. Why don¡¯t you go and enjoy grace? My sister needs a little time.¡± That disapproving look¡­ It made Tan¨ª feel like garbage. ¡°Is there a standard amount people usually donate?¡± he asked, ignoring him. Canela sniffled. ¡°Ten to twenty SG from what I¡¯ve heard. Those that hold prominent positions in their House are obligated to donate thirty percent of their monthly allowance.¡± ¡°How much do you guys make in a month?¡± ¡°Less than a thousand.¡± ¡°Wow, you guys really are broke.¡± A veil of shimmering moisture flooded Canela¡¯s eyes as she drew in a sharp, ragged breath. Her brother immediately brought her into his warm embrace, and though they spilled, he wiped them as best he could. Glaring at Tan¨ª all the while. ¡°Oh¡­sorry about that¡­¡± Tan¨ª said, flashing them a small, apologetic smile. ¡°At this rate, we won¡¯t have enough SG to buy cans for the rest of the semester. We won¡¯t get days off, new books, or even a feast¡­¡± Canela rested her head against ?zar¡¯s chest. ¡°God, we¡¯ll be the only House without a feast this year.¡± Tan¨ª resisted the urge to inch away until he was out of sight. To have caused enough trouble to last a year¡­ Their life really did get harder with him in the equation. ¡°Treasurer Canela.¡± Tan¨ª stepped closer to them, his hand on his Brand. ¡°Would you mind if I donated?¡± ¡°Sure¡­¡± she sniffled and met him halfway. ¡°Seeing as you¡¯re new, I don¡¯t expect you to have more than the customary fifty they start you off with. Would you like to donate five? Maybe ten?¡± ¡°Nah, just take everything on it.¡± ¡°As you say. Hold out your Brand.¡± Tan¨ª did as instructed, uncertain of what to expect. Suddenly, Canela raised her Brand and thrust it into Tan¨ª¡¯s. They didn¡¯t splinter. Hers simply phased through his. Her initials distorted into a series of numbers that increased from several dragon-eyes to an intricate array of lines reminiscent of two moons. She nonchalantly drew her Brand to her face, but upon glimpsing the sequence of numbers, stared in utter astonishment. ¡°What¡­ How¡ªHow did you get over two thousand?¡± ¡°Dunno. Sierez said it had something to do with good will, but I don¡¯t know what he meant by that. Two-thousand-and-fifty should be adequate, right?¡± ?zar peered at the distorted initials on Canela¡¯s Brand, rubbed his eyes, then gawked at Tan¨ª. ¡°Good blood¡­you really did have two thousand on you. Not even the Lady makes that much in a month.¡± ¡°Guess I was lucky,¡± Tan¨ª mumbled, looking away. ¡°Screw lucky, what did you even do?¡± Tan¨ª recounted the events of his first day. From the ship ride to exploring the town. He neglected to detail his wanting to use the restroom, painting his ¡°emergency¡± as a worthwhile endeavor that just so happened to result in his state of unconsciousness. Canela and ?zar, engrossed by Tan¨ª¡¯s thinly disguised odyssey of toilet-based relief, sat watching his elaborate gestures. Their eyes twinkling with childish amazement. He found their current arrangement amusing, though. In that, Canela blatantly sat on ?zar¡¯s lap like some spoiled little girl. ¡°You rode in the princess¡¯s cabin?¡± Canela asked, her hands cradling ?zar¡¯s. Tan¨ª nodded. ¡°Ended up there when all the others threw me out.¡± ¡°And your sword tore through the barrier? No lie?¡± ?zar pressed. ¡°Almost. Something pushed back at the last second, but I don¡¯t know what.¡± ?zar rested his chin on Canela¡¯s shoulder. ¡°And you¡¯re sure it wasn¡¯t Sedd?¡± ¡°Yeah. Wasn¡¯t tapping into it.¡± ¡°Who¡¯d the sword belong to, anyways?¡± Canela asked. ¡°Danza. He¡¯s my Master.¡± Tan¨ª reached for the sword, suddenly remembering he¡¯d thrown it somewhere underneath his bed. ?zar frowned. ¡°Danza¡­Danza¡­¡± ¡°Do you know him?¡± Canela inquired. ¡°Not particularly. I feel as if I¡¯ve heard the name before. That¡¯s all.¡± ¡°Might be one of Master Sierez¡¯s companions. Used to ride with them back during the disputes with Tyrem.¡± ?zar gave a small shrug. ¡°Probably. That just leaves one question.¡± Tan¨ª offered a silent tilt of his head. ¡°Did Master Sanrevelle really buy you dinner?¡± Canela drew away with a fury, her fist crashing upon the backside of her brother¡¯s head like a burning meteorite. ?zar staggered to his knees, his high-pitched yelp devolving into a low, guttural growl. ¡°Good blood, woman! What is the matter with you?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t act as if I haven¡¯t seen you ogling her!¡± ¡°What? She¡¯s our AP Art teacher. Where else am I supposed to look?¡± ¡°Anywhere but her!¡± Canela hissed. ?zar groaned, though that seemed to be the full extent of his response. Tan¨ª thought Eleanor pretty enough. For her age, at least. She failed to hold a candle to Lavisa¡¯s natural splendor, but he imagined she boasted her fair share of admirers. As Tan¨ª came to learn, ?zar¡¯s curiosity stemmed from Eleanor¡¯s reputation. Being a cold, detached figure, the woman outright refused to entertain simplicity. Tan¨ª wasn¡¯t sure how ¡°simple¡± knocking himself out was, but if being a fool constituted as ¡°simple,¡± then he was certain he¡¯d earned her ire. Even then, Tan¨ª didn¡¯t think her heartless. A little rude, yes, but who wasn¡¯t around strangers? ¡°What happens with the SG now?¡± Tan¨ª asked after a moment¡¯s pause. ¡°I¡¯ll see that it¡¯s stored within the vault.¡± Canela brushed the hilt of her Brand. ¡°It should get us by for the rest of the month.¡± The rest of the month. Only two weeks left. If they played their cards right and received several more donations, maybe it could snowball from there. Even then¡­ ¡°Hey, kid, don¡¯t worry.¡± ?zar¡¯s reassuring tone dispelled the ideas forming in Tan¨ª¡¯s head. ¡°We¡¯re in good hands.¡± He frowned. ¡°But weren¡¯t we doing bad just moments ago?¡± ¡°That¡¯s cuz we had nothing to work with, but now? We¡¯ve got this.¡± ?zar twirled a strand of Canela¡¯s thick black hair around his finger. ¡°Trust me; my sister¡¯s got a handle on this. Believe it or not, she¡¯s as smart as she is pretty.¡± Canela giggled. ¡°I suppose we¡¯re lucky in that regard.¡± Lucky¡­ ¡°If you don¡¯t mind me asking¡­is the one relic true?¡± Tan¨ª asked. ¡°Yeah, why?¡± Canela said without the slightest hint of hesitation. ¡°Curious, really. Every other House has two, so I thought¡ª¡± ¡°What? That we were hiding another?¡± ¡°Yes? No? I¡¯m not sure.¡± ?zar swept a dismissive hand. ¡°Don¡¯t rattle yourself. Lots of first-years think we¡¯re hiding something. Even I did when I started.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s it? We just have one?¡± Tan¨ª asked. Canela stood up from her spot, motioned for her brother to follow, then strode towards the exit. ¡°I suppose you¡¯ve earned the honor of glimpsing our vault during odd hours. Come.¡± Chapter 14 ~ Vault Tan¨ª tailed the siblings through the winding series of labyrinthine corridors. Countless rooms walled off via partitions made up a majority of the grand hall. Students idled in their slice of paradise, talking, playing, or sometimes napping. How he envied them¡­ After a Cycle-draining odyssey deserving of praise, they arrived at the northern end. A green-tinged gate barred entrance from an ivory-hewn storeroom. The dim lights reflected off the polished tile floor. Canela swiped her Brand at the gate, dispelling the seal as Tan¨ª had the window. As the gate dissipated, a sudden wave of heat crashed into him, knocking the cool, crisp air from his lungs. He staggered to the side, reaching for his throat as the terrible maw of sun-burning fervor continued to sink its fang into him. Tan¨ª scratched at his throat, coughed, tried to abstain from breathing, and when the stifling humidity became too much for him, he coughed again. It was just like when Eleanor had revealed D¡¯Arcy¡¯s Spine. The ungodly pressure. Its presence. ¡°Hey, easy there.¡± ?zar put a hand on his shoulder, though it weighed like a boulder. ¡°Just take a deep breath.¡± ¡°I¡¯m¡ª¡± Tan¨ª wheezed. ¡°Trying¡­¡± ¡°No, no. You need to breathe. Let your mind settle. You don¡¯t need to keep fighting. Just relax. Think of what makes you happy. Then drift; drift until nothing else comes to you.¡± As much as Tan¨ª wanted to yell at ?zar for his vague advice, he realized that wasting another ounce of his already diminishing oxygen supply would only kill him. So, he shoved the last two days out of his mind. He encountered difficulties dispelling thoughts of Jaster and Lavisa, but even those became null. All he saw was that starry corpse. So infinite and terrible. Its surface pocketed with half-remembered Wishes. Slow, thoughtless, drifting. Without intending to, Tan¨ª focused on the pulse of his heart. He wasn¡¯t certain how Flickering would help, but Danza claimed it had quelled many a Juneac?o¡¯s battle fatigue. Then he felt a familiar tug. Ancient, powerful, yet gentle as it coaxed him from his mortal coil. Or whatever poetic drivel Danza would use to describe their forms. Memories trickled into his mind like a gentle stream. The starry nights when they¡¯d feasted upon f¨ª odala, the long journeys between tourneys, and the boring afternoons spent washing their clothes in a river probably too dirty to clean. He¡¯d loved every minute of it, even if it was nothing but a memory now. There were moments when Tan¨ª doubted it all. The cruel squires, the unwelcoming Monasteries, the Lords, and Ladies that treated them as inferiors simply because they were Grazers. Not a day passed when their terrible memory didn¡¯t hang in the back of his mind like tackle. It left him feeling¡­lonely. Worse, it made him feel like choosing Danza as his Master had been a mistake. But what was the other choice? Withering away in some rundown shack because no one wanted to give him the opportunity to exist? He just wanted to be a part of something greater than himself. But even though he wanted to throttle those squires for making him feel so conflicted, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to. Like Danza said, the best they could do was dust themselves off and hit the road again. The maw''s grip on his throat weakened, and for a split second, an aura of pure befuddlement radiated from that detached presence. Before it could adapt, Tan¨ª drifted. The heat no more. He straightened, felt his neck for signs of blood, and when he found none, flashed a grin at ?zar. ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± ?zar scratched his cheek. ¡°I¡¯m kinda surprised you caught on so quickly. Most kids just faint. Guess you aren¡¯t stubborn.¡± A sharp cough guided their attention to a shrine in the middle of a hall. Canela. ¡°Are you two done having your moment? Grace ends in ten minutes.¡± A ring of lights surrounded a shrine constructed of the same creamy stone as the Tower at Godsfield. The walls to either side of the shrine bulged outwards, their slotted facades marked with a static line at the center. The number zero. Canela thrust her dagger into a slot about chest height, and the number soon transformed into two-thousand-and-fifty. The sting of a harpsichord resonated from the wall, playing an elaborate, though otherwise short-lived tune. She nodded and turned towards the shrine a moment later. An ornate helm of ninth-century make sat upon a glowing pedestal. The large, almost cumbersome variety used for jousting. An elaborate collar of burning orange plumes adorned the polished metal, their feathery tips swaying as if caught upon an eternal gasp. ¡°Tan?o¡­¡± Tan¨ª¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He glanced all around, and when he asked if either had called for him, they shot him a confused look. His gaze drifted back to the divine relic, and again, the voice came. Its tone betraying an innocent playfulness, like his aunts whenever they visited. The shrine¡¯s tantalizing radiance pulled him into a trance, his hand moving of its own accord. A blessing from their Creator, a Wish made manifest. He needed only to lay his hands on it, then maybe, It would grant his. He came within inches of the seductive steel, his fingertips prepared to brush its pristine surface, but before he could lay claim to the cool treasure, Canela smacked the back of his hand with the blistering force of a tossed stone. A soundless screech parted his lips as he cradled his throbbing appendage, the backside brighter than a red moon. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Are you stupid?¡± Canela snarled. ¡°Don¡¯t you even remember what¡¯ll happen if you touch it?¡± Tan¨ª blew on his stinging hand, hurting too much to answer. ¡°Your hand will melt! Hear that? MELT. God, can you first-years go one second without causing yourself irreparable harm?¡± ?zar shouldered up to Canela. ¡°Sorry, kid. The things just for looking at. Only the champion¡¯s allowed to wear it.¡± He sighed. ¡°If only he could actually use it. Not that anyone else has any success Synthesizing with it.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Tan¨ª asked, putting his hand down. ¡°Yeah. God-relics are picky. If they weren¡¯t, then everyone¡¯d be walking around with enough power to wipe out an entire kingdom.¡± ¡°But you two seem to be doing fine. Can¡¯t you use it?¡± ?zar reached around his belt and flipped open a small leather pouch. It looked like a miniaturized Blood-Loader. Tan¨ª blinked. Wait, it was one. The pouch could only hold seven, though a small divide near the top revealed strips, cotton, and a transfusion device. ?zar plucked a single, bubbling phial from his pouch, uncorked it, then¡ªwith an ostentatious flourish¡ªswung the phial like a blade. The blood splashed in a great crimson arc. Or it would¡¯ve if it hadn¡¯t instantaneously evaporated. Not a single drop tarnished the helm¡¯s gleaming surface. ¡°No,¡± ?zar answered, his voice low and dangerous, ¡°there¡¯s a difference between Synthesis and aligning your state of mind. The former only allows you to withstand their presence.¡± ¡°Who discovered that?¡± Tan¨ª asked. ¡°Fad¨¦nix.¡± ¡°Then what was with the whole blood spilling thing?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a safety measure to see if one¡¯s truly Synthesized. Better that than melting your hand.¡± ?zar corked the empty phial and thrust it back into his pouch. ¡°So, is it heat?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s God¡¯s presence. Burns you if you aren¡¯t worthy. Scholars say it¡¯s a pseudo-God¡¯s Fire. Y¡¯know, without the suffocating part. Just makes us kneel. That¡¯s the Order part.¡± ¡°But¡­it burns,¡± Tan¨ª said, confused. Czar let out a too-long sigh. ¡°Kid, I don¡¯t completely understand it either. It''s a divine weapon. The thing''s not supposed to make sense.¡± As reluctant as Tan¨ª was to drop the topic, he realized it wasn¡¯t his place to question the operations of a holy instrument. He examined the relic all over, Canela and ?zar observing him all the while. ¡°What does it do?¡± Tan¨ª wondered. ¡°Only the Lord and Champion are allowed to know,¡± Canela answered. ¡°When can I meet them?¡± ¡°I¡¯d suggest you not. They aren¡¯t happy with you.¡± Tan¨ª turned to her. ¡°So? You weren¡¯t either just a while ago.¡± ¡°And I still wouldn¡¯t be if it wasn¡¯t for my beloved¡¯s forgiving nature,¡± she stated, her voice reflecting the haughtiness of nobility. ?zar turned away, seemingly annoyed. Even then, Tan¨ª could spot the lightest hints of rose bushes staining his cheeks. ¡°Please don¡¯t call me that¡­¡± ¡°Anyway,¡± Canela continued, ¡°you shouldn¡¯t concern yourself with them. Their frustration will ebb eventually.¡± Tan¨ª nodded. He spent the remainder of his time exploring the vault. Not that there was much. Just slots, a big shrine, and¡ª The scene flickered, replacing the distant darkness with a blacker-than-night haze. His nightmare gnawed upon the inky gloom, devouring the Firmament with a ravenous glee. Its boundless hunger mirrored in its blank eyes. With each jerk of its head, it tore into the world, spilling twinkling vapors of broken light that eradicated the space above. Until suddenly, it paused. Even though it lacked true substance, the thing twisted, its sheer immensity coaxing an ear-splitting groan from the air. As if its mere existence taxed the very Firmament. Shadows blended with the mass, leaving only silence and an eye. An antediluvian, trembling eye. It predated the heavens; the Cycles, yet it had never cared for either. Only him. As its freedom hinged entirely upon his compliance. One born of peace, not the mindless flaying of its accursed victims. <<>> <<>> <<>> ¡°Something wrong?¡± came Canela¡¯s voice. Tan¨ª blinked. The shadow was gone. In its place was a dim shrine with a missing relic. Not wanting to appear crazy, he asked the first thing that came to mind. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°That? It¡¯s the shrine Fad¨¦nix¡¯s students commissioned for the ring. Her ring,¡± Canela answered. ¡°So, it¡¯s real?¡± ¡°Maybe.¡± Tan¨ª frowned at her. ¡°What?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve only a handful of legends to cling to, but they don¡¯t point anywhere. Well, nowhere specific save the labyrinth, anyways.¡± She gestured to the floor. ¡°Labyrinth?¡± ¡°A series of ruins built beneath the academy,¡± ?zar added. ¡°You mean a tomb city?¡± Tan¨ª asked him. ¡°That¡¯s what many would think, but it¡¯s too big to be one. And too deep. There¡¯re other theories, but you¡¯ll come to learn them if you stick around long enough.¡± The airy chime of an ethereal bell rang from the ceiling. Grace was over. ¡°Gotta go,¡± Tan¨ª said, heading for the threshold. ¡°Thanks, by the way. It was fun talking.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Canela nearly shouted. Tan¨ª spun, curious to know what else they had to say. ?zar flashed his sister a confused grin as she pressed up against him. Her crimson-green eyes aimed at the floor. She reminded Tan¨ª of how shy little girls reacted when asked to speak to others. Finally, she drew her gaze back up to meet his. Her dark cheeks tinged with a burgundy blush. ¡°We¡¯ve yet to introduce ourselves properly. My name¡¯s Canela; Canela Darak d¡¯Estrav?o.¡± ¡°And I¡¯m ?zar Par¨¦ d¡¯Estrav?o,¡± ?zar said with a half bow. ¡°Glad we could finally meet, Tan?o. Oh, and sorry about my sister. She''s a bit of a bugger.¡± Canela rolled her eyes. Chapter 15 - Missing relic Tan¨ª stared at the lines in his tome. They made sense. He hated that they made sense. Nearly an entire month had passed since his meeting with the siblings, yet the only thing he¡¯d learned was that more people hated him for stepping on flowers. That, and being the slowest reader in class. Despite what their schedules claimed, the bell didn''t dismiss them. The instructors did. The silver lining? Thanks to his inability to read at a moderate pace, master Yedevar had exempted him from class participation. Or it would be more specific to say he avoided picking him altogether. As for Tan¨ª¡¯s government and mathematics instructors¡­ Well, Despite all their chiding, he failed to differentiate them. Then who could forget about master Deena. Good, sweet master Deena. If there was one person he could rely on to ruin his day, it was her. She would go through the extra effort to single him out among his classmates, embarrass him, and promptly ask Innes to correct his mistake. The woman never called him stupid, but he could tell she enjoyed lording over him by branding him ¡°misunderstood.¡± Right, like him knowing next to nothing about another country¡¯s history was somehow his fault. Maybe he should¡¯ve asked his peasant mother to educate him while she was at it. At least Tan¨ª had lunch to unwind. Then, and only then, he could be at peace. Jerry¡¯s Joint made for a great escape from the hustle and bustle of school life, but as he crossed the cafeteria, he stopped. That thing was there again: The instinct to stride to the retreat without a second thought. As if the floor was but a shifting tide. Gentle, but firm. His legs wobbled, desperate to move again, but he held. He¡­wanted something different. Something more than just another day in that pseudo clubhouse nestled upon the roof. Deciding he could live a day without Jaster¡¯s godly cuisine, Tan¨ª pressed into the cafeteria and picked a tray. The needling of a distant poker failed to turn him away. He passed the Fadenician section and smiled as he spotted ?zar and Canela in their usual spot. They were chatting with friends. About what, he couldn¡¯t discern, but they looked happy. That must¡¯ve felt nice. Feeling like you had somewhere to belong. Canela¡¯s eyes darted to his, and though she didn¡¯t wave, she flashed him a small smile. That was probably the warmest greeting he would ever get from House Fad¨¦nix. Best to keep it that way before he only made it worse. Tan¨ª sped by and made his way toward the isolated series of islands. Lavisa sat alone again. Content with paradise as she picked apart her lunch. ¡°Been a while, hasn¡¯t it?¡± Tan¨ª said, sitting down. Lavisa met his gaze, swallowed, and then gave a slight tilt of her head. ¡°I was wondering where you had gone.¡± ¡°Y-You were?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Tan¨ª waited with bated breath for her to elaborate, but in the end, she returned to her meal. Well, at least some things haven''t changed. As waves of conversation buzzed in his ears, he caught several snippets. Most dealt with the mundane aspects of school life, like grades, unrealistic expectations, a ruthless instructor, or wishful first-years hoping to wield their House¡¯s relics. Over the month, ?zar had detailed the demanding process of Synthesizing with such startling detail that he had Tan¨ª convinced he was some sort of teacher¡¯s aide. If he possessed the knowledge, then why hadn¡¯t he applied for champion? Being a gardener was fine, but a champion? The title alone demanded respect. Tan¨ª glanced at Lavisa, opened his mouth, but hesitated. She was royalty. People probably spoke to her all the time. It must¡¯ve tired her listening to the same three lines over and over again. He mulled over his icebreaker until he finally blurted, ¡°You know House Fad¨¦nix has two relics?¡± Lavisa froze mid-bite. Her breathtaking lavender-sapphire eyes flickered toward him, but instead of shooting him a strange look, a curious twinkle shone in her soothing pools. ¡°Truly?¡± ¡°Y-Yeah¡­ I saw it myself. Kinda.¡± ¡°How so?¡± ¡°So, there¡¯s two shrines in the vault. One of them¡¯s in this creepy dark corner. Empty n¡¯ stuff. First one is closer to the light, but it¡¯s just a helmet.¡± ¡°Do you¡¯ve a clue as to the identity of your missing relic?¡± inquired Lavisa. Tan¨ª drummed his fork against the table. ¡°Not really. The treasurer said it could be anything. A lance used to kill a king, a ring, some other piece of her armor. We dunno. There¡¯s just a bunch of stories.¡± ¡°Fascinating. Care to share one?¡± ¡°Oh, uh¡­no. I wouldn¡¯t mind.¡± Tan¨ª quickly scrounged through his clustered mind for an appropriate tale. ¡°So back when the academy was founded, Fad¨¦nix had a ring. A really pretty one, too, but here¡¯s the weird part: the gemstone wasn¡¯t a gem. They think it a sample of her blood. Just all crystalized and stuff. Apparently, she¡¯d made it before the outbreak of the Three Nations War.¡± He adjusted himself in his seat. ¡°She fought with the other founders, but whenever they would break for peace, Fad¨¦nix would be the one they sent. And every time she went, she¡¯d wear this ring. No armor or weapons. Just the clothes on her back. For some reason, it worked. She even brought it down to the labyrinth and all that.¡± Lavisa cocked a brow. Taking this as a sign, he continued. ¡°Canela¡ªshe¡¯s the Fadenician treasurer¡ªsaid that Fad¨¦nix claimed the honor of being the first person to ever explore the place. Even discovered all the floors we know about, but Valtar and D¡¯Arcy? They were afraid of the place. Said it was an omen.¡± ¡°And your House possesses her Helm, correct?¡± Lavisa double-checked, the smooth twist of her elegant accent like the gentle surf. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s real pretty. Not as cool as D¡¯Arcy¡¯s Spine or her timepiece, but it¡¯s neat. The thing is¡­nobody knows what happened to Fad¨¦nix or the rest of her stuff. She just disappeared one day.¡± Tan¨ª spread his hands. ¡°Maybe she got tired of everything and just died out there somewhere. Like in a nice, cozy pasture by the beach, or even against a tree. Grazers always say that Tygenna plucks them from the greenest places when they pass. Something about green putting you one step closer to her.¡± He smiled to himself. ¡°Yeah¡­ I like to imagine that¡¯s how she went. Mostly cuz it¡¯s how I want to go out, too.¡± Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. ¡°Against a tree? Not buried?¡± ¡°Nah. I don¡¯t think a Juneac?o like me¡¯ll ever be buried.¡± The neutral line of Lavisa¡¯s lips broke. ¡°Why do you say that?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m a Grazer. We don¡¯t get buried; we just join nature when we¡¯re done.¡± Tan¨ª tapped his tray with his utensil. ¡°It kinda scared me when I was little. I thought all Juneac?o were supposed to get big, great tombs when they passed, but no. I¡¯ve seen too many Grazers just sit and sleep. They never wake up again.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± He jumped in a panic. ¡°S-Sorry, I guess it¡¯s not normal for a princess to hear all that, is it?¡± ¡°No, I¡ª¡± Her eyes fell to the table, conflicted. ¡°I thought every Juneac?o granted the same honor.¡± ¡°Yeah, me too.¡± Several silent minutes elapsed as neither knew what to say. And Lavisa? She just sat staring at her food, her eyes crestfallen. ¡°Y¡¯know, they called her the first Grazer,¡± Tan¨ª said, pouring what remained of his enthusiasm into her tone. If only for her. ¡°She didn¡¯t like joining Juries. Thought they were too stuck-up. Can¡¯t really help everyone if you¡¯re always stuck indoors. But¡­I guess even she knew that wasn¡¯t realistic. Not that she didn¡¯t try. Being a Grazer isn¡¯t easy. Weather sucks, people aren¡¯t usually welcoming, merchants try to scam you, but sometimes, you¡¯ll meet the funniest, weirdest people there¡¯s ever been.¡± A memory jolted his mind, and before he could help it, he clapped. ¡°Like this one grandma I met in Ranestad¨¦! She let us lodge with her during Frostfall, and every night before we slept, she¡¯d pop open this little journal her father left her. You know what it was? Just a bunch of jokes.¡± Lavisa¡¯s saddened gaze met his. ¡°Truly?¡± ¡°Nah, I¡¯m lying. Just like my grandfather¡¯s chair. I keep telling him to fix that broken leg, but he just stomps around yelling that the two he¡¯s got still work.¡± Lavisa fell deathly still. Her only indicator of sentience was the slight quirk of her lips. Then he caught it: A light, pleasant ring. Like the bells that signaled the end of each period. They came in bursts, barely contained, until suddenly, she hunched over the table, gasping for air. Her hand flew to her side even as the other hammered the surface, her gasps replaced by uncontrolled laughter. Stunned, Tan¨ª waited for her fit to subside, but instead of straightening once her laughter quieted, she wheezed, repeated the joke to herself, and then laughed harder. His heart melted into a feel-good soup warmer than all the twinkling lights dotting the Desolator¡¯s hide. So Tan¨ª joined her, but not because he found the joke terribly funny. Adequate, yes, but constantly hearing it had dulled the juices. No, he chuckled because he delighted in her mirth. He laughed because it would be sweeter than letting her laugh alone. Lavisa finally recovered from her near strangulation, her eyes silvering with the warmth of a Sun¡¯s Peak coastline. ¡°Her father must¡¯ve been of a greater wit than most,¡± she breathed. ¡°Would you happen to recall more?¡± Tan¨ª unleashed a horde of unholy furniture-based humor with no remorse, their effects doubling with each utterance. Lavisa cackled, howled, and when she couldn¡¯t breathe, wheezed with delight. When he ran dry of munitions, he searched through his trove of memories, hoping to find one last joke to prolong her divine laughter. Before he could utter it, she held up a shaky hand, her lips quivering. ¡°P-Please¡­mercy¡­I¡¯m going to pass. I truly am¡­¡± Tan¨ª smirked. ¡°Who knew all it would take to wipe out the royal bloodline was telling a few bad jokes? I tell you; I might be the world¡¯s best assassin.¡± ¡°Bad? You¡¯d shame the royal jester with your presence.¡± ¡°Do you think it¡¯s too late to change careers?¡± ¡°Perhaps¡­¡± She straightened with a small, dazzling smile. Her first genuine smile. ¡°Though such occurrences aren¡¯t unheard of. Besides, you wouldn¡¯t cut it as a jester.¡± He grinned. ¡°Bit of a dream killer, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°No, I simply believe your potential lies beyond your ability to tell jokes.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Lavisa recovered her fork. ¡°Truly, though I¡¯d rather you never cease your pursuit of comedy. For Vale?o¡¯s sake, that is.¡± ¡°Well, if worse comes to worse, I can always work two jobs.¡± Their discussion quickly devolved to one of blood-stained relics as Tan¨ª shared what little else he knew of the last Fadenician treasure. Most were murky anecdotes regarding the lance''s whereabouts. He did, however, doubt its general existence, since the stories surrounding it varied from fantastic to plain odd. Lavisa remarked on how she possessed a blood-stained relic, though that didn¡¯t surprise Tan¨ª. He was familiar with Voen¡¯s history. Being the only direct female descendant of the late queen, he thought it only natural that Lavisa inherited her Crown. Tan¨ª didn¡¯t know what it looked like in person, but he¡¯d seen dozens of portraits of the woman. She had Lavisa¡¯s eyes, but her hair was blonder than it was salmon. Lavisa inquired about Tan¨ª¡¯s relic, though he quickly brushed it off. Explaining that it was a dumb rumor started by Innes. Her lack of shock spoke for itself. ¡°Have you considered getting back at him?¡± she asked. ¡°I¡¯d rather not get in trouble with royalty¡­¡± ¡°As if he possesses any real authority.¡± Lavisa took a light sip of her tea. ¡°The whelp can hardly tie his boots, let alone run a kingdom.¡± Tan¨ª snorted. ¡°He can¡¯t even tie his shoes?¡± ¡°Truly,¡± Lavisa said with a smug grin, ¡°so don¡¯t worry. The worst he could do is expel you from his land.¡± ¡°So...how do I get back at him?¡± ¡°You can duel him, for one. If you find yourself short on funds, you might be in luck.¡± Tan¨ª leaned forward. ¡°How?¡± ¡°At the end of each month, the academy hosts a tourney. Students participate for free,¡± she explained. ¡°Is there a catch?¡± ¡°Losing, I suppose. The tourney incentivizes rivalry, thus leading to a friendly, albeit competitive, environment. It also aids in master Sanrevelle¡¯s scouting for the Academy-network games.¡± Lavisa skewered her last shred of ham. ¡°I might¡¯ve lied, though. While losing may be harmless, the winning House has much to gain. Namely, a prize of ten thousand SG. Enough to purchase two entire days off.¡± ¡°And the losers?¡± Tan¨ª pressed. ¡°A tariff is placed on all House-sold imports. Oh, and if you¡¯re wondering why the losing Houses don¡¯t flood the winners'' hall, it¡¯s because the shame always gets to them. This creates a system where sizeable sums of SG inevitably return to the academy.¡± ¡°Sounds kinda predatory,¡± Tan¨ª remarked. Lavisa laughed. ¡°I suppose it is, though I¡¯m serious. If you intend to enact your revenge, then the monthly tourney is your best chance.¡± ¡°Nah, no thanks. I¡¯d rather not be responsible for more of my House¡¯s misery. Plus, he¡¯s your cousin. It¡¯d be kinda weird to beat him up in front of you.¡± ¡°But why? I do so enjoy a good show.¡± Good blood, how could something be so awfully tempting? Not that Tan¨ª would accept her off. He knew Danza wouldn¡¯t approve. If he wanted to be a great Juneac?o, then he couldn¡¯t let some royal brat get to him. But then again¡­ ¡°You¡¯re completely okay with it though?¡± Tan¨ª eyed her up and down. Lavisa took a small bite of her ham and swallowed it. ¡°Manners are simply for appearances, Tan?o. I¡¯ve no warmth or tenderness for Innes. Do as you must. I only ask you to spill those tears of his.¡± A bell tolled, signaling the end of their meal. Though Tan¨ª was loath to part ways, he couldn¡¯t afford another tardy mark. He mentally prepared himself for yet another disappointing Sedd class, but as he sat halfway up, he stopped. Lavisa gazed at him. Unperturbed, like always. ¡°Uh¡­well¡­bye.¡± He gave an awkward wave. Lavisa dipped her head. ¡°Do take care until Art.¡± And with that, she left. Chapter 16 ~ Three? Tan¨ª peered around the corner, finding¡ªthankfully¡ªonly the hall monitor. And painted upon their shoulders the fearless emblem of Dragonfang. Hall monitors, as the student body oh so collectively murmured their names, didn¡¯t belong to the faction hall they lorded over. Houses, though not ones to exchange, pledged their own members in a sort of trust system. He didn¡¯t understand it himself, though Lavisa explained it an attempt to build favor between the Houses. Something Juneac?o Juries (even the reluctant ones) did. Rivals they may be, they had to rely on each other for information, materials, and strength of arms. And how did these monitors distinguish themselves from the common rabble? Through the distinctive, flamboyant finish upon their cape. Like a bunch of Juneac?o with too much money to spend. A network of golden embroidery highlighted the edges of the cape, betraying either a dancing bird, dragons swaying, or serpents lunging at one another in a repeating pattern. This one bore an unmistakable Vlasalisk insignia. Assured of his safety (really not being harassed), Tan¨ª stepped out of the corner and made his way down the too-clean white hall. The sun shone through the faux glass, granting them natural light instead of that artificial-but-almost-too-real radiance sprouting from the ceiling. He couldn¡¯t truly ¡°see¡± the source of its incandescence. It¡¯d simply slink away from his sight until it became a mesh of yellows, blues, and reds that transformed into a wavering white. Tan¨ª¡ªunfortunately¡ªmade the stupid decision of meeting the monitor¡¯s gaze, and though he didn¡¯t want to, squeaked out an awkward ¡°hello.¡± The monitor, as expected, averted their gaze, and managed a monotone, ¡°Try not to spend too much while you¡¯re here. Your House is struggling as is. No sense in filling the pockets of another.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t going¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather you not distract me while I¡¯m on duty.¡± Tan¨ª scanned the vacant hall. Not a peep echoed from either end. Unsurprising. Students never wandered the halls during school hours, especially grace. Most preferred the comfort of their grand halls. He glanced at the right side of the hall. Judging by the plain signs smeared with shimmering markstone, they were clubrooms. Most students used them as a private resting quarter during this period. Or so Lavisa claimed. Peering down the rest of the hall revealed Vlasalisk banners hanging from the ceiling as well as trophy shelves, pedestals, and plants decorating the walls. Towards the edge, he spotted the frame of a painting, or something that looked like, but off. Like someone had projected the appearance of a loved one straight from their memory and threaded it into the air. Curious, Tan¨ª approached one, examined the thin, green haze painting the edges, then poked it. His finger only found the wall. Tan¨ª fell in a poking trance, and to his heart''s delight, stumbled upon an art display. Several paintings depicted bracers and an amulet, others of a man that bore a striking resemblance to Valtar. He was flattering in some; the color hitting him at just the right angle as he struck a noble pose. Others¡­ Well, it was fortunate that they were Juneac?o. ¡°What¡¯re you doing here, Fad¨¦nix?¡± Tan¨ª flinched. Realizing his luck had run out, he turned to face Innes. The prince stood in the middle of the hall with his entourage. Eight strong. ¡°Oh¡­hey, Innes. Come here often?¡± Tan¨ª grinned. ¡°I live here, Fad¨¦nix,¡± Innes said dryly. ¡°Right, right¡­¡± ¡°Well? You¡¯ve yet to answer my question.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just having a look around.¡± ¡°And who gave you permission to do that?¡± ¡°Permission?¡± Tan¨ª peered at Innes, hoping he could dispel the mad illusion set before him. ¡°People walk down this hall all the time. Why would I need permission?¡± ¡°Because one needs to earn the honor of traversing another¡¯s wing. You¡¯ve yet to earn it, and to be completely transparent, I doubt you ever will. Alas, my patience is short today.¡± Innes motioned to one of his goons. ¡°See him out, Lisdin.¡± Tan¨ª took a step back. ¡°You can¡¯t just throw someone out because you feel like it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s within a student¡¯s rights to rid the vicinity of any nuisance.¡± ¡°But I haven¡¯t done anything!¡± Innes appeared unphased by his outburst. ¡°You being here is nuisance enough. You¡¯d understand if you were in my position.¡± Somehow, Tan¨ª doubted that. Ignoring the prince, he went around the group. Or at least tried to. Several members shuffled to the side, blocking his path with a wall of bodies. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± Innes asked, his tone betraying the supreme arrogance that came with having such a punchable face. ¡°I just want to see more than my hall,¡± Tan¨ª said. ¡°Ah, but your nest is so cozy. Why would you want to leave it? The world is a scary place.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think I know that? I¡¯m a Grazer.¡± ¡°That explains why you¡¯re so good at running.¡± Tan¨ª rolled his eyes. Like I haven¡¯t heard that before. He tried to squeeze past the blockade, but Innes¡¯ goons shoved him back. Though gravity threatened to draw him into its sweet embrace, he stabilized after several stumbling steps, saving him the embarrassment. ¡°Grazers wander. They don¡¯t run,¡± Tan¨ª corrected, pouring every ounce of certainty and defiance he could into his voice. ¡°You don¡¯t need to lie to yourself. Why do you think they let you into Fad¨¦nix?¡± Innes asked. ¡°Cuz I¡¯m resilient.¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s because that¡¯s where all the inept, thin-blooded rejects go.¡± Stifling the overwhelming urge to knock Innes¡¯ head off, Tan¨ª assessed the situation. He couldn¡¯t win a one-on-nine fight. Not when his opponents wielded some degree of Sedd. Even if he were to use all the tricks he had at his disposal, that wouldn¡¯t end well¡­ No matter how angry he got. He¡¯d just get bruised up, like every time a squire teased him too much. ¡°Look, Innes, I get you don¡¯t have anything better to do, but can you not?¡± Tan¨ª went the other way, only for the stubborn wall to shift. ¡°And let you sully Vlasalisk¡¯s quarters?¡± Innes tsk-tsk¡¯d. ¡°No, I can¡¯t have a crooked-winged hatchling spilling their putrid blood all over the blood. Have you not heard?¡± Annoyed, Tan¨ª asked, ¡°Heard what?¡± ¡°That Fad¨¦nix is prohibited from entering Vlasalisk territory.¡± ¡°Alright, but why?¡± Innes smirked. ¡°Because the only thing your lot does is bring misfortune. That, and making a fool of yourself, though that¡¯s more a perk than anything else.¡± ¡°Are you done now?¡± Tan¨ª asked, not even looking at him anymore. ¡°Yes. You may go.¡± Tan¨ª tried pushing ahead again, but just like last time, they shoved him back. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± questioned the prince, his disdain replaced by confusion. ¡°Going my way.¡± ¡°I already told you: Fad¨¦nix isn¡¯t welcomed here.¡± ¡°And I don¡¯t care. So can you kindly get out of my way before I kick your¡ª¡± ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Tan¨ª stiffened as the refined voice brushed his ears. It was cool, matched only by the tranquil gasps of a late Greentide breeze. He glanced over the row of shoulders, and when he couldn¡¯t glimpse her, jumped to the tips of his toes. There, standing a small way behind the crowd, was a curious Lavisa. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. ¡°Ah, Voen.¡± Innes stepped through with a small smile, his lackeys parting around him. ¡°It¡¯s nice to see you again.¡± She glanced at him, neither warmth nor amusement rendering her eyes. Even for a second-year, Lavisa was tall, so she had to lower her gaze to meet Innes¡¯s. ¡°I hope you¡¯ve been keeping well, cousin. Care to enlighten me as to the commotion here?¡± ¡°A little birdy¡¯s fallen from his nest, so I¡¯m doing the responsible thing and helping him find his way back. Won¡¯t be more than a minute. If you want, we could¡ª¡± ¡°A Fad¨¦nix?¡± The group cleared as she stepped into the fray. Her lavender-sapphire eyes lit up upon spotting him. ¡°Tan?o? What¡¯re you doing here?¡± Innes frowned. ¡°Tan?o? You know the fray?¡± ¡°Of course. We often sit together during lunch.¡± ¡°YOU WHAT?¡± Tan¨ª jumped as the shrill blast of noise slammed into him. Lavisa, unsurprisingly, appeared unphased. Turning to the boy with a less-than-amused turn of her lips, she explained, ¡°Ever since his first day, we¡¯ve shared lunch.¡± ¡°But¡ªBut you¡¯re the royal heir!¡± ¡°Correction: I¡¯m a student. My royal origins have no bearing on who I choose to interact with.¡± ¡°He¡­but I thought¡ª¡± Innes voice drifted into a whine until he exploded once again. ¡°You never eat with me! Or House Vlasalisk! Why him? Why?¡± ¡°If you must know, I prefer quiet, isolated settings while I eat. There¡¯s nothing wrong with that, is there?¡± Lavisa questioned calmly. The prince¡¯s response? An incoherent stream of stutters. There were times when he managed a solid syllable, though even then that sounded like a whine. And the best part? His entourage was starting to appear concerned. ¡°I see your classes have taken a toll, cousin,¡± Lavisa said, drawing out the last word with such subtle indifference that it nearly stung. ¡°Why not rest while you¡¯ve the opportunity? I¡¯ll take things from here.¡± ¡°But I was just¡ª¡± ¡°Yes, you needn¡¯t concern yourself. I¡¯ll guide him to his wing. Now return and rest.¡± Innes¡¯s entourage scattered without another word, leaving the boy staring blankly at her. Tan¨ª, playing it cool, slid up to Lavisa¡¯s side, earning an immediate glare from the prince. Then, and only after some painful grinding of his teeth, Innes scoffed and left. After a moment, Lavisa started down the path Tan¨ª had been heading to. Hopefully, he wasn¡¯t too late. ¡°Hey, thanks for saving me back there,¡± he whispered, catching up to her. Lavisa waved a graceful hand. ¡°Think nothing of it. Innes has a terrible habit of skulking our halls for prey.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound dangerous¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯ve no need to fear. He rarely bites.¡± They passed yet another questionable art gallery and tempted though he was to bombard Lavisa with questions on the terrible display, something else came to mind. ¡°Lavisa? What Innes said about Fad¨¦nix not being allowed in the Vlasalisk wing¡­ Is that true?¡± The princess kept her gaze on the hall, her placid expression never turning. Somehow, the silence only made him more scared. ¡°I mean¡­if it isn¡¯t true, it sure sounded like it was. I dunno. Maybe I¡¯m just gullible,¡± Tan¨ª murmured. ¡°You aren¡¯t,¡± Lavisa said. ¡°So, it¡¯s true?¡± ¡°Not quite.¡± Tan¨ª cocked his head. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Due to Fad¨¦nix¡¯s unfortunate reputation, their presence is seldom tolerated in another¡¯s domain. Consider it an unspoken¡­disagreement among Vlasalisk and Dragonfang.¡± Lavisa¡¯s eyes hardened. ¡°I¡¯ve no idea why they buy into such petty superstition. Some even go as far to claim that they¡¯re nothing more than petty thieves eager to steal another¡¯s relic.¡± ¡°But¡­that¡¯s impossible,¡± Tan¨ª said, more annoyed than confused. ¡°I know, but superstition has a way of eroding our already¡­well, questionable faculties.¡± ¡°Do you¡­¡± Tan¨ª¡¯s voice fell to a hushed whisper. ¡°Do you believe it?¡± Lavisa glanced at him from the corner of her eyes. ¡°No. I¡¯ve experienced neither fortune nor misfortune from my interactions with them. As I have with mine House.¡± Tan¨ª released a sigh he hadn¡¯t known he¡¯d been holding. At least she was sensible. Suddenly, Lavisa asked, ¡°Have you learned more of your missing relic?¡± ¡°Huh? Oh, no. I don¡¯t really go pressing for answers much. Not like I¡¯ll find it.¡± ¡°Oh? You never know.¡± Wanting to discuss something a little more lighthearted, Tan¨ª asked Lavisa what she usually did during grace. Much as expected, she enjoyed writing in her free time. The fact was pleasantly surprising, however. Not because he liked reading. No, he couldn¡¯t care less about a waste of parchment. No, Tan¨ª found her writing fascinating because she noted down every joke that tickled her fancy. Her only issue was that she had come across a creative rut the previous year. The most she¡¯d noted down were a handful of quips and or anecdotes she¡¯d heard in passing. It wasn¡¯t until Tan¨ª when her miniscule collection had expanded to a full six pages. Just knowing someone prettier than all the flowers in the world had recorded him made Tan¨ª feel like the biggest, coolest thing since the moon. Lavisa recited several of his jokes, snickering and choking even as she failed to still her squirming lips. Tan¨ª found it odd that a princess of all people was a fan of comedy. She always appeared so stoic. Assignments couldn¡¯t bring her down, but a well-timed joke? That made her crumble like a sandcastle. Good blood, she was goofy. ¡°Tan-Tan!¡± Tan¨ª grunted as an arm slung itself over his shoulder. Before he could manage a word, the smell hit him. Sweet, and buttery. His eyes gravitated to the treat hanging before him. A puffy pastry filled with thick cream and sprinkled with chocolate shavings. ¡°Good blood, why¡¯re you here? Thought you scheduled for the Dragonfang corner,¡± Jaster panted. ¡°Sorry, got a little distracted,¡± Tan¨ª lied. ¡°What, and wandered the backend hoping you¡¯d find up?¡± ¡°Hey, I said I got distracted.¡± ¡°Then you weren¡¯t lost?¡± came Lavisa¡¯s soft voice. Jaster turned to her and blanched. Not a moment later, he unhooked his arm from Tan¨ª and bowed, stiffened, then bowed even more deeply. ¡°Ah, forgive me, your highness, I wasn¡¯t aware¡ª¡± Lavisa raised her hand. ¡°Enough of that. I wish to hear him.¡± Tan¨ª snorted. She didn¡¯t care for pleasantries, did she? After Jaster had awkwardly straightened, Tan¨ª spoke. ¡°I just wanted to see the place, y¡¯know? Never really get out much. Yeah. That¡¯s it. Besides¡­¡± His gaze fell to her legs. ¡°I was sorta hoping I¡¯d run into you. Y¡¯know¡­say hi.¡± Lavisa let out an airy huff of amusement. ¡°As it stands, I¡¯d advise you not make impromptu visits to Vlasalisk¡¯s domain.¡± Tan¨ª deflated. Great, even she didn¡¯t want him around. ¡°But I¡¯m certain we can arrange plans to meet elsewhere. Perhaps a visit to the Fadenician wing would suit us? They don¡¯t seem to mind visitors,¡± Lavisa said, her voice betraying the slightest hint of interest. Tan¨ª whipped up to face her. ¡°W-Wait¡­ You mean like a date?¡± ¡°If that¡¯s what you call arranging a meeting, then yes.¡± ¡°You really wouldn¡¯t mind being with me? Or doing stuff with me?¡± Lavisa inclined her head. ¡°Don¡¯t I already sit, talk, and eat with you?¡± ¡°Yes, but¡ª¡± Tan¨ª shook his head, and after gathering his nerves, breathed. ¡°No, sorry, yeah. We can make plans. I never really hang out with anyone.¡± ¡°You do know I¡¯m standing right here?¡± came Jaster¡¯s flat response. He grinned. ¡°Well, almost.¡± The Nimmian returned his smile, forgiving him for his blunder. Lavisa asked him about how they¡¯d met, and while Tan¨ª couldn¡¯t reveal the truth behind their rooftop meeting, he opted to call him a simple ¡°friend.¡± She didn¡¯t press for details, though she did occasionally eye the treats in the Nimmian¡¯s hands. Jaster explained the pastry was a traditional treat from his homeland. And because of his mother¡¯s skill, he was quite adept at baking them. Judging by the smell, he wasn¡¯t lying. ¡°Y¡¯know, it¡¯s kinda weird seeing you around school,¡± Tan¨ª remarked. ¡°Yeah, the Joint is great n¡¯ all, but even I need to come down for fresh air.¡± ¡°I really doubt the air is fresher down here than it is up there.¡± They shared a small laugh, interrupted only by Lavisa¡¯s burning question. ¡°How do you mean, Tan?o?¡± He looked at her, curious. ¡°What do you mean how do I mean?¡± ¡°You mentioned it¡¯s odd seeing him on academy grounds. Where else could you have met?¡± ¡°Oh¡­just around, really. Gardens, the training fields, the roof.¡± Lavisa brow furrowed. ¡°What was that?¡± Jaster playfully¡ªif not somewhat aggressively¡ªpushed Tan¨ª forward. ¡°C¡¯mon, ¡®nough chinwag! No offense, princess, but this isn¡¯t something you eat cold.¡± Tan¨ª, once he stabilized, snatched his treat from the Nimmian, and brought it to his mouth. Just as he was about to take his first bite, his eyes met Lavisa¡¯s. This treat must¡¯ve been amazing, but maybe¡­ ¡°Would you like a bite?¡± Tan¨ª asked, extending the pastry to her. Lavisa¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°Oh, uh¡­sorry. Guess I was a little quiet. I was just wondering if you wanted a bite.¡± ¡°As in sharing?¡± ¡°Yeah, we can go halfsies.¡± Lavisa tilted her head. ¡°Halfsies?¡± Jaster slapped Tan¨ª on the back and drew him into a huddle. ¡°Oi, what¡¯re you doing?¡± he hissed. ¡°You can¡¯t just give a princess half your stuff! She needs it all!¡± ¡°What? Why?¡± ¡°Simple manners!¡± Tan¨ª came to his conclusion after some thought and said, ¡°But I don¡¯t get anything out of it.¡± Jaster groaned. Before the Nimmian could utter another complaint, Tan¨ª pushed him off. ¡°I¡¯ve just been informed that it would be ¡®rude¡¯ of me to only give you half. So here you go.¡± He held out the pastry for her to take. Lavisa¡¯s gaze fell to the treat. The surprise replaced by something that almost resembled disappointment. ¡°I¡­ No. I¡¯m fine,¡± she murmured. ¡°You sure?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m certain. If nothing else, I can always purchase a snack from my House¡¯s dispenser.¡± Tan¨ª spared Jaster a glance. He was already munching on his pastry, his cheeks flecked with cream. It must¡¯ve tasted good judging by those obnoxious moans. Tan¨ª returned to his warm treat and gave it a light squeeze. So flaky and perfect. The thick cream looked as if it would melt on his tongue the moment he touched it. And the shavings of chocolate¡­a delectable concoction of mouth-watering bitter tones¡­ He brought the treat to his mouth, and though he commanded his teeth to sink into the slice of heaven, his heart refused to obey. The treat trembled in his unresponsive, stupid hand. With a sigh, he scolded himself and took the pastry in either hand, giving it an awkward twist-pull. Tan¨ª expected it to tear cleanly in two, but a gash formed at the top. He panicked, adjusted the pressure, and then started the cycle all over again just for the ravine to grow. Realizing he had to be quick, Tan¨ª ripped the treat apart. As a result, the cream exploded from the vent and spilled onto his fingers. He fought back a horrified shrill, pushed through the terror and tore the pastry in two crude components. His eyes flickered from a ragged island to a jagged continent, though it was obvious which of the two was the better choice. ¡°Here¡­¡± Tan¨ª offered her the bigger, cleaner piece. ¡°Hope you like it.¡± An expression of profound awe graced the princess¡¯s feature. It reminded Tan¨ª of the look on his brothers¡¯ faces whenever their mother would present them with a gift, and just like them, she reached out with a shaky hand. Thankfully, her gloves would spare her from the mess. Once it was within her grasp, she worshipped it. Regarding this simple treat as if it were a bar of solid gold. Her lips eventually found the edge, but instead of devouring it, she nibbled. Savoring every bite despite its deformity. Chapter 17 ~ Back before the Bell Tan¨ª winced as the blinding sunlight flooded the world. Good blood, how obnoxiously bright. The incandescent ceiling lights were powerful, but they never hurt to look at. Then again, this was the first time he¡¯d stepped foot outside the academy in a month. ¡°Something wrong?¡± came a shadow with Jaster¡¯s outline. ¡°Nah, just bright,¡± Tan¨ª said, shielding his eyes from the sun¡¯s wrath. ¡°But you go to the Jerry Joint every day.¡± ¡°Yeah, when it¡¯s all cloudy. Otherwise, I¡¯d be brightstoned off the roof.¡± ¡°Tan?o,¡± came Lavisa¡¯s voice from the right, ¡°where is this ¡®Jerry Joint¡¯ which you speak of?¡± Tan¨ª lowered his hand, his eyes having adjusted. ¡°It¡¯s just a storage closet we¡¯ve remodeled.¡± Jaster jabbed him in the ribs, eliciting a sharp yelp. ¡°Truly? How did you get away with that?¡± Lavisa asked, none the wiser.¡°I s¡¯pose the teachers don¡¯t pay much attention¡­¡± They started through the garden, passing several idling students. Jaster had explained they had something called a ¡°free period.¡± It was identical to a grace but thrown in during the dead hours of their schedule. Every student (except him) had one, but the talented received two. One could even have several of these periods auspiciously aligned at the day''s end, meaning they could turn in early. Tan¨ª vowed to emulate their work-ethic. Not in the pursuit of scholarly enlightenment, but because he wanted to nap earlier. Lavisa soon took the lead. She hadn¡¯t been the one to suggest the outing, but she accepted the offer all the same. As for Jaster, he would¡¯ve felt bad for not inviting the guy. What with Tan¨ª not having paid him a proper visit since his encounter with Innes. Tan¨ª was slightly upset he wouldn¡¯t be spending time alone with Lavisa, but being with two friends? Two. That was a joy that overshadowed the dampness. ¡°Are you certain we won¡¯t be tardy?¡± Lavisa asked Jaster. ¡°We¡¯ve time to kill, plus even if we are, I got a good list of excuses. Not sure if they¡¯ll work for you, though.¡± ¡°You needn¡¯t concern yourself with me. I already possess a solution.¡± Tan¨ª cocked a brow at her. ¡°You sound like you¡¯re used to ditching classes.¡± ¡°We aren¡¯t ditching, Tan?o. We simply might be late. Not that the teachers will ask for my reasoning.¡± ¡°Why do you say that?¡± Lavisa turned to him with a small, knowing grin. ¡°Would you punish the future ruler of your great nation?¡± Tan¨ª stared. God, how cold. He thought her beyond such petty things, but it seemed no one was above abusing their power. Unsure of how to respond, he flashed her an uneven smile and laughed. She caught on right away. ¡°You needn¡¯t worry, Tan?o. I¡¯m not one to take light of my power. I simply like to play with it from time to time.¡± Tan¨ª relaxed. ¡°Alright¡­just don¡¯t grow up to be a tyrant. Never works out in the long run.¡± ¡°TAN-TAN,¡± Jaster screeched. Before he knew it, the Nimmian zipped over and clamped his mouth shut. ¡°He was just joking, your highness. Don¡¯t hold it against him. He¡¯s just simple.¡± Tan¨ª clawed at his hands, but something prevented his arms from moving. Something he couldn¡¯t quite pick out. ¡°A poor joke, that, but Tan?o isn¡¯t so tasteless. I¡¯m certain he meant well,¡± Lavisa reasoned. ¡°What kind of things have you been telling the princess?¡± Jaster hissed into his ear. Tan¨ª managed a muffled grunt that only made his lungs burn. ¡°Comedy? Good blood, save that for court! Do you even know what could¡¯ve happened if you¡¯d said the wrong thing?¡± ¡°You needn¡¯t concern yourself, Sir Fernbank,¡± Lavisa said, starting down the winding path into port once more. Jaster removed his hand from Tan¨ª¡¯s mouth. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes. Tan?o has done nothing to earn my ire.¡± ¡°Oh¡­so you¡¯re fine with what he¡¯s said?¡± Lavisa tilted her head up, her royal gaze set on the boundless azure expanse. ¡°Good humor is in short supply these days, Sir Fernbank. Though we¡¯ve an aversion to it, one needs to tread the line of comfort to receive a worthwhile response. You may utter a quip so despicable it generates naught but ire, though the alternative? An unexpected murmur that takes them for a loop¡­ Stealing their breath even as it absolves you of your burdens. Yes¡­humor is a necessary risk, though one I welcome all the same. For no greater comfort can exist.¡± The soft rise of her sophisticated, northern Coros accent, the manner with which her shoulders rose, and her hand. So delicately balled, almost as if she were holding something precious. They washed away Tan¨ª¡¯s every concern, for a purer moment could never exist. She didn¡¯t speak with romantic fondness; she spoke with her heart. Just like Danza whenever Tan¨ª interrogated the man on why he persisted despite their abuse from other Preservers. ¡°Besides,¡± Lavisa continued, the sun¡¯s gleam turning her salmon-flaxen hair pink. ¡°I¡¯m not my father. I can handle a crude joke or two. And I won¡¯t ask for Tan?o¡¯s life. Not yet, anyhow.¡± Jaster blanched. ¡°But you¡ª¡± ¡°I jest, Sir Fernbank. Like I said: I¡¯m not my father. A life is worth more than a few tasteless words. Even if they¡¯re to be aimed at my family.¡± Lavisa¡¯s gaze shifted to Tan¨ª. ¡°If you¡¯ve any good ones regarding my father, do keep them to yourself until I ascend the throne. I¡¯d rather you not lose your head.¡± Tan¨ª waited for her to admit to the jest, but she just continued down the hill not a moment later. He exchanged an uncertain look with Jaster, shrugged, then followed her down to the academy¡¯s carriage station. They were the fastest way to get to town that didn¡¯t involve relying on one¡¯s Sedd, or a horse. Hopefully, Jaster and Lavisa had yet to learn of his inability to wield that arcane energy. The carriage set out at a brisk pace, passing several students along the way, though they were usually a hot blur as they used Goem to enhance their speed. They discussed the burning topic that was hot on everyone¡¯s minds: the school¡¯s tourney. Lavisa inquired whether Jaster would participate. His response? A look of disgust at the mention of him doing more than was required. Considering his (somehow) near-perfect attendance and class participation, his house had yet to press him on joining. They probably didn¡¯t care enough to bother him. Tan¨ª, however, sat on the fence. He didn¡¯t doubt his skills with a blade, but Sedd? The other first-years would humiliate him out of mercy rather than toss him around, especially that blowhard prince. As for Lavisa, she sounded particularly conflicted. Almost as if she wanted to join but couldn¡¯t bring herself to. Tan¨ª amounted that to general anxiety. Mostly because her father¡ªmore than anyone else¡ªdesired her participation. Maybe she didn¡¯t want to embarrass herself before the student body. Once the driver announced their arrival, they stepped off and entered the town¡¯s shopping district. They weren¡¯t here to ¡°buy,¡± but do something Jaster called ¡°window-shopping.¡± Lavisa described the process as ¡°browsing the store¡¯s catalogue without the intention to purchase.¡± Riveting. What a complete waste of time. They browsed clothing shops, perused tomes and books labeled ¡°best sellers¡± (though Lavisa mentioned they were ¡°tasteless¡± for being full-length stories with poorly disguised concepts ripped from other successful authors), poked at knickknacks in the shape of stackable dolls from northmost Tyrem, and stopped by a small jewel corner where the smiths crafted reflective nametags with various breathtaking vistas (Tan¨ª found his towards the bottom. The perks of having a pretty common name). When they couldn¡¯t find Lavisa¡¯s, they interrogated her about the meaning of her name. ¡°I¡¯d¡­rather not say,¡± she mumbled, a light blush touching her porcelain cheeks. ¡°C¡¯mon! It can¡¯t be that embarrassing,¡± Jaster said. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°Unfortunately, mine is.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been all over Corat?o and I¡¯ve never heard of it before,¡± Tan¨ª remarked, ¡°not that it sounds foreign, but newish.¡± Lavisa pushed herself away from the display hosting the nametags. ¡°My father gave it to me.¡± ¡°And he never told you what it meant?¡± ¡°He did.¡± ¡°Then what¡¯s it mean? C¡¯mon, we won¡¯t tell anyone¡­¡± Jaster probed, leaning closer to her. Lavisa tapped the display meticulously. Finally, she uttered, ¡°Nothing.¡± ¡°Kind of a weird meaning¡­¡± ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t mean nothing, it¡¯s¡ª¡± An exasperated sigh slipped from her perfect lips. ¡°It means hereafter.¡± Tan¨ª turned his ear to her. ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°It means hereafter.¡± Jaster scratched his head. ¡°If it¡¯s that bad, we c¡ª¡± ¡°HEREAFTER, ALRIGHT? IT MEANS HEREAFTER.¡± Everyone present in the shop swiveled around to face her, though they quickly returned to their own dealings when she shot back a glare. Lavisa wrung the thumb on her right hand, and when neither Tan¨ª nor Jaster responded, she dipped her head. ¡°I apologize. Truly. I did not mean for my temper to get the best of me. Please, forgive me.¡± Tan¨ª held up a hand. ¡°It¡¯s fine. We didn¡¯t mean to stress you out. Even if it was over something like a name.¡± ¡°A pretty odd one at that,¡± Jaster added with a whisper. Tan¨ª jabbed him in the side, eliciting a yelp. In an effort to make her feel better, Tan¨ª asked her questions about the things they saw, even uttering a few jokes every now and again, but she never brightened. Not much, anyway. She seemed to be lost, and unlike before, he had an inkling as to why. ¡°Do you not like your name?¡± Tan¨ª said, his voice low enough so that only she could hear. Lavisa turned her gaze away from him. ¡°Whether I do is of no concern to you.¡± The stores became a blur as they entered one after the other, her name heavy on his mind. Lavisa. Lah-Vees-Ah. Thinking about it now, it reminded him of a concept within Fractism he had initially overlooked. That being Laco¨¹tha. The Ever-Present After. Despite being a follower of Fractism (as was the case with every Coros citizen), he didn¡¯t know much beyond the core aspects. That being perfection, rebirth, and centrality. Laco¨¹tha¡ªfrom what he gathered¡ªdealt with all three simultaneously. As one¡¯s pursuit of centrality would lead to rebirth, and in their pursuit, they would drive the Solanarium to eternal perfection via Cycles. The destiny of Iterations. He thought it a funny way to live forever. They all abandoned their old forms, kinda like how the Agents. Their bodies making up the Tower at Godsfield. But they themselves scarcely remembered tidbits of their previous lives. Not that he believed that junk. Immortality¡ªno matter how broken¡ªcould never exist. Danza even said so himself. Claiming that trying to live forever only ever ended in tragedy. Tan¨ª wondered why he sounded so convincing whenever he uttered those words. After exiting the fifth store in their spree, Jaster helped up a hand, then sniffed the air. ¡°Do you smell that?¡± Tan¨ª sniffed and caught a whiff of something nutty and sweet roasting over a¡­fire? ¡°What is it?¡± He looked around the area for the source. Jaster squeezed his shoulder. ¡°Roasted chestnuts, my friend. Roasted chestnuts. The food of the Juneac?o.¡± ¡°I thought that was f¨ª odala.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s roasted chestnuts.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never even heard of that until now.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because they¡¯re a Nimmian specialty,¡± Lavisa chimed in. ¡°They¡¯re a traditional snack to the islanders, but not the Juneac?o of Corat?o.¡± Tan¨ª arched a brow. ¡°Why do they sell it up here, then?¡± ¡°The academy¡¯s port is well-known for possessing a range of foreign cuisines. It not only expands a Juneac?o¡¯s palate, but provides them with a glimpse of cultures outside our borders. That, and it provides foreign exchange students with familiar meals.¡± ¡°I take it they aren¡¯t a fan of fish?¡± ¡°Partially correct, but some appreciate having a piece of home away from home.¡± Lavisa¡¯s gaze traveled down the street. ¡°A?el told me much the same when I was a child. I can¡¯t imagine what it¡¯s like to suddenly leave home one day. Knowing you¡¯ll never be back; knowing you¡¯ve no other choice but to wander, regardless of heart¡­¡± She brought a hand to her chest. ¡°I¡¯ve nothing but admiration for the Juries, but Grazers? Those willing to sacrifice their comfort to lend strangers their aid? They¡¯re strong; stronger than blades forged from God¡¯s blood. I only pray that they never come to regret it.¡± Tan¨ª¡¯s heart lodged itself in his throat. What was that? No one had ever spoken so highly of Grazers before, and even when they did¡ª Tan¨ª suppressed the thought. Of course, she didn¡¯t mean it. They never did; they only treated it like some cruel punchline. Lavisa turned to Jaster and asked, ¡°Tell me, Sir Fernbank: Do you miss Nimmin?¡± He shrugged. ¡°Nimmin¡¯s fine, but I don¡¯t miss it. Too rainy, I say. Nothing like Corat?o. Warm, sunny¡­yeah it rains, but it¡¯s never too much. I¡¯d even say it¡¯s perfect. Y¡¯know, if it wasn¡¯t for Hierrs¨¦. Place¡¯s drearier than Nimmin in the morning. What about you?¡± ¡°All of Corat?o is my home. I do not long for her while I am within her borders,¡± Lavisa stated, cool as ever. ¡°Really? You don¡¯t even miss your palace?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve no warmth for my familial dwelling. Histell is a fine city, though it isn¡¯t where I wish to spend the rest of my days.¡± ¡°Is there any place you like being in?¡± ¡°Hierrs¨¦, for one.¡± Lavisa turned to Tan¨ª. ¡°What about you, Tan?o? Do you miss Histell?¡± He blinked. ¡°Huh? How¡¯d you know I was from there?¡± ¡°Your surname¡¯s a common one among the smallfolk.¡± ¡°Yeah, doesn¡¯t the ¡®d¡¯ stand for ¡®de¡¯ or whatever?¡± questioned Jester. ¡°Correct,¡± Lavisa said, ¡°you see, Sir Fernbank, surnames in Corat?o derive from one¡¯s place of origin. A holdover from our Ses?o ancestors, one might say. Those of aristocratic descent do not follow this trend, being granted names to distinguish themselves from the commoners.¡± ¡°Oh. Then what about when¡­¡± Tan¨ª listened to their back and forth as Lavisa explained the Coros name conventions. While three names were the standard (with their second name belonging to their most revered ancestor), it wasn¡¯t uncommon for people to have two. These typically belonged to those of low birth. The upper echelons of nobility and royalty reserved four names, but five? That was an ungodly occurrence that had been prevalent during the Three Nations¡¯ Wars. After a while, Tan¨ª¡¯s thoughts returned to his surname. Home. He could almost see it. The barely held together shack, his mother¡¯s broad smile, the little shrine to his father tucked away in the corner, and his brothers napping after a full day of play. It was strange to think about, but not because he missed it. No, he wasn¡¯t sure if he would ever like to visit it again. He was fine with everyone living their lives without worrying about him. Home was¡­well, like Lavisa, home was anywhere to him. The grass might be greener, and the clouds grayer, but the sun was still the sun, and the moon would always shine anew. They arrived at a small establishment shielded from the sun. Towards the back center was a single sheet of metal with what appeared to be roasting shells atop it. Jaster talked to the owner behind the counter, ordering himself a bag. It cost around twenty SG. Tan¨ª grimaced as the heavenly scent brushed against his nose. I shouldn¡¯t have given away two thousand. Lavisa was next, but before she could articulate her order, she turned to Tan¨ª. ¡°Would you like a bag?¡± Despite his mind screaming yes, Tan¨ª waved. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±¡°Are you certain?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± He watched as Jester tilted his head back and allowed the flow of sugary-sweet roasted chestnuts to flow into his maw. ¡°I¡¯m good¡­thanks for asking.¡± Lavisa turned to the vendor with two fingers raised. ¡°I¡¯d like a pair, please.¡± ¡°What? But I¡ª¡± ¡°That¡¯ll be forty SG, ma¡¯am.¡± Before Tan¨ª could stop her, Lavisa thrust her Brand into a slot on the counter. Her initials on the device distorted, dropping from 45,000 to an odd 44,960 SG. Tan¨ª gaped. She¡¯s RICH. Well, I guess that¡¯s kinda obvious considering she¡¯s a princess, but she¡¯s RICH. Lavisa sheathed her Brand, accepted her first bag, then offered it to Tan¨ª. Unfortunately, his mind was still reeling from the revelation. ¡°Tan?o? Is something the matter?¡± Tan¨ª jerked free of his stupor. ¡°Oh, no. I¡¯m good. Just¡­distracted.¡± ¡°Care to take your bag, then?¡± She gave it a light shake. ¡°Uh¡­¡± He accepted his serving with a sheepish smile. ¡°Hope it wasn¡¯t too heavy on your SG.¡± ¡°You needn¡¯t concern yourself with that, Tan?o. Just enjoy.¡± ¡°Are you sure¡­?¡± Her eyes twinkled. ¡°If I wasn¡¯t, I wouldn¡¯t be standing here. Now enjoy. You¡¯ll never have this moment back. ¡°Huh¡­sounds flowery.¡± ¡°I suppose it does, doesn¡¯t it? A?el had a habit of saying it whenever I became distracted.¡± This A?el sounds like a smart guy. Realizing worrying wouldn¡¯t get him anywhere, Tan¨ª tossed a chestnut back. The crunch combined with the warm cinnamon flavor floored him. Was this truly what the Juneac?o of Nimmin ate? It was leagues better than some dumb fish! Tan¨ª ate without restraint, craving the punch of sugary flavors that only left him wanting. When handfuls wouldn¡¯t suffice, he took after Jaster. The Nimmian¡¯s technique, however, was a bit too effective, as a stray nut instantly lodged itself in his windpipe. He held the initial cough, then sputtered all over the place. Wheezing as the remaining spices threaded into the passage. Despite his failing strength, Tan¨ª held his bag up-right. At least he¡¯d have a treat to celebrate if he survived. ¡°Hey Tan-Tan¡­you look a little off. Something wrong?¡± A less-than-savory curse popped into Tan¨ª¡¯s mind, but he couldn¡¯t squeeze it out. ¡°Ah!¡± Jaster snapped his fingers. ¡°You¡¯re choking. Yeah, happens with them all the time. Your highness, you should give him a good smack on the back. I think he might appreciate it.¡± Before Tan¨ª could reassure them, an ungodly explosion of agony sliced through his tender skin, reducing the world to blinding white scales. He crumpled to the ground in a heap of limbs and chestnuts, coughing and hissing as he struggled to decide what needed more attention: the new dent in his back, or the mix of ingredients becoming one with his oxygen supply. ¡°NOT THAT HARD,¡± Jaster cried. ¡°S-Sorry! Oh God, I¡¯m so sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to¡ª¡± ¡°Just get him up!¡± Tan¨ª felt a pair of slender arms rope underneath his shoulders. They counted to three, and upon that mark, lifted him, summoning a searing blade of white-hot pain that gently pressed into his back. Try as he might to appear strong before the heir of his nation, he couldn¡¯t help but emit a pathetic yelp. ¡°God, did you use your bloody Sedd to clear his throat?¡± Jaster hissed into his left ear. ¡°N-No¡­ Yes¡­ I didn¡¯t know what to do, alright!¡± ¡°You¡¯re supposed to pat them. Y¡¯know, help them dislodge the thing. Not break them.¡± As much as Tan¨ª didn¡¯t want to get back onto his feet¡ªand he really didn¡¯t want to get back onto his feet¡ªthe other two drew him up. At least he¡¯d die with a full stomach. As Tygenna¡¯s promised palace gently coaxed Tan¨ª from his mortal shell, a distinctive bell tolled in the air, returning him to full alertness. Grace was over. Chapter 18 ~ Shortcut ¡°I thought you said we wouldn¡¯t be late!¡± Tan¨ª shouted as he limped after Jaster. ¡°I say a lot of things. Why worry about the specifics?¡± Jaster shouted back. ¡°Because I didn¡¯t know we¡¯d be late.¡± ¡°Ease up. We¡¯ll be back on time.¡± ¡°How? It¡¯s a ten-minute walk to the nearest station, and even then, it took us an entire seven minutes to ride into port! Have you already forgotten teachers only give you a five-minute window in-between class?¡± Jaster flashed Tan¨ª a know-it-all grin. ¡°Like I said, ease up. I know a shortcut.¡± Tan¨ª groaned, though whether it was from the lingering pain in his back or his annoyance, he couldn¡¯t tell. ¡°Look, you¡¯re a smart guy and everything, but how¡¯s a shortcut going to save us seventeen minutes? We¡¯re in port.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why it¡¯s a shortcut!¡± ¡°That¡¯s not¡ª¡± Tan¨ª sighed. ¡°Okay, fine, whatever. Where¡¯s the shortcut?¡± Jaster pointed up the street. ¡°Just a little more that way.¡± Tan¨ª peered down the street. Just the same busy route to the carriage station. Good blood, why go the straight way? Barreling through the streets via carriage might save them some time. No, maybe stealing a horse would be faster¡ª A skin-rending flash of heat radiated from his tender back, reducing the world to a monochromatic glare. His strength escaped him, and though the Firmament was naught but a hateful scale, it whirled. Without a sound, gravity arrested him. The gray brick road accelerated to view, a set of inky jaws gnawing at his peripheral. As they threatened to snap closed, a hand drew him back onto stumbling feet. His silvery vision swam, the crystalline Prism washing the room in light so drab he nearly believed it was darkness. Wait, Prism? Why was it shattered? Gold-speckled craters pocketed the prison, yet the glaring void of night remained. Its soundless screams shaking their final home. <<<---------- held him, her heart-shaped face etched with grief. Or was that guilt? She hadn¡¯t caused this. Though the gloom had no one save her to call mother, he could not blame her. So why did her eyes shimmer with remorse?>>> <<>> ¡°Tan?o?¡± The refined voice dispelled the prism, and though their faces weren¡¯t a perfect match, ---------''s visage seamlessly blended with Lavisa¡¯s. Her furrowed brow painting a nigh-identical illustration of concern mingled with remorse. ¡°You good, Tan-Tan?¡± came Jaster¡¯s voice from ahead. ¡°Y-Yeah. Just a little dizzy.¡± Return. He had to focus on Hierrs¨¦¡¯s. Not the pain, nor the flashes, or even those persistent dreams. Then again, the pain reminded him of what he didn¡¯t have: An Awakening. Because even a squire¡¯s blood possessed curative properties. Two minutes must¡¯ve passed before Jaster came to a slow stop. Lavisa¡ªwithout Tan¨ª¡¯s input¡ªceased his momentum, her hand rubbing away at the bruise in great, gentle circles. The mark bloody hurt, but her ministrations soothed his aching discomfort. Tan¨ª stopped. Wait¡­ Alleyways littered the street, much like those the girls had used when he first came to Hierrs¨¦. ¡°Ready to climb?¡± Jaster said, hand on his Blood-Loader. ¡°Climb?¡± Tan¨ª squeaked. ¡°Are you joining, your highness?¡± Lavisa ceased her ministrations. ¡°But of course.¡± ¡°You¡¯re familiar with this place, right?¡± ¡°The Grind? I believe it provides a swift, makeshift path to the school with little to no security presence.¡± Jaster whistled. ¡°Well, look at you. Didn¡¯t take you for a dodger.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not, though neither am I deaf to my House¡¯s gossip. I assume you¡¯re familiar with the environment?¡± ¡°Nope, it¡¯s my first time out. A lot airier than I expected it to be.¡± This coming from the guy who sleeps on a roof? ¡°So how ¡®bout it?¡± Jaster brandished a phial from his Loader. ¡°Favoring your blood ''oday?¡± Lavisa waved. ¡°I¡¯ve no need for a phial.¡± ¡°What about you Tan-Tan?¡± Tan¨ª fumbled with his Blood-Loader for a moment too long. He didn¡¯t want to aggravate his back again. ¡°Yeah,¡± he mumbled disappointedly to himself. ¡°Still full.¡± ¡°Great. Let¡¯s get going.¡± Lavisa entered the alley with a confident stride. She stretched her shapely arms and legs, breathed, then bent forward. Tan¨ª half-expected her to charge at the wall like the trio of girls, but she just breathed again. Her eyes honed to a look of supreme concentration. Dropping into a runner''s stance, she sucked in one last sharp breath, then burst at the wall in an arc of steaming ripples. The princess spun mid-lunge, crashed feet first, then¡ªafter anchoring herself¡ªdealt a deft kick that sent her spiraling skywards. Lavisa arced through the air like the crescent moon, her salmon-flaxen locks streaming behind her like a creamy treat. Even then, Tan¨ª thought her perfection itself. Her confidence, her form¡­ The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. She was nothing short of magnificent, like the Juneac?o of eld. And watching her left his lungs short of breath. Lavisa stuck the landing on the opposing wall, turned, then darted across the dead space. Her legs slicing through the Firmament as she managed a stomach-turning revolution. When her boots clicked against the surface, she dug in and ran. Driving herself skyward with each step. Before gravity could arrest her, Lavisa burst towards the opposite wall, stuck out a hand, and caught herself on the lip of the roof. Tan¨ª feared the impact would rattle her, but within the split-second of her grabbing the edge, she drew herself into the air, released, and managed a striking somersault that ended with an effortless landing. Then she turned to look down at them. Appearing neither exhausted nor winded. ¡°Well?¡± Lavisa called, fixing a stray lock back into place. Tan¨ª wrestled with a grimace and lost. Of course she¡¯s a prodigy. He turned to Jaster, his confession on the tip of his tongue, but the Nimmian was gone. When he turned back to the alley, he already found him charging at the wall. Jaster sloppily kicked off the wall as she had, but instead of aiming for the opposite side, he shot up. He gained little to no altitude, but before he plummeted to the floor, a thin pole of darkness whipped across the alley. The darkness latched onto the lip of the roof, drawing Jaster up like a lazy block on a pulley. Arriving at the roof, he accepted Lavisa¡¯s outstretched hand. The shadow quickly receded into his. Jaster and Lavisa waved down at Tan¨ª, and though he knew he couldn¡¯t use Sedd, that didn¡¯t deter him. Maybe today might be different. Maybe today he could be so much more. Tan¨ª entered the alley, a lukewarm crackle filling his gut. ¡°Do you know how Sedd works, Tan¨ª? It works cuz of your heart,¡± came Danza¡¯s phantom voice as a rogue breeze whistled through the alley. ¡°You don¡¯t need a big one to be great; you just need to be honest. You need to be true. That¡¯s why the greatest Juneac?o were the kindest people: Because they understood preserving meant more than thrusting a spear.¡± The air was crisp, the breeze gentle. He could still taste the roasted chestnuts, their memory cooling his nerves. ¡°Sedd only happens when you stir. Focus on that; focus on what inspires you. If you don¡¯t, you¡¯ll spill. That¡¯s why you gotta grit your teeth and stand fast. Be it doubt or dragon.¡± Right, focus. If preserving was what they did, then he didn¡¯t need a better reason, right? Helping people was good enough. It had to be. That¡¯s what worked for other Juneac?o! ¡°That¡¯s why I want you to keep getting up, even if you think you can¡¯t. And if it hurts so much you¡¯d rather cry, then fine. Go and cry; cry until you can¡¯t think of anything but the tears. Then I want you to get up again. Why? Cuz you¡¯re better than that. They might not say it, but you¡¯re better than that. And I know you think you are, too.¡± Something stirred in Tan¨ª¡¯s breast, and with it came a spark of heat at his hips. It was flame with no form, yet it possessed the desire to fuel. Yes, Tan¨ª might not have been a great squire, but he could still be something more. Even if no one wanted him here, even if they thought he was some ne¡¯er-do-well with no redeeming qualities, he wouldn¡¯t relent. He¡¯d keep getting up until something happened; until something CHANGED. Maybe it wouldn¡¯t be now, tomorrow, or even in the near future, but something would change. All he had to do was get up. Tan¨ª broke into a sprint, his legs carrying him further with each stride. Wind howled in his ears, but he didn¡¯t care. The old blood was with him now. He¡¯d ascend to the rank of Juneac?o, along with his classmates. Then, they¡¯d have no other choice but to acknowledge him. Perhaps even apologize, too. The heat sputtered, and his strides shortened, but he pushed. Tan¨ª lifted a leg, prepared to catch himself on the wall. Unfortunately, his terrible balance caused him to slip at the last second. His last sight was of the speckled brick wall as it hurtled into full view.
Lavisa¡¯s breath caught in her throat as the dull slap of Tan?o¡¯s head meeting the wall rang in her ears. Each skull-cracking repeat worse than the last. Her eyes darted to his fingers, though instead of catching the telltale twitch of life, she found only limp stillness. The blood-chilling realization made her heart stop. ¡°Ta¡ª¡± She swallowed a hot lump that hadn¡¯t been there. ¡°Tan?o, are you¡­?¡± Silence. Lavisa strained her ears to catch a hint of sound, maybe even a raspy breath, yet she heard only the wind. They were too high. Sedd raced to her ears, filling them with the light buzz of conversation some two streets down. She even caught the sizzling of food, but no breathing. God, why wasn¡¯t he breathing? Lavisa transferred the rush to her sight, and though their enhancement was slight, he remained still as a statue. No. It was just like then. Just like her mother. He couldn¡¯t be gone. Not like this. They had countless years ahead of them. One of the finest Grazers¡­gone. Yes, his skills left much to be desired, but his jokes, his being? None compared to him in those regards. Not even a fully anointed Juneac?o! But like this? She couldn¡¯t¡ªshe wouldn¡¯t believe it. Not today, not tomorrow. Never. Not again. Never again. Lavisa swung a leg over the edge, but before she could leap, Jaster hooked his arms underneath her shoulders. ¡°H-Hey! Pretty jumpy there, aren¡¯t we?¡± ¡°Unhand me!¡± Lavisa growled, and though she knew she could break free from the Nimmian¡¯s grip, he put up a good fight. ¡°Unhand me this instant if you wish to keep your head!¡± ¡°Yes, I can see that you¡¯re both equally crazy about hurting yourselves today, but it¡¯s okay,¡± Jaster said. ¡°How is cracking your skull on a wall okay?¡± ¡°It¡¯s certainly better than throwing yourself off a roof.¡± ¡°And you¡¯d rather do nothing while your classmate bleeds out dozens of meters below?¡± ¡°Tan¨ª¡¯s tougher than he looks, your highness. Guy almost fell off the academy roof and look at him! Still in one piece. Besides, whoever let a little brain damage stop them?¡± Lavisa scowled. Why was he mentioning the bloody roof again? Did these idiots spend their free time defying death? Almost as if he could read her mind, Jaster drew her back and craned his neck over the edge. ¡°You all good, Tan-Tan?¡± he shouted. Silence. ¡°See? A quick trip to the nurse, and he¡¯ll be brighter than the moon. I think.¡± He paused thoughtfully. ¡°Actually, don¡¯t hold me to that.¡± Lavisa snatched Jaster by the wrist, spun and, locking her foot around his ankle, scythed him off his feet. A moment later, he slammed against the rooftop. Freed, she mindlessly dove into the alley, using the walls as an occasional stop. It was leagues more difficult than climbing up, but the trick was in keeping one¡¯s balance. That¡¯s what A?el used to tell her despite being Seddless. Lavisa tucked into a ball as she came within a meter of the floor, the alleyway road meeting her limbs with a jarring probe. It was a rough landing, but nothing that would bruise. She sprang free from her roll, her hands blindly scrambling across the dark, cold stone. Her hands found his neck, and though the throat-tightening dread left her scraped hands shaking, she tilted his head forward. He wasn¡¯t bleeding. Moonrays, he wasn¡¯t bleeding. Lavisa pressed two fingers beneath his chin and waited. She wanted to shake him until he stirred, perhaps even scream into his ears until he ordered her to stop, but she couldn¡¯t bring herself to. Her fear kept her cemented. She didn¡¯t want another stiff body. One was enough. If anyone deserved to be dead, it was that man. Not someone as kindhearted as this hopeless squire. A cold, hard rage boiled in her chest. It was all because of him that this happened. It¡¯s always because of him. If not, then her mother¡­then Tan?o¡­ An immense, throat-sealing pressure seized her chest. She tried to breathe, found that her legs wouldn¡¯t respond, and just focused on him. Praying¡ªhoping that her rapid gasps wouldn¡¯t draw attention. Two breaths, one thought, two breaths, one thought, two breaths¡­ She repeated A?el¡¯s mantra without pause. Each second stretched for a Cycle-spanning eternity. Good blood, there was nothing. He¡ª A shock of warmth pulsed to Lavisa¡¯s aching fingertips. Against her better judgement, she pressed. It was there. Stronger; hotter. Life. A swell of emotions washed over the sea of icy dread that threatened to paralyze her, and though Lavisa knew she should¡¯ve been happy, she clung to him. Praying that the Solanarium wouldn¡¯t rip him away, either. Chapter 19 ~ Again? The muffled lull of the ocean resonated from beyond the veil. Then came the rocking. A gentle sway like that of a hammock on the warmest Sun¡¯s Peak day. Tan¨ª stroked the age-old rotting fabric his mother¡¯s mother had knitted for them, finding only the plush cushioning of something that felt like a bed. But why? He didn¡¯t recall lying down¡­ There was only the port, and¡­and¡­? A thin shock of heat struck his head. He bit back a wince, praying it would go away on his own. And it did, but only after his thoughts ceased to drift. He felt light; lighter than he ever remembered being. Like all his problems were leagues away. The creaking of wood broke the distant surf, and though a small voice inside his head ordered his lids to remain shut, he lifted them anyway. He was back in Lavisa¡¯s cabin, and much like before, the bright green cosmos replaced the girl¡¯s lavender-sapphire eyes. They regarded him with a tender smile, and while their features were serene, he glimpsed the slight furrow of a brow. It reminded Tan¨ª of his mother whenever he returned from playing. Her tireless inspections drawing out the hour. He didn¡¯t understand why freaked out at every cut. A few scrapes and bruises never killed anyone. ¡°How are you, my blood?¡± Lavisa asked in a sonorous voice far too deep for someone her age. A sequence of rising pitches sang from each word. Like a collection of singers harmonizing. Or rather, they made up the sum of her voice. Tan¨ª opened his mouth and immediately winced as an immensity pressed against his forehead. It was hot. Like Danza had left him to bake on a shadeless Sun¡¯s Peak day. Lavisa¡ªor the thing masquerading as her¡ªgestured for him to still. ¡°Now, now. You needn¡¯t respond. Not until you¡¯re well and ready.¡± Tan¨ª grimaced. He tried coaxing several words from his dry throat, but the burn only intensified, searing his forehead. Only cooling when he sat obediently quiet. The imposter shifted her attention to the porthole. There, Tan¨ª made out a silvery shape sailing upon the inky hide. A gleaming cobweb of golden structures adorned the vessel, but beyond their towering overlords, he failed to discern the details. He just had a feeling it was important. Or rather, something had come from it. Something that did not belong here. They basked in the stillness of an ocean¡¯s night. Their distant kite swaying with the calm tide. As the silence wore on him, a fathomless pulse echoed from the center of the room. It bore an uncanny resemblance to a heartbeat, but slower. Primordial. Tan¨ª listened to its rhythmic thumps, counting each beat until he struck a number he wasn¡¯t even aware existed. Not that it mattered to him. He simply lost himself in its meaningless tune, his mind racing with featureless blurs of too-bright buildings. Radiant godshards. Sky castles so limitless that they effortlessly surfed upon that antediluvian hide. ¡°My blood.¡± Untold. Innumerable. Roots. Keys. Something that was God, yet not. The Solanarium¡¯s pulse quickened. Terrified that they might Revise it yet again. ¡°Tan?o.¡± The Architect of the End¡­ Had she convinced the old Juneac?o to chase after eternity? Why live endlessly if it would break them? Why¡ª ¡°Tan?o.¡± The pulse thinned to a static whine greater than the rendering of a blood bolt. Tan¨ª found himself gazing back at Lavisa, and while she shot him a look of disapproval, she appeared partially relieved. ¡°Do not entertain eternity, my blood. You¡¯ve no need for it,¡± Lavisa chided. A wave of nausea struck Tan¨ª as words rolled onto his tongue. So, he opted for charades. Hoping he could act out his question. That, or look completely insane. ¡°Eternity,¡± Lavisa reiterated, ¡°the decree which governs this province of the Solanarium. Vale?o¡¯s Cerahnaut.¡± Tan¨ª mimed again. ¡°It¡¯s an old word for cluster. Ours being the most distant of them all. Slating the very edge of All That Is. Makes for a wonderful starlight vista. Do you not agree?¡± He cocked a brow. ¡°Ah, I suppose I am being rather forward. Well, no matter. You are my treasured blood all the same,¡± Lavisa murmured, wearing a benevolent smile that brushed aside his curiosity. She closed her eyes a moment later, and though she sat still as a statue, he picked out the radiant glow of the cosmos. Tan¨ª waved. ¡°Yes, yes. I can still sense, my blood. You¡¯ve a question?¡± Tan¨ª had one. He pointed at her, himself, then jabbed his finger at the porthole for emphasis. The thing masquerading as Lavisa leaned back. ¡°Oh, that? It¡¯s simple, really: The power granted unto you, the blood which flows through your veins, those all stem from me. Tygenna.¡± She opened her eyes, brighter than the moon. ¡°I thought that obvious. Were you not aware?¡± Tan¨ª gawked. It really was her. The Slumbering Juneac?o; the Mother-Guardian of Vale?o. Every Juneac?o, including Danza, claimed their powers derived from this near-mythical being. God¡¯s Agent. To know her true¡­ Well, he didn¡¯t know what to think. So, he acted out his disbelief. ¡°Dreams are oft a reflection of our reality, my blood. Though we may believe them fictitious, one needs be reminded our waking minds are mendacious wayfarers. That which cares not to differentiate. My Lord Husband knew this.¡± Tygenna folded a leg over her lap. ¡°Though I am not physically here, my presence remains true. As does my blood in you. Regardless of the Iterations that come to pass.¡± Tan¨ª interrogated her about his inheriting her blood. Tygenna¡¯s response? He¡¯d proven himself worthy, just like the rest of his kin. Not that he possessed her blood in the literal sense, as she explained. Rather, Sedd itself proved their bond. All Sedd stemmed from her. They only needed to nurture said bond to wield it. Suddenly, it struck him. That same persistent issue he had suffered these last three years. Something no one could explain. He asked her why he was incapable of using her gift. Tygenna¡­didn¡¯t immediately respond. She did, however, regard him with mild amusement. Her heavy eyes drawn to a near close, almost as if sleep was beckoning. Were her duties truly so exhausting? And those tales¡­were they true? Had she truly slain the Desolator all those ages ago? Tygenna¡¯s chin dipped, and though her eyes were night and bright, her eyelids came to an inevitable close. Peace once again reigning supreme. ¡°To think we near the end once more. I¡¯ve never had the honor of presenting myself before this Iteration, and yet¡­ What changed? Was it hate? Was it longing? Even she, the Iteration of the End¡­¡± She shook her head. ¡°No. Forgive me for my rambling, my blood. You are not incapable. You¡¯ve simply yet to Awaken. I know this to be true. You may think its slumber preordained, but I know it true.¡± Though Tan¨ª knew he would come to regret it, he managed a weak response. ¡°B-But why? Everyone else has done it. Why am I the only one who¡¯s stuck waiting when they get to do what I want?¡± ¡°I think much the same when I glimpse your memories. Needing, wanting. Do you know why I forged you Wishes? To repay my debt; to grant meaning. Yet as the Cycles crept, I learned it not what you needed. And I endure knowing it¡¯s all you ever wanted.¡± Tygenna sank into her seat, her voice falling to a sleepy murmur. ¡°Recall your first moments as a squire. Do you not sense it? Yearn for it? That now-dim hope which you once used to stoke your fire. It remains as it always does: Trailing in our wake. You may think it dead; you may think it overridden by expectation and disappointment, but it lies there. In a realm where only honesty exists.¡± Tan¨ª wanted to groan and tell her he didn¡¯t understand anything, but his vision flashed a blistering red. His hands flew to his temples, squeezing away the pain even as he hissed. The Guardian-Mother of Vale?o simply giggled in response. ¡°I pray you¡¯ll understand one day, and when you do, even He shall tremble. Your first descent shan¡¯t be your last. Believe me. Your Awakening will be a blessing in and of itself. I only envy those fortunate enough to witness it¡­¡±
A piercing throb greeted Tan¨ª as he came to. An orange, hazy light flickered, painting his vision fuzzy. Curious, his gaze fell to the first figure in the dim room. Their powerful form sat slouched in a chair. Her pale, gilded hair worn loosely. Not in that tight bunch she often wore during Art. He peered through the light-induced darkness, or at least tried to, as his body took several seconds to process the simple command. That¡¯s when he noticed her dark robes. The same one she¡¯d worn during their voyage. His covers rustled as he shifted, prompting her to perk up and twist around in her chair. Her once noble mien etched with concern. ¡°Tan¨ª, I¡­ Are you well?¡± Eleanor asked, her voice tinged with the exhaustion of an all-night¡¯s travel. Tan¨ª¡¯s response was immediate, or at least it was in his mind. His tongue took several extra seconds to work the first syllable. ¡°I¡¯ve¡­been worse. One time, I fell off of Blondie during a storm. Let me tell you, cutting yourself on wet rock hurts.¡± Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. An amused huff escaped Eleanor. ¡°One can imagine.¡± ¡°Hey, Eleanor¡ª¡± ¡°Sanrevelle. Master Sanrevelle, D¡¯Histell. How many times must I need remind you?¡± ¡°C¡¯mon, just give me this once. I¡¯m pretty hurt.¡± A tight grimace wormed its way onto Eleanor''s face, and though he expected her to deny his request with a callous scoff, she dipped her head. Albeit reluctantly. ¡°Very well.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Tan¨ª said. ¡°Do you¡­know what happened? I don¡¯t really remember much aside from being in port.¡± ¡°From what I gleaned, you courted the smooth, supple wall of a residential complex. An intimate encounter deserving of praise, I would wager.¡± He blinked. ¡°Is¡ªIs that supposed to be a joke?¡± ¡°Yes. Why? Was it not to your liking?¡± ¡°I, uh¡­yes! It is. Haha! Thanks.¡± A hint of a smile touched Eleanor¡¯s lips. ¡°I¡¯m pleased to have served.¡± After a moment¡¯s pause, he asked, ¡°So¡­how¡¯d you find out about this?¡± ¡°The reports of Sir Fernbank and our Lady mentioned your¡­inability to conjure Sedd. Thus, resulting in a messy head-on collision after a miscalculated stride. Or so they say.¡± The events struck Tan¨ª like a bag of rocks. Their carriage ride into port, window-shopping, purchasing chestnuts, and then the shortcut. That dreaded, awful shortcut that fooled him into believing he could wield Sedd. ¡°Worry not, D¡¯Histell. You¡¯ve escaped relatively unscathed,¡± Eleanor continued. ¡°Though trauma is of no laughing matter, your friends sought immediate recourse. Perhaps Mother has seen fit to bless you with thick comrades.¡± Her reassurance only made Tan¨ª feel like an idiot. She was trying, he could tell she was, but¡­ They knew. They knew that he was a Seddless loser. A pretender. Tan¨ª drew his covers up, hoping they¡¯d allow him to fester in obscurity for the rest of his life. That¡¯s when he caught the musty odor of alcohol. He groaned. ¡°This is the nurse¡¯s office, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Where else would you be returned after having suffered a concussion?¡± Eleanor inquired with a tilt of her head. ¡°How long¡¯ve I been out?¡± ¡°Only a day,¡± came a Nimmian accent from an opposing partition. A rush of excitement replaced Tan¨ª¡¯s exhaustion, granting him the energy to swing his legs over the bed. He pushed himself off without thinking, but the moment his feet scraped the icy floor, he tumbled. Eleanor caught him before he struck the unforgiving white tiles, his every limb feeling like jelly. ¡°Oh, uh¡­thanks, Eleanor,¡± Tan¨ª grinned sheepishly. ¡°Pray avoid exertion, D¡¯Histell. You need ample time to recover, and I¡¯d rather you not suffer another blow in your eagerness to greet a friend.¡± A familiar shadow crept into the partition''s slot. ¡°Hey Tan-Tan. Get some good sleep in?¡± Tan¨ª wobbled as Eleanor reset him on the bed. ¡°Jaster!¡± ¡°I was wondering when you¡¯d get up. You¡¯re a pretty heavy sleeper when you get knocked on the head, y¡¯know.¡± ¡°I¡¯m certain anyone would be, Dragonfang,¡± Eleanor remarked with all the depleted enthusiasm of a horse-hating Juneac?o. She returned to her seat as Jaster sauntered into the makeshift room. ¡°Never seen a wall receive a right thrashing. I mean, squires are eager to fall off roofs and break things, but never just smack themselves against a building.¡± Tan¨ª turned away as fire clawed at his cheeks. ¡°Yeah¡­you saw that, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°If it makes you feel any better, Lavisa saw it happen, too.¡± The irresistible urge to crawl under the sheets and never see the light of day consumed Tan¨ª like a terrible Sun¡¯s Peak fever. She was the LAST person he wanted to embarrass himself in front of. Falling off a roof was one thing, but slamming yourself unconscious in front of the prettiest girl in the realm? It just made him want to die. ¡°Did I at least use it right?¡± Tan¨ª murmured. Jaster tilted his head. ¡°Use what?¡± ¡°¡­Sedd.¡± ¡°Nah. Must¡¯ve slipped at the last minute. Happens to first-years all the time¡ªthe creeps, y¡¯know¡ªso don¡¯t beat yourself up.¡± Uncertain of what else to say, Tan¨ª remained silent. Great, he still had time to fabricate a proper lie. Maybe he could even trick Lavisa into believing it was a setup! By whom¡­well, he didn¡¯t have to think hard to find the perfect scapegoat. ¡°Hey Eleanor,¡± Jaster said, ¡°can I have some of those?¡± ¡°It¡¯s MASTER Sanrevelle,¡± she snapped, her austere front returning. ¡°And no, you cannot have one.¡± ¡°Then why¡¯d you bring it if it was just gonna sit there?¡± Eleanor stiffened. Tan¨ª half-expected some witty retort, but the woman¡¯s gaze quickly dropped to her lap. Her thumbs twiddled in a fierce engagement. ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? I purchased these treats should D¡¯Histell find himself famished,¡± Eleanor explained with a slight squeak. ¡°Yeah, but¡­these aren¡¯t normal snacks. They¡¯re gaseddees. Stuff costs more SG than three months of shrewd saving.¡± A rosy hue dusted Eleanor¡¯s fair cheeks. ¡°Yes¡­well, they were having a sale last I checked.¡± ¡°No, they weren¡¯t. We stopped by there during our time in port.¡± ¡°Haha, yes, well¡­the sale happened this morning, so¡­¡± A sharp gasp dispelled the peace, drawing Tan¨ª¡¯s attention to the source. Jaster reached for the pile of neatly wrapped treats, but before he could secure one in his hand, Eleanor smacked the back of his hand with enough force to paint it redder than an apple. ¡°Good blood, woman! That hurts,¡± Jaster hissed, drawing his damaged hand to his side. ¡°You do not refer to a lady as ¡®woman.¡¯ You refer to her by name!¡± ¡°Hey.¡± Tan¨ª turned toward the tired-sounding voice. It was nurse Ylissa. ¡°Can you guys be any louder? There¡¯re other people in this room, y¡¯know. And you!¡± She jabbed an accusatory finger at Jaster. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to stop loitering?¡± Jaster waved her off. ¡°Eh, that was yesterday. We¡¯re here now.¡± ¡°You¡¯re¡ª¡± The nurse took a deep breath. ¡°You know what, fine. Whatever. Just be quiet. Oh, and if you think I¡¯m going to lend you another slip, you¡¯re a fool.¡± Jaster shot her a deadpan look, which the nurse returned in full. Strangely enough, she didn¡¯t keep at it for long. She wavered, her eyes reluctantly drifting to one side. ¡°Fine. Just be quiet.¡± And with that, she walked off. A faint, arcing pulse of molten needles threaded through Tan¨ª¡¯s forehead. God, was that really a headache? He thought they were supposed to make you feel grumpy, not hurt. Whether it was due to him reaching for his head or his grimace, Eleanor took notice. ¡°Easy, D¡¯Histell. You shouldn¡¯t exert yourself. Mentally or physically.¡± ¡°Then how am I going to get to class?¡± Eleanor flashed him an amused smile. ¡°You¡¯re not.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I saw fit to excuse you from all school activities. Until further notice, that is. Do not fret, Master Sierez has signed off on my request.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Tan¨ª tapped a finger against the sheets. ¡°What now?¡± ¡°Once the day concludes, you will be shown to your dorm under nurse Ylissa¡¯s guidance. Oh, and we¡¯ve assigned several students to monitor you throughout the day. So don¡¯t dread at unsolicited knocks. It¡¯s for your own good. You needn¡¯t concern yourself with meals, as they¡¯ll be providing it,¡± Eleanor explained. ¡°Is that why you got all those snacks?¡± Tan¨ª pointed to the table beside her. The Tyrian folded her arms; her stern fa?ade having returned. ¡°Having a snack to hold you over is a must during these trying times.¡± After some prodding, Jaster convinced Eleanor to treat Tan¨ª to a sweet. Mostly to steal one or two when she wasn¡¯t looking. Tan¨ª¡ªuncertain of what tasted good¡ªasked Eleanor to choose for him. She practically froze at the suggestion. It was only after Jaster¡¯s teasing that she finally thawed out of her surprise. The first treat was a chewy pastry filled with cheese and a fruit blend that melted on his tongue. He downed the succulent snack in three bits, choking halfway through the third. Eleanor chastised him, but unlike Lavisa, her patting didn¡¯t put a dent in his back. Not that Tan¨ª¡¯s near-death experience made his chewing any more thorough. He still choked on the subsequent treats. Right up to the fifth, when Eleanor finally decided that she¡¯d be the one to feed him. He thought it strange, as he¡¯d yet to die from consuming these delectable luxuries, but he shrugged and went along with it. Snatching one of the various pastries from the table (right after slapping Jaster¡¯s hand away), she slowly lifted it to Tan¨ª¡¯s lips. Before the delicacy could enter his mouth, a long shadow came over them. ¡°What¡¯re you doing?¡± Tan¨ª¡¯s eyes darted to the slot. It was Lavisa. He slapped the treat out of Eleanor¡¯s hand, and flashed the princess a tight, awkward smile. ¡°H-Hey, Lavisa. What¡¯re you doing here?¡± ¡°I came to see how you were faring.¡± ¡°Oh¡­thanks.¡± The princess dipped her head. ¡°I¡¯m relieved to see you¡¯ve made a full-recovery, Tan?o. Truly and utterly relieved. Thank you.¡± ¡°Oh. Uh, thanks? I feel like I should be thanking you, though. Can¡¯t really walk when you¡¯re unconscious,¡± he explained. ¡°Think nothing of it. You being here is thanks enough.¡± Odd. No one ever thanked him for simply ¡°being¡± there. Not even Danza. Eleanor attempted to feed him again, and though he initially resisted, the heat radiating from his head won out. He grumpily munched on the treat, failing to convey what anger he could as the picante blend of spices and cinnamon drove away his faux irritation. Eventually, nurse Ylissa stepped back into the room. She didn¡¯t greet them with a smile though; she just groaned at the added numbers. ¡°Moonrays, there¡¯s more¡­¡± Tan¨ª frowned. ¡°Hi to you, too.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t give me lip, brain-basher. I swear, all you do is give me extra work.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve only treated me twice.¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± She threw her arms up. ¡°Do you know how many kids I treated last semester? Zero! Now I can¡¯t even get that brat out of this room.¡± ¡°Madame Ylissa,¡± Eleanor said, slow with emphasis. ¡°Do not befoul the air whilst in the presence of royalty.¡± Ylissa¡¯s amethyst-onyx eyes flickered to Lavisa, and after several Cycle-thinning seconds, she jumped. ¡°O-Oh! Your highness, do forgive me. Shall I treat you to some water? The walk here must¡¯ve left you parched.¡± ¡°Hey, why didn¡¯t you offer me a cup?¡± Jaster asked her with a frown. ¡°Yeah,¡± Tan¨ª added, ¡°I¡¯ve been here twice and all you¡¯ve done is ignore me.¡± Lavisa cocked a suspicious brow at the nurse. Ylissa¡¯s response? A painful, wide beam as she craned her neck to face Tan¨ª. ¡°Forgive me, it must¡¯ve slipped my mind.¡± ¡°Four cups if you¡¯d be so kind,¡± Lavisa ordered. Ylissa gave a stiff bow. ¡°As you command, your highness.¡± While she retrieved the water, Lavisa gave a detailed report on the incident. Her voice trailing off at the mentions of damage. Once finished, she spared him a careful glance. ¡°¡­Are you truly well?¡± Tan¨ª eyed her suspiciously. That voice sounded like it belonged to a frightened child, not the heir of their kingdom. Realizing he couldn¡¯t let her down, he gave a slight (non-aggravating) nod. ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t worry. A little rest is all I need.¡± ¡°Are you certain? Perhaps a walk might do you some good. Beds are¡ª¡± She paused. ¡°Lying down can be a tiring affair.¡± ¡°Your highness,¡± Eleanor interjected, ¡°D¡¯Histell requires all the bedrest he can manage. Exercise, even a stroll, might only invite further debilitation. Please do try to understand.¡± Lavisa¡¯s lips cracked open, though no sound escaped them. Her eyes darted to the floor, shoulders tense. ¡°Y-Yes, I understand, Master Sanrevelle. Please forgive me. I was just¡ª¡± Eleanor raised a hand, forestalling her. ¡°You¡¯ve no need to apologize, your highness. Just know that D¡¯Histell is in capable hands. You need only fear the classwork he¡¯s yet to accumulate.¡± Lavisa¡¯s lips quirked. ¡°Thank you, Master Sanrevelle.¡± Chapter 20 ~ Duties ¡°Your highness, your highness!¡± Lavisa suppressed her annoyance. Though she didn¡¯t wish to acknowledge her, she twisted around all the same. It was Ode¨¦, House Vlasalisk¡¯s treasurer. The girl brushed a strand of looping red hair away from her sweaty forehead, and though she stood tall, her frazzled appearance made it seem as if she had just come out of Art. ¡°Is something wrong, treasurer Ode¨¦?¡± Lavisa asks. Ode¨¦ breathed, looked like she wanted to throw up, then sighed. ¡°I was¡ª¡± she wheezed. ¡°I¡¯ve been searching for you all day.¡± ¡°What for?¡± ¡°The monthly tourney!¡± Lavisa turned away. ¡°My answer remains as ever, Ode¨¦. I¡¯ve no interest in participation, much less regarding a school activity.¡± Ode¨¦ frowned. ¡°B-But why? Doesn¡¯t your father¡ª¡± ¡°What my father wants is of no concern to you. Are we clear?¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± Lavisa shot her a critical side glance. Ode¨¦, as insistent as she was, capitulated. Her icy-pink eyes widened with fear. ¡°I-I¡­yes, forgive me, your highness. I didn¡¯t mean to offend.¡± ¡°You are forgiven. Now, none of this tourney talk from hereon. I¡¯ve tired of it.¡± Ode¨¦ winced. ¡°About that¡­¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Though I respect your decision, this request doesn¡¯t stem from your father. It¡¯s the Lord himself.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Lavisa continued down the great hall, the warmth of the lusarello seeping through her white gloves. Though the cafeteria served adequate meals, House Vlasalisk¡¯s food bar surpassed it in terms of quality. They even possessed foreign goods other Houses could only dream of. Not that Lavisa partook in the meals they served. Price wasn¡¯t an issue. No, they were simply too fattening. She had seen one too many Vlasalisk engorge themselves on that delectable sauced bread. The meat and vegetables layered upon a slathering of melted cheese and warm tomato sauce, that crunchy, buttery bread betraying hints of garlic¡­ A dull, gut-rending pain clawed at the cavity in her core. Good blood, what she would do to have a taste of that again. ¡°Y-Your highness! Wait,¡± Ode¨¦ exclaimed as she followed her down the winding hall of their wing. Lavisa lengthened her strides in return. ¡°I¡¯m terribly sorry, Ode¨¦. I¡¯ve somewhere to be. May we schedule this appointment for another time?¡± ¡°But the Lord wishes for you to participate this year!¡± ¡°Fascinating.¡± ¡°Innes isn¡¯t going to be enough!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t say.¡± Ode¨¦ pushed ahead of her, exasperated. ¡°He wants royalty! Real royalty. Not some distant runt.¡± Lavisa eyed the treasurer. ¡°I¡¯d be mindful of what you say around me, Ode¨¦. You never know who could be listening. As for the Lord, I couldn¡¯t care less for what some glory-hungry, clout-chaser could want.¡± ¡°He won¡¯t stop pestering me until I get a yes from you!¡± ¡°Ah, then I¡¯ve a wonderful idea! What say I lend you a wig? That daft oaf would think you my splitting image.¡± ¡°Lavis¡ª Er, I mean, your highness, be serious! You can¡¯t just ignore a Lord¡¯s orders.¡± ¡°What a shame¡­¡± Lavisa turned her attention to the hall. ¡°Do give him my warmest regards. Also watch out.¡± ¡°Wha¡ª¡± Ode¨¦ crashed face-first into a column, but instead of helping her, Lavisa turned the corner into the Fadenician branch. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Participation¡­how laughable. From the moment she arrived, House Vlasalisk had done nothing but win. They were as influential and powerful as anyone could be. They practically carried the school during the Academy-network games. Or so she¡¯s heard. Yes, they might have the occasional assistance of Dragonfang and Fad¨¦nix, but the team consisted largely of the ¡°courageous.¡± Not that she felt particularly brave. Anyone could pass with such a lame attribute. Even the downtrodden of Fad¨¦nix. They might not have acknowledged it, but the records she¡¯s poured through revealed their greatest victories during the games solely attributed to Fadenician tenacity. Did anyone offer them praise for it? No, and they had Vlasalisk to thank for crossing the finish line. Lavisa spared Ode¨¦ a cursory glance. The Vlasalisk treasurer flailed about, kicking, screaming, then cursing into her hands as if her face had caught fire. The impact must¡¯ve broken her nose. Several Vlasalisks bowed to her as she crossed their paths, though she didn¡¯t care enough to offer an acknowledging nod. To enjoy the sweet embrace of that firm, makeshift coffin¡­ Yes, to them, it must¡¯ve been paradise. For one to not only acknowledge they were at death¡¯s doorstep, but invite them so willingly¡­ No. There was no genuine comfort in a bed. Not when it would leave them with a ghostly impression that would only mock them. The lusarello bounced against Lavisa¡¯s hips as she blazed through the Fadenician wing, her boots clicking in rapid succession. She buried the memory with a mountain¡¯s worth of lectures, but it would only ever return. Those pallid lips complimenting her cold skin. Even if she were to smile again, it wouldn¡¯t drive away the hurt. She was gone now, and there was nothing Lavisa could do to return her. Well, almost. She still had the Tourney at Godsfield. Yes, it was some four years away, but when it came time, she would be the sole victor. Then, the Beholder of God would grant her the one Wish. The only one that mattered. The only one she would ever ask for. Even if she had to best the finest Juneac?o Vale?o had to offer, she would personally grind them into dust. Swords, spears, fists¡­ She couldn¡¯t afford any other outcome. This was her only way. Her only chance. Lavisa zipped into the Fadenician dorm-filled corridor. Unlike the Vlasalisk and Dragonfang wing, almost no one here decorated their doors, but if she recalled the address¡­ Several Fadenicians did a double take as she passed, and though no one stopped to greet her, they gave an obligatory bow. Finally, she arrived at his door, knocked, then waited. And waited. And waited. The first thought that brushed against Lavisa¡¯s mind was harmless: He was asleep. Simple as that. It was still early in the day, and perhaps he hadn¡¯t acclimated to the draining schedule of Hierrs¨¦. But then came the whisper. Death. He was knocked unconscious. Perhaps lightheaded after his concussion the other day. Had he lost strength, bashing his skull against the edge of the desk in the process? Bleeding out all over the floor, his cries for help unheard¡­ Lavisa knocked again, the unreal door flickering from the jarring blows of her impacts. She had to do something, but waiting for a nurse or instructor would take too long; she had to act! A spark of heat flashed at her hips, growing hotter and hotter until she used that flame to stir the shallow depths of her Well. She wouldn¡¯t need much of a burst. Perhaps one or two well-placed blows would do. Hierrs¨¦ would be more than willing to cover the damages. Before Lavisa could deliver a swift kick, Tan?o cracked the door open. He rubbed his orange-green eyes, let out a small yawn, then, once they focused, looked at her oddly. ¡°Lavisa? You¡¯re here early.¡± Lavisa quickly gathered her bearings and offered him his lusarello. ¡°I didn¡¯t want you spoiling your appetite with sweets, so I thought it appropriate to arrive before time.¡± ¡°You¡¯re almost an hour early.¡± ¡°Fortunately for you, that wrap keeps the food warm for another twelve.¡± ¡°Oh, um¡­thanks.¡± Tan?o graciously accepted the platter, glanced inside his room, then shot her an uneven grin. For a moment, the brilliance of royalty masked his pools of sunset-field eyes. Purple and gold. Just like the man who could never bring himself to smile. ¡°Wanna stay for a while? I''m not really a master strategist so I don''t have board games, but¡ª¡± Lavisa gently brushed past the dark-haired commoner without further confirmation. ¡°I¡¯d love to. Go and enjoy your meal. I¡¯ll prepare some nightsip in the meantime.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re my guest. I should¡ª¡± Lavisa ushered Tan?o to the kitchen table. ¡°You¡¯re in no condition to argue. Eat.¡± ¡°But I¡¯m feeling¡ª¡± Lavisa pulled a chair out from under the table, fluffed the cushion, and, after some gentle persuasion, sat him down. She flew to the kitchen and sifted through his disorganized cupboard. There, near the bottom shelf, was a hastily torn sack of nightsip resting on its side. The grounds having long since spilled into the crevices. Retrieving it from its spot, she started the brewing process, cleaning the shelf of the black sprinklings only once freed. After she achieved a pristine state, she plucked an empty container from the cabinet and poured the sack¡¯s contents into it. ¡°Lavisa, can you stop going through my stuff? That¡¯s kinda creepy.¡± ¡°A little reorganization never hurt anyone.¡± ¡°Well, yeah, but this is going too far, don¡¯t you think?¡± Lavisa pushed the sealed container to the back of the countertop before whirling around to face him. Her hands on her hips. ¡°Eat.¡± Tan?o frowned. ¡°But I¡¯m not hungry.¡± ¡°Eat. Your queen commands it.¡± Tan?o sighed, and realizing he truly had no other choice, undid the knot tying the lusarello closed. He nibbled on the edges of his food but soon realized that their quality far surpassed that of the cafeteria¡¯s. In a matter of seconds, he was devouring it. Or he would¡¯ve if he hadn¡¯t saved a portion for her. She insisted on him finishing it, but he wouldn¡¯t relent. Saying he wanted her to have a share. They (calmly) argued back and forth, and realizing she wouldn¡¯t win, she partook. Secretly enjoying what he had saved for her. Namely, several helpings of an eastern delicacy referred to as ¡°stir-fry,¡± and the sauced bread. They washed it down with some nightsip after, and though she didn¡¯t want him speaking, he coaxed her into fights of breathless laughter. His wit sweeter than the sugar blended into their drinks. Chapter 21 ~ A New Month The month passed before long, bringing them closer to Frostfall¡¯s grasp. Gray clouds roamed the skies like heavenly nomads from the east, carrying with them the deathly chill that would soon send the flowers into a restful dormancy. Aside from that, nothing had changed. Hierrs¨¦ was as busy as ever, Tan¨ª¡¯s House refused to acknowledge his existence, and Innes continued to harass him. The only difference in their exchanges was the reaching nature of his petty insults, or as Tan¨ª saw it, a child crying for attention. Not that probing at someone wasn¡¯t a bad way to get it. Still, realistically, only two things happened after enough bullying: Either they became so self-conscious that everything hurt more, or they became so numb to the negative emotions that their insults bounced off like arrowheads against a castle wall. As for what category Tan¨ª fell in, he couldn¡¯t say. Besides, his social life had vastly improved ever since that head-on collision! He spent time with Jaster every morning, shared lunch with Lavisa, and when grace came, he managed a hushed exchange with ?zar and Canela. That or he was hallucinating everything. The siblings posed something of a mystery, though. Mainly because of how difficult it was to get a read on them. What with their¡­inclinations. Tan¨ª knew of the infamous tales regarding uncomfortably close twins. Two people practically glued at the hip and drifting wherever they wanted, but never siblings more than a year apart. Canela clung to ?zar at all times of day, scaring away girl after girl like some back-alley cat. It didn¡¯t matter if ?zar was simply greeting them, Canela viewed them as a threat. Which made him wonder what sort of ¡°threat¡± they posed to their dynamic. There would be a brief spat, but ?zar¡¯s irritation seldom lasted. Why? Because the girl would slip into his arms with a playful giggle, forcing him into a makeshift embrace. Despite how intimidating she could be, Tan¨ª had to admit that she was rather cute when she pulled the ¡°little sister¡± act. Not that it prevented ?zar from grumbling about his misfortune. When Canela wasn¡¯t busy destroying her brother¡¯s social life, she was a pretty sweet and intelligent girl. From rumors of who was dating who (with an uncanny knowledge of every single girl in every single year who betrayed the slightest interest in ?zar) to lore regarding the Houses, she seemed to know it all. Tan¨ª¡¯s only issue with Canela was her crude sense of humor. As she had a terrible habit of referring to every female student¡ªaside from Lavisa¡ªas a floozie. Those within the vicinity of its utterance would usually cast an annoyed glance the girl¡¯s way, though they never bothered fighting back. Maybe they were afraid of having their allowance ¡°fairly¡± reduced. That, or they had grown accustomed to her quirkiness. Whatever the case, Tan¨ª didn¡¯t protest. She was free to call them whatever she liked so long as she refrained from including Lavisa among their rank. Besides, unlike Innes the Surly Sailor, Canela possessed redeeming qualities¡­maybe. The only other woman Canela didn¡¯t seem to mind was the Lady of House Fad¨¦nix. A student by the name of Micene. Tan¨ª had yet to truly speak to her, and while he¡¯s certain he had passed her in the hall before, he didn¡¯t want to risk engendering her ire. On that note, the monthly tourney¡ªfrom what he¡¯s heard¡ªwent as well as one could¡¯ve expected. Vlasalisk took home the prize, and Fad¨¦nix came dead last. Interestingly enough, it wasn¡¯t Vlasalisk¡¯s champion that had carried them to victory. It was one of their first-years. Innes. Fad¨¦nix took the loss well enough, though if there was one person who took it harder than the rest, it was ?zar. The blonde brooded in isolated corners like some reprimanded child. His sister at his heels. Canela claimed this as his ¡°brooding phase,¡± and though she found it¡­attractive, it never lasted. Just a week, sometimes two. Then he¡¯d be up and about. Though Fad¨¦nix was hurting for SG, they received a handsome sum as a reward for a string of "goodwill." Not that it would hold them over for long. They¡¯d have to come up with something clever for the remainder of the month. For now, Tan¨ª¡¯s primary concern was surviving the day. His Sedd instructor, master Ayra, gave a brief overview of last month¡¯s unit. That being the rediscovery of Sedd by King Bastino I. Common knowledge among the peasantry, but an easy day was an easy day. During the 7th century, King Bastino had awakened his blood by reading ancient Juneac?o texts with the assistance of something they referred to as a likeness. Accounts claim they were the lingering will of ancient warriors, but even Tan¨ª thought that sounded farfetched. These likenesses¡ªfor whatever reason¡ªrefused the suggestion of reallocation, so Bastino wrote a series of poems encapsulating their wisdom. If a warrior''s blood stirred in response to the scripture, if they believed the words to be true with every ounce of their being, then they¡¯d receive the blessings of Tygenna. How reading a scroll could grant one power, Tan¨ª didn¡¯t know, but it wasn¡¯t his place to question divine authority. He was curious why there weren¡¯t more artificial Juneac?o wandering the lands. Then again, knowledge like that would cause more trouble than it''s worth. Especially if all it took to receive awesome powers was reading a piece of paper and being crazy enough to believe the words were real. Moonrays, maybe it was a good thing the current king kept them locked in Histell¡¯s vault. Though Tan¨ª didn¡¯t have access to these scrolls, likenesses were another matter altogether. The remnants of a being¡­ A sort of living dream. One said to mirror the twinkle of the Desolator¡¯s scales. They even possessed occult knowledge! Like the forbidden rituals to summon forth desire. If he could find one, perhaps even make some sort of pact like Bastino I did, then maybe he could be a real Juneac?o, too. Aside from his daydreams, the other interesting fact Tan¨ª had learned regarded the origin of their blood. Back when the Lord of Dreams and The Slumbering Juneac?o reigned, they beseeched humanity to offer them their truest desire. Their answer? A connection to Creation. The ability to create something from nothing. A Wish, or so Tygenna had interpreted their request as. Either way, they performed a ritual. One where man partook of her divine essence. This connection not only blessed man with the ability to make Wishes, but also granted them access to her powers. Or so the legends claimed. If Tan¨ª ever saw Tygenna again, he¡¯d have to ask if the stories were true. ¡°D¡¯Histell,¡± master Ayra called, ¡°can you tell me how a Juneac?o stirs their blood?¡± This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Tan¨ª pushed his head off from the cool desk. ¡°By Awakening, right?¡± ¡°Technically, Awakening only grants you the ability to stir your blood. I am asking you how it one performs said task.¡± ¡°By being honest¡­?¡± A round of laughter rattled the air, summoning the dreaded heat of embarrassment that clawed at Tan¨ª¡¯s cheeks. Danza often stressed the importance of being true when stirring one¡¯s blood. What was so wrong about that? Master Ayra pointed her ruler at the desk beside Tan¨ª¡¯s. ¡°Corat?o, can you explain how one stirs?¡± Tan¨ª turned just in time to catch Innes¡¯s irritating smirk. ¡°Gladly, master Ayra. The ability to stir our blood varies depending on the School of Sedd one draws from. Vigorous, quick strokes for Goem, heating the blood. Gentle, steady strokes for Toem, subtly shifting the form of the blood. And for Judgment, one needs to pour themselves into the Well. Timing their vigorous strokes with the pulse of life. It is only through these conditions that our blood¡ªwhether that be phial, spilled, or natural¡ªadheres to our command.¡± Master Ayra smiled like a proud mother. ¡°Very good, Corat?o.¡± ¡°Very good, Corat?o,¡± Tan¨ª mimed the words with barely suppressed disdain. Halfway through the class, she slammed them with a quick review sheet. Tan¨ª spent some time knocking his head around for worthwhile answers, but he could¡¯ve done worse. After the bell rang, Tan¨ª spent the entirety of his grace lying down on the sofa in every manner conceivable. Upside-down, sideways, lying flat, and even hanging over the edge, but he finally managed to get a nap in after his inconsistent repose. Tygenna wasn¡¯t there, though. It was only a dream involving his mother. When grace ended, Tan¨ª trudged to his final class for the day: Art. As he was in the middle of throwing on his garb, he briefly considered the pros and cons of napping in the changing room. Alas, he fell in line with the other kids and waited. ¡°Tan?o.¡± Tan¨ª swiveled around to face Lavisa. Though he had grown accustomed to her in her Art uniform, his pulse quickened all the same. He met her gaze to ease his heart¡¯s fluttering, but when he caught sight of those tender eyes aimed only at him, he suddenly learned what it would feel like to have your arms and legs be made of jelly. ¡°H-Hey Lavisa. Good to see you again,¡± Tan¨ª squeaked out. ¡°Likewise,¡± came her modulated response. ¡°How have you fared?¡± ¡°Worn, I guess.¡± ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Not sure. Just an especially draining day.¡± ¡°Some days can be like that.¡± Tan¨ª¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You get tired, too?¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t everyone?¡± she said with a giggle. ¡°Well, yeah, but you never seem bothered.¡± ¡°I can assure you, Tan?o, that some days are more taxing than others.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem that way.¡± ¡°Despite what you may believe, adjustments to our schedule do not translate to immunity. Our familiar workload does not make us tireless. So if you wish to cast ridicule upon yourself for being human, then at least make it creative.¡± Tan¨ª grinned from ear to ear. Hearing it made him feel a thousand times better. If someone like Lavisa got tired after a year at Hierrs¨¦, then he wasn¡¯t weak. Maybe a little lazy, yeah, but not weak. ¡°How¡¯s your head doing?¡± she abruptly inquired. Tan¨ª absentmindedly touched his temple. ¡°No brain damage yet.¡± ¡°Are you certain?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve yet to experience bouts of lightheadedness, then? How¡¯s your balance? Do you find yourself off? And your thoughts. Do they take longer to process than usual?¡± Tan¨ª stared as she barraged him with an endless series of questions. He waited for her onslaught to end, though as always, she surprised him by adding another inquiry onto the pile. Eventually, Tan¨ª held up a hand just to stop her. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Lavisa. Really.¡± Lavisa¡¯s lips thinned into a line. ¡°Are you certain? Head injuries can leave lasting damage if unchecked.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m fine. Really.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t we take it easy today? I¡¯ll show you the traditional strokes of Coros fencing. Guiding you as I deem fit. We can save the sparring until you¡¯ve fully recovered.¡± Tan¨ª shot her a flat stare. ¡°Lavisa.¡± ¡°No, perhaps that¡¯s far too strenuous. I¡¯ve heard even a small stretch could lead to a state of permanent debilitation.¡± ¡°Lavisa.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll run to the nurse and request a slip to exempt you from all physical activity for the rest of the week. That way, you can still earn SG for attendance.¡± ¡°Are you even listening to me?¡± The princess shook her head, frustrated with herself. ¡°No, that won¡¯t do. I¡¯ll write to father and ask him to send one of the royal physicians. They¡¯re well equipped to combat traumatic injuries. It might take days for them to arrive, but if you¡¯re fine with wait¡ª¡± ¡°LAVISA.¡± A thick shroud of silence blanketed the room. Tan¨ª didn¡¯t have to look to know that everyone was staring at him. He hadn¡¯t intended for his interjection to be so piercing, but¡­ Well, there was no going back. Lavisa appeared more puzzled than startled as she awaited his response. Given the nature of their environment, Tan¨ª wasn¡¯t keen on rushing the matter. So he waited until the soft rumble of conversation graced the air. Even then, he knew someone was eavesdropping. Not that they would learn much. ¡°Lavisa,¡± Tan¨ª began, voice hushed, ¡°I get that you¡¯re worried, but it¡¯s been two WEEKS since I cracked my skull open. Can¡¯t you just relax? I¡¯m not dead yet.¡± Lavisa squirmed. ¡°I-I know, I just¡­¡± Her eyes fell to the side. ¡°I¡¯d rather not risk it. Not this time.¡± ¡°Risk what?¡± ¡°¡­Nothing.¡± ¡°Well, as much as I want to know what ¡®nothing¡¯ is, I won¡¯t press.¡± Tan¨ª paused and chewed on a response, but realizing it wasn¡¯t the smart thing to say, settled on the next best thing. ¡°I want time off as much as the next guy, but I can¡¯t keep missing classes if I want to be a Juneac?o. You understand that, right?¡± Lavisa closed her eyes and dipped her head. ¡°Yes¡­ I do.¡± ¡°So, you understand that once I¡¯m out there, I can¡¯t let something as small as a bump stop me. I won¡¯t have you, the instructors, or other Grazers around to help me. I¡¯ll just be on my own.¡± ¡°The Juries¡­they¡¯ll¡ª¡± ¡°They won¡¯t,¡± Tan¨ª said, smiling. Lavisa bit her lip. ¡°You don¡¯t know that. They¡¯re here to protect us. Even other Juneac?o.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not how the world works, Lavisa. That¡¯s just what they tell us.¡± Yes, Danza had always done the same when he delivered bad news. It was best to reveal the harsh truth with a warm grin. No yelling, no accusatory glares, only reluctance. Tan¨ª would become a Juneac?o in name, but not in truth. Not as long as he would remain a Grazer. The Juries would consider him nothing more than a lowly mercenary lucky enough to gain Tygenna¡¯s blessing. Lucky. The word almost made him laugh. Maybe he would be lucky enough to be accepted into a Jury; maybe they would overlook his brief stint with Danza, and they would brand him a worthwhile candidate. ¡°Tan?o¡­¡± The fragile voice of a little girl drew Tan¨ª out of his murky thoughts. Lavisa refused to meet his gaze, her eyes appearing¡­different. Some rogue had robbed them of something precious. Something bright. Like a child being told they couldn¡¯t be a king. ¡°You¡¯re real¡­to me,¡± Lavisa murmured, voice tight with disappointment. Tan¨ª flashed her a good-natured grin. ¡°I¡¯d hope so, else this conversation would be looking pretty awkward.¡± Lavisa giggled, though even that sounded forced. ¡°I suppose so.¡± Chapter 22 ~ Rumors Tan¨ª cracked the door open, inviting a blade of light into his room. He¡¯d been expecting a bright, blinding flash, but the faux incandescence that lined the ceiling flickered with the dim strength of a candle. Nighttime. How it could do this, he still wasn¡¯t certain. No one could explain it. Not even the instructors! He strained his ears, hoping to catch the slightest hints of boots clicking against the too clean floor, or even the legendary whispers of a likeness, but there was nothing. Just that unsteady substitute for silence. Not true noise, but a mimicry of the rustling Coros countryside that imbued the atmosphere. When he failed to make out footsteps, he peeked over the door¡¯s edge. No one around¡­ Perfect. He thrust his Brand into its sheath, sloppily buttoned his already crooked shirt, and then stepped into the hall. The air shifted behind him, aligning the door¡¯s presence to the slot. It materialized like a sheet of torrential rain. Pouring in every direction until it formed a solid white fa?ade. Thankfully, the zip-click of its close only betrayed the murmur of a whisper. Tan¨ª slinked in the shadows, traveling up the north-western edge of the hall. Everyone should''ve been resting now, or at least they had to be. Half before midnight wasn¡¯t exactly a normal time to be out and about. Getting a good night¡¯s rest should¡¯ve been Tan¨ª¡¯s number one priority. Presenting his project (he had somehow cobbled together during the last five minutes of grace) half-asleep wouldn¡¯t do him any favors, but he really wanted to see if the rumors were true. The likeness might be his only chance of igniting his Awakening. That or dying of a heart attack after it spontaneously manifested. The ghostly zip-click of a faux door caused Tan¨ª to stiffen, and, abandoning any prospect of comfort, jumped into a knee-shuddering crouch. He scooted down the hall with all the haste of an assassin, stopping only when he stood a respectable distance from the source: Someone¡¯s room. And as was expected of the nobility, a plate displaying their house''s heraldry adorned the rightmost wall to their door. Nothing physical, for the most part, could be attached to the thing. This emblem depicted a partially submerged blade in a pond, a stark thick of dark trees encompassing it. Just why was it so...familiar? A Cycle-thinning moment later, the door¡¯s fa?ade dissipated like sparks in the air, revealing a familiar set of blonde hair and tired crimson-green eyes. ?zar. A second figure emerged from the shadows, their dark, slender arms wrapping around his midsection. ¡°Where¡¯re you going?¡± said the shadow, her voice thick with the drowsy weight of sleep. ¡°I¡¯m just getting some fresh air, Can¨ª.¡± The girl grumbled as she drew him back into the shadows, but to no avail. ¡°It¡¯s past curfew, Ciz¨ª.¡± ¡°I know,¡± he murmured, his hand drifting to hers. ¡°Then go back to bed, please¡­¡± ¡°I will in a bit. I just need some fresh air.¡± ¡°Are you nervous?¡± ¡°No, good sleep is just hard to come by.¡± Tan¨ª sidled away, hesitated, then¡ªagainst his better judgment¡ªreturned to his box seat. His quaking legs might hate him for the impromptu wall sit, but wouldn¡¯t hurt to verify those rumors now, would it? ¡°Am¡ª¡± Canela tightened her embrace. ¡°Am I doing a poor job? I¡¯m doing what I can, really, but maybe I wasn¡¯t ready. Maybe I¡¯m just too young. I know the council¡¯s been quiet, but another two years¡ª¡± ?zar turned with a too-tight step. ¡°You¡¯re doing fine. Better than fine, in fact.¡± ¡°You say that, but I know it''s not true. Everyone¡¯s upset, and it¡¯s all my fault. If I¡¯d stayed quiet and hadn¡¯t convinced them you¡¯d save us, then maybe they wouldn¡¯t¡­¡± Her words became muffled, almost as if she¡¯d buried her face in a pillow. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ciz¨ª. I shouldn''t have plied it on you." ¡°You keep apologizing, and I keep telling you there¡¯s nothing to apologize for.¡± ¡°You¡¯re lying. I know you are¡­¡± He brushed a hand into the dark. ¡°Come, Can¨ª. Would I ever lie to you?¡± ¡°You do,¡± her voice wavered like an icy Redtide shower. ¡°You always do whenever you¡¯re upset. Just like mother.¡± Tan¨ª sidled towards their sanctuary, his eyes having adjusted to the darkness. He caught the third-year tenderly wiping the glistening moisture from her cheeks. ¡°You saying I¡¯m upset is giving me a reason to be upset, Can¨ª. No point in mulling about it, is there?¡± ?zar paused. ¡°Do you know what that means?¡± Canela sniffled. ¡°No.¡± ¡°It means we¡¯ve much catching up to do, and you know who¡¯ll bring us there?¡± He tapped her head. ¡°This smart little girl right here. So whip up a scheme! I want to see those Houses burn.¡± Canela¡¯s trembling fingers sank into the back of ?zar¡¯s nightshirt. ¡°Fine, but you owe me,¡± she rasped. ¡°Owe you for what?¡± ¡°For shouldering your work. I swear, you wouldn¡¯t survive one second without me.¡± ?zar ruffled her hair, scattering the thick locks into a frazzled heap. ¡°Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Just tell me what you want.¡± ¡°¡­I want you to wear it.¡± A sigh heavier than an anchor escaped ?zar¡¯s lips. ¡°Wear what?¡± ¡°It. Y¡¯know, the thing you stole for me. The thing you claimed had gone missing from mother¡¯s jewelry box. And I don¡¯t want you wearing it for a few hours. I want you to wear it for the entire semester, and I mean it!¡± Canela demanded, each addition hammering the air. ?zar¡¯s response? A begrudging groan. ¡°God¡­don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re gonna wear it, too.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one who made the vow, so man up, you spineless dumbass.¡± ¡°Alright, fine, but if anyone asks, I¡¯m not gonna explain.¡± ¡°Fine by me. Only I need to know the truth.¡± There was a brief, fleeting silence as ?zar gently pressed her into the depths of the room¡¯s darkness. Tan¨ª craned his neck to capture a better glimpse, but when all he caught was ?zar¡¯s back and Canela¡¯s arms, he grew restless. He wasn¡¯t shameless; he was just¡­deathly curious to see what was happening. That¡¯s when he heard it: The unmistakable gasp of a delicate exchange. Marked by the gentle mingling of breath. Tan¨ª¡¯s heart raced. He knew it wasn¡¯t a smart idea to spy on a person¡¯s private life, but then again¡­ His daring drew him into the greater hall. He could almost see it: Where their heads met. It was almost like¡ª ¡°Promise me you won¡¯t be long,¡± Canela murmured. ?zar drew back into the hall. ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± Panicked, Tan¨ª bolted. He wasn¡¯t even aware his sidle could outpace his sprint. Finally, Tan¨ª arrived at his destination: Fad¨¦nix hall. The burning dancer emblazoned upon the gates, its size twice that of an average man. He had never seen the place closed off before, but in the dimness, the proud orange bird glowed. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. There weren¡¯t many unique qualities regarding the burning dancer. It was a tall bird from Kastel with an odd penchant for stomping out fires. The arid wilderness near Ranestad¨¦¡ªthe Coros fort city that sealed off access from the rest of the Westerlans¡ªhad little vegetation considering its proximity to the mountains. He had, however, seen a great number of burning dancers wander near the settlement, their fearless dark eyes scanning the horizon for the next life-destroying fire. The memory left Tan¨ª feeling a little more¡­appreciative that his House¡¯s emblem was such a fearless animal. Drawing his Brand, he swiped at the gate. Instead of harmlessly phasing through the barrier, the blunt dagger skipped across the solid surface. Frowning, Tan¨ª repeated the process, channeling more power into his swipe. The Brand skated across the surface like an awkward pebble before slipping from his grasp and landing with a soft clatter. Miffed, Tan¨ª retrieved his dagger, checked it, then unleashed a flurry of thrusts at the gate. Summoning his inner Nimmian and stabbing the gate until his arm went slack. That¡¯s a right bloody tough door. Tan¨ª leaned against the gate, hoping to recover his strength before he resumed his efforts, but the moment he did, the doors parted. Wait. He pushed against one half, which resulted in it winding open without resistance. Of course, it¡¯s the only normal door in this bloody building. Tan¨ª entered the dim hall with an exasperated stomp. The air hummed with the sting of a harpsichord, though who or what was playing it, he didn¡¯t know. Half-filled mugs littered the tables, furniture inside the partitioned rooms pushed into one corner to appear ¡°organized,¡± and the dueling ring that occupied the very center of the grand hall could not decide whether it wanted to be a storage closet or a trash bin. Apparently, people didn¡¯t fight in the ring. They played a Juneac?o-based card game. Weird. Despite the scattered nature of his two-tiered hall, a prickling disquiet settled in his gut. It was darker. Less inviting. As if a mire lurker skulked around the corner, ready to snatch him. Naturally, Tan¨ª¡¯s first instinct was to leave. The hall was massive, after all. He was more likely to get lost than discover something worthwhile with all these twists and turns. Not that he listened to these right-minded warnings. Tan¨ª blindly reached for the gate, but before he could turn around, the echoing shuffle of footsteps prompted him to spin. A cold, dark hall devoid of activity stared back at him like a beast¡¯s gaping maw. The sound shifted, flitting from east to west, then back up north. Tan¨ª expected to find the spectral likeness of his House¡¯s founder, yet the inky darkness crept closer to him. Threatening to devour the looming light. It writhed with an unbridled glee; a gasp lighter than air betraying the atmosphere. It almost sounded like¡­a laugh? Someone so excited to be found that they partially debated lunging at their seeker. Eager to taunt them once again. And Tan¨ª could do naught but idle. No. His mind was just playing tricks on him. He just needed to think of something else. Something real. He nodded to no one in particular, his gaze drifting to the wavering light above. Did someone light those every morning? That must¡¯ve been terrifying, or a hassle, considering they had little in the way of illuminating their path. Then again, an inextricable link to the academy¡¯s systems could clarify why they appeared so. What with it being beyond their ken. Tan¨ª stuck towards the center path, hoping the slim lighting would aid in his return if he became lost. A worst-case scenario, of course. While clambering over these partitions and investigating the area from up on high did sound appealing, he lacked the balance and finesse of a Juneac?o. ¡°Hello?¡± he called out in a quivering voice. The fluttering of a robe ripped through the silence. He traced its source, but as quickly as it came, it vanished. Tan¨ª drew his Brand and pointed it at the darkness. Taking after the example of his fearless predecessors, he warily crept down the passage. The light refracted off the dagger¡¯s surface. Vents of dreary orange light pierced the darkness, revealing mahogany tomes, dirty brown shelves, rickety desks, and scattered chairs students had forgotten to replace. One time, he even stumbled into a slithering shape that coiled about his ankles. This led to a slight scuffle where Tan¨ª rolled around the floor, frantically wrestling with the beast serpent that threatened to sink its fangs into him. His screams, being the all-powerful squire he was were, of course, used simply to intimidate it. Yeah. That. When he rolled into the light, the deadly beast turned out to be none other than one of those peculiar plush dolls the nobility had taken a special liking to. Tan¨ª wasn¡¯t certain if he was more embarrassed by his reaction, or angry at the stupid bright-blue Vlasalisk grinning back at him. Tan¨ª cast the toy aside and continued down his route. The footsteps weren¡¯t there to guide him, so he picked a random direction and hoped it would lead him to the likeness. A mighty crash sounded in the distance. It came again, and again, like a thunderous storm hailing from the eastern Fadenician dispensers. Tan¨ª sped towards the aisle, but instead of catching the ethereal apparition of his founder, he saw a huddled figure with a basket full of cans. ¡°You there!¡± Tan¨ª shouted. ¡°Whaddya think you¡¯re doing?¡± The figure whirled around, revealing none other than a startled Jaster. ¡°Oh, gave me a right fright, Tan-Tan.¡± He stopped. ¡°Kinda late to be wandering around. Shouldn¡¯t you be in bed?¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be in a hall that isn¡¯t Fad¨¦nix¡¯s? And what¡¯s with all the cans? Are you stealing from us?¡± ¡°Stealing?¡± Jaster arched a brow. ¡°What reason would I have to steal? You guys got the best flavors in the school.¡± ¡°I hardly think it¡¯s normal to buy a drink at this hour. Why¡¯re you here?¡± ¡°Good deeds go best unnoticed?¡± Tan¨ª frowned. ¡°Being oblique isn¡¯t helping.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Jaster¡¯s eyes flashed with the slightest hint of amusement. ¡°Big words for a commoner. Looks like you really were paying attention in class. Well, if you must know, you guys got the cheapest cans. And besides, it¡¯s easier to buy them in bulk when no one¡¯s looking. Especially when you know the secret.¡± ¡°Secret?¡± Jaster brandished his dagger, selected one of the various glyphs projecting from the dispenser, and then swiped at the construct. The thing let out a distinctive rumble as it ejected a can from its interior, but before it could gracefully float upon its invisible river, Jaster bashed his shoulder against its face. This resulted in two cans being undone instead of one. ¡°That.¡± Jaster cast his thumb at the machine. ¡°Jaster, that¡¯s stealing! Fad¨¦nix is already the sticks. Do you really have to steal from us?¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m tripling up.¡± Tan¨ª tilted his head. ¡°Say again?¡± ¡°Our Brands allow us to grant a set bonus to the provider. We call them tips. No one likes giving tips, though¡­¡± Jaster picked at an icon and swiped again. This time, he didn¡¯t shoulder bash the construct. ¡°Rumor says Fad¨¦nix¡¯ll be low on SG until the semester ends, so I thought I¡¯d be a noble Juneac?o and do them a favor. Just this once.¡± Tan¨ª drew the Nimmian into a suffocating embrace. He might''ve suffered a kick or two, but he didn''t care; he just squeezed the thrashing first year with all the appreciation he could physically muster. Jaster then asked him what he was doing wandering the halls so late at night, and so Tan¨ª explained his quest. Mentioning the rumor of the likeness that wandered the halls. The Nimmian laughed it off as superstition, though to make up for his mockery, he offered Tan¨ª a can. They drank as they explored the halls, enjoying a hushed back and forth. Tan¨ª learned of vague, age-old techniques (after some subtle probing) squires abused during the Three Nations¡¯ War. Most involved some direct manner of consumption. Whether that be a Juneac?o¡¯s flat blood or their stirred Sedd. He didn¡¯t completely understand it himself, but Jaster expounded upon their archaic reasoning. Claiming the process similar to that of Tygenna¡¯s initial blessing to man. Tan¨ª took another sip of his drink and grimaced. He didn¡¯t particularly enjoy the bubbling-pop sensation, but who could turn down a good time? Their feet led them to Vlasalisk hall, and strangely enough, it was still open. Populated by chatty fourth- and fifth-year students. Jaster explained that, aside from the SG one could earn in a tourney, the winner¡¯s House received an extended curfew. Thankfully, no one wore their cape, so Tan¨ª and Jaster went unnoticed. A small part of Tan¨ª had been hoping to find Lavisa reposing in the reading corner, but alas, it was empty. Tan¨ª excused himself from Jaster¡¯s side as he finished his can. On his way to dump the container, he caught a hushed exchange. And it came from a voice he¡¯d heard not long ago. He crept around the corner until he glimpsed a wooden alcove. One ?zar and Innes currently occupied. ¡°¡­You¡¯re that desperate, aren¡¯t you?¡± Innes smirked. ?zar¡¯s eyes, drawn to the side, displayed only reluctance. ¡°You¡¯d be, too, if you were in my situation.¡± ¡°If I were you, I wouldn¡¯t reduce myself to some duplicitous beggar. I¡¯d only hone my skills until I was more than capable of restoring my House. Perhaps you Fadenicians just lack proper work ethic.¡± ¡°Yeah. Maybe.¡± Innes laughed. ¡°Oh, I like you. You know your place better than the rest of your ilk. That means there¡¯s still hope for you.¡± ¡°I¡ª¡± ?zar¡¯s head fell. ¡°I''m honored." ¡°You know, you strike me as a fine candidate for transfer. We¡¯ve a useless fry in our ranks. They¡¯ve neither the courage nor strength of our proud founder, but you?¡± Innes folded his arms. ¡°I¡¯ve seen the way you fight. You¡¯re good. Too good for that washed out hut of thin-blooded rejects. I¡¯d say you¡¯re better than their champion, so what gives? Why¡¯d you turn down the title? And don¡¯t tell me it was because of your injury. You¡¯ve long since recovered.¡± ?zar remained silent, his grief-stricken crimson-green eyes aimed at his boots. God, what was happening? Did he really think House Fad¨¦nix that pathetic? What about his sister? Tan¨ª thought she was important to him, but maybe that had only been a front. A diverting guise. ¡°I¡­had no say in the matter,¡± ?zar muttered. ¡°It was her, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Innes asked. ¡°¡­It doesn''t matter.¡± ¡°Loath as I am to admit it, she is rather beautiful. I¡¯d be distracted, too, if I were in your stead.¡± Innes leaned in. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t mind if I¡­entertained her, would you?¡± ?zar stiffened, his fists trembling at his sides. ¡°Just keep to your word.¡± ¡°So long as you keep to yours. And remember: Do make the incident gruesome. I do so love a good tragedy.¡± ?zar stepped out of the alcove, prompting Tan¨ª into hiding. Great. Now he knew two things he had to keep secret. Chapter 23 ~ One More Time ¡°Tan?o?¡± Tan¨ª instinctively shielded his face. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me; I swear!¡± ¡°Pardon...?¡± Tan¨ª peered through the vents in his fingers. It was Lavisa. Her delicate brow cocked as if he were a drake in the dark. Realizing his death had yet to be sentenced, Tan¨ª relaxed. ¡°Uh, I mean, nothing. Just ignore that.¡± ¡°Is something the matter, Tan?o?¡± ¡°Unless you think my grades of note, not really.¡± ¡°I see. Is there a particularly troubling subject in mind?" Keeping secrets. ¡°Pretty much everything. Guessing it¡¯s this hard for everyone, though.¡± Lavisa nodded. ¡°Acclimating to an academic environment can take time. Suffice it to say, we''ve our tempos to waltz to.¡± ¡°I s¡¯pose you¡¯re right¡­¡± Tan¨ª lowered his voice. ¡°I just wish Literature wasn¡¯t so long.¡± ¡°You and everyone else.¡± Tan¨ª recovered his belongings from his Art locker. Several stragglers remained in the classroom, talking, waiting for friends, or asking Eleanor questions. As for the shrine-glued instructor herself, she stood at a parade rest. The dimly lit golden pebble hung from the knife''s edge upon a sling so that it was a hair''s breadth from her. Tan¨ª and Lavisa bade her farewell before stepping out into the nearly empty hall. Lavisa mentioned something about an ¡°exam.¡± What that was, he wasn¡¯t certain. It sounded bloody scary, though. He ultimately learned that she partook in two extra circulars. They were the Tea Appreciation Society (or the ¡°Ateaseciation¡± as Lavisa referred to it with a giggle), and the Association of Occult Anecdotes. If he ever needed a sign telling him that these rich people had too much spare time on their hands, it was certainly that. He thought they spent their afternoons exchanging esoteric bits of information. That is until Lavisa revealed their true nature, causing him to laugh. ¡°What?¡± she asked, confused. ¡°That,¡± Tan¨ª said, snickering. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were gullible.¡± ¡°I most certainly am NOT. I simply appreciate the tales one could learn of while in the dark.¡± ¡°You mean ghost stories?¡± Lavisa¡¯s gaze drifted to the side. ¡°If that is what you wish to call them, then yes¡­¡± ¡°C¡¯mon, don¡¯t be shy. Everyone likes a good ghost story.¡± Tan¨ª grinned. She slowly turned to him; her cheeks dusted red. ¡°Truly?¡± ¡°Yeah. Danza and I traveled all over Corat?o, and with all the tourneys we went to, we¡¯d have these big picnics with other Grazers. And once everyone was fed, we tossed around a bunch of scary stories to pass the time. The person with the best one got all the leftovers!¡± Lavisa¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Truly?¡± ¡°Grazers are big eaters. Plus, it¡¯s a lot of fun, and we¡¯d go until midnight.¡± Tan¨ª spared the hall-tall window on his left a glance. He could see it: The distant mass of mainland Corat?o. Home beyond that churning sea of deep blues and whitewash. ¡°Grazers are pretty stubborn, but they¡¯ve got the best stories. Sure, they¡¯re a little over-exaggerated, but it¡¯s nice pretending we¡¯re bigger than we are. Makes everything seem more¡­impressive.¡± ¡°And that is why I adore ghost stories so. I¡¯ve my doubts, as does anyone, but there is value in entertaining the ethereal.¡± ¡°Yeah. It helps you forget about your problems. Just¡­y¡¯know. Reminds you there¡¯s more to life than what¡¯s in front of us.¡± ¡°That we needn¡¯t be ruled by a single thought.¡± Ruled by a single thought. What could possess someone to only think of one thing? Seemed pretty boring. Sometimes the past reared its ugly head, but he had better things to do than focus on nasty insults. He had to get stronger; stronger so that he could prove Danza''s apprenticing him wasn''t a mistake. That he wasn''t just some afterthought. Unsure of how else to respond, Tan¨ª uttered the stupidest question in his arsenal. ¡°So, do you drink tea in the tea club?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Lavisa supplied, giggling, and what a delightful chime it was. ¡°Though we often discuss the popular flavor of the month.¡± ¡°Sounds¡­exciting?¡± ¡°It is! Especially when we manage an eastern blend from the Wyrm Road. Did you know that the eastern brewing process uses¡­¡± Lavisa lectured him on the intricacies of brewing, blending, and hot versus cold tea as they flickered from Transmitter to Transmitter. She listed the tastiest treats to have with each blend, the perfect sugar-to-cream ratio, and, oddly enough, the kinds of cups to pour them in. Not just standard mugs, either. No, the nobility had to go the extra mile and have fine porcelain shipped from the Far East. A bit excessive, but that was his reality. One where people probably spent more than his mother made toiling in the field all for one shinier cup. What a fashion statement. Besides, it''s not like it changed the taste of the boiling leaf juice. He wasn¡¯t stupid enough to savor the ¡°subtle flavors¡± of barely sweet water. Nightsip was far superior and granted them a boost of energy when the moment called for it. He¡¯d gladly drink one, three, no ten cups if Danza allowed it. Not that he would. The man only ever told him he¡¯d get a heart attack. When they neared the Vlasalisk wing after ten minutes, Lavisa stopped with a blink. ¡°Oh dear. I hope I didn¡¯t bore you.¡± Tan¨ª shook his head. ¡°Nah, I learned a lot of things. Better than Literature, I¡¯ll say.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t imagine it¡¯s all that difficult being better than torture personified,¡± she said. ¡°Plus, you get to actually drink the thing you learn about. Don¡¯t know if you knew this, but tomes aren¡¯t exactly edible. Stuff¡¯s stiffer than jerky.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Lavisa¡¯s eyes brightened. ¡°Would you be interested in joining?¡± ¡°Nah, clubs¡¯d just cut into my sleep schedule.¡± ¡°We only meet twice a week.¡± ¡°I dunno. Don¡¯t wanna dedicate myself to more than I can handle.¡± This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Then I assume you¡¯re not interested in joining the Association?¡± Tan¨ª eyed her suspiciously. ¡°You¡¯re not a recruiter, are you?¡± ¡°Of course, not. I¡¯m only¡ª¡± Lavisa paused. She regarded him hesitantly, opened her mouth, and then glanced away. ¡°I would¡¯ve enjoyed having a familiar face around, that¡¯s all.¡± Tan¨ª suppressed the unholy desire to run straight into a wall. Did his presence really mean that much to her? Here she was trying to invite him into her circles, and what did he say? That he preferred napping over spending time with her. ¡°I¡¯m¡­not sure about now,¡± Tan¨ª began softly, ¡°but what about next semester? I just wanna get used to the flow of things. Go at my pace, y¡¯know.¡± Lavisa dipped her head. ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Besides, you must have tons of friends to keep you company. You¡¯re a princess, right? Just use that status.¡± ¡°I suppose you¡¯re right.¡± Having nothing better to do, Tan¨ª accompanied Lavisa to the tea club¡¯s room. He tried to think of interesting topics to discuss, though they never lasted more than a few sentences before they dipped into uncomfortable silence. Her eyes turned away from him. Great. Way to be a mood killer. They came across Innes and his entourage, and though Tan¨ª anticipated the prince¡¯s obligatory abuse, he just scoffed and went his way. At least he hadn¡¯t bristled. ¡°Tan?o!¡± Tan¨ª yelped and zipped behind Lavisa. ¡°I swear I didn¡¯t hear anything!¡± ¡°What?¡± Tan¨ª peeked over the princess¡¯s side, and just as he feared, it was Canela. Her forehead creased with lines, and her capes wrinkled. They weren''t even fastened correctly. ¡°Treasurer Canela. To what do I owe this pleasure?¡± Lavisa asked, her response measured as expected. ¡°Move. I came to talk to Tan¨ª, not you,¡± the treasurer hissed, her voice cutting through the calm like a short-tempered blade. ¡°I see.¡± Lavisa stepped out from her line of sight, exposing Tan¨ª to the cruel air of the Firmament. In the treasurer¡¯s stead stood a frazzled, sweaty D¨¦qoish girl. Her long, thick black hair curled in messy loops, almost like someone had dragged her out of bed kicking and screaming. Before Tan¨ª could make a break for it, Canela closed the distance, her fist low. ¡°Tan¨ª.¡± Despite the overwhelming urge to shriek like a little girl, he remained composed. Somehow. ¡°Y-Yeah? Do you need something?¡± ¡°Where¡¯s my brother?¡± Tan¨ª straightened. ¡°Brother?¡± ¡°My brother.¡± Canela¡¯s festive eyes narrowed to deadly slits. ¡°You know, the man who shares half my blood; the same man I haven¡¯t seen for over a week! The very one whose garden you destroyed.¡± Lavisa shot him an inquisitive look. ¡°Are you the garden grinder, by chance?¡± ¡°The past is the past.¡± Tan¨ª waved nonchalantly. ¡°No point in dredging it up.¡± Thankfully, Canela didn¡¯t seem the least bit interested in detailing his sordid crime. ¡°Tan?o,¡± she began again. ¡°Have. You. Seen. My. Brother.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t say I have. And even if I did, don¡¯t you two share the same Art class?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the thing. He hasn¡¯t shown his face since¡ª¡± She stopped as a burgundy blush immediately tinted her cheeks. ¡°Well, I haven¡¯t seen him in a while, alright? Don¡¯t ask me questions.¡± Tan¨ª shrugged. ¡°Maybe he¡¯s sick.¡± ¡°He¡¯s of the third Awakening.¡± ¡°But not a Full. Can still get sick. Maybe he doesn¡¯t wanna pass it on?¡± ¡°I¡¯m of the second Awakening.¡± A spike of irritation probed at him. This was starting to sound more like an interrogation than a harmless question. ¡°Then maybe he¡¯s busy studying,¡± Tan¨ª assumed. Canela scoffed. ¡°He¡¯s never too busy for me.¡± ¡°Look, Canela. I don¡¯t know, okay? Go ask someone else. I¡¯m busy.¡± She pressed forward, making him instinctively lean away from her heated blow. She never struck. ¡°But I¡¯ve already asked all of Fad¨¦nix! Including the Lady and Shade!¡± ¡°Is there something going on between you two?¡± Tan¨ª asked, his voice dropping to a gentle whisper. ¡°Did you get into a fight or something?¡± Canela¡¯s eyes silvered. ¡°I-I don¡¯t know. He¡¯s just been very distant lately, and the last time I tried talking to him, he just sounded¡­angry. Like he wanted to yell at me.¡± Her voice thinned with each word. Angry with her? What reason would her brother have to be cross? They were like fermented rice on a sticky Sun¡¯s Peak day: Gooey and unbearable to be around. Had something happened behind the scenes? That, or her brother could be seeing someone, which might explain why he was avoiding her¡­ As much as Tan¨ª wanted to entertain the notion, he needed to reassure her. So, he smiled. ¡°C¡¯mon, Canela. ?zar would never hate you.¡± The sorrow veiling Canela¡¯s eyes shimmered. ¡°Truly?¡± ¡°Yeah. Maybe a little annoyed, but I get where he¡¯s coming from. I¡¯ve got siblings, too. They¡¯re a handful, but I don¡¯t hate them. Sometimes, you just need some space.¡± ¡°But he¡ª But I¡­¡± Canela¡¯s eyes fell to her warm almond hands, her fingers pale compared to her dark complexion. Almost as if she¡¯d been squeezing the edge of a table until her blood ran cold. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I thought we were¡ª¡± ¡°Thinkings not gonna help, Canela. Just relax. No point in running your mind round.¡± Tan¨ª caught the faint whispers of a trio of Fadenicians. ¡°You¡¯ve got friends, yeah? Why not hang with them?¡± Canela wrung her hands, a silvery band showing upon her ring finger. ¡°I don¡¯t wanna hang out with friends, I wanna be with him¡­¡± Tan¨ª sighed. Answers, answers, answers. He barely knew his way around the porcelain havens scattered throughout the academy (and he had spent an unhealthy amount of time mapping out every throne). What made her think he knew where her brother was? He could lie, but he knew that would only result in more trouble than it was worth. What do I do? ¡°Treasurer Canela,¡± Lavisa said, breaking the strained silence, ¡°would you care if I made a small donation?¡± Canela whipped around to face her, eyes wide. ¡°R-Really?¡± ¡°Yes. Though I¡¯ve no interest in rumors, I¡¯ve heard that Fad¨¦nix is in dire need of SG.¡± Canela drew her Brand. ¡°How much would you like to give?¡± ¡°Will three thousand suffice?¡± Lavisa asked. ¡°Y-Yes! Of course!¡± They went through the process, and as quickly as Canela came, she vanished. Though not without offering Lavisa a curt bow. Once they were alone, Tan¨ª and Lavisa started for the tea club. ¡°Hey,¡± he spoke, his eyes on the hall. ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°Think nothing of it. She was beginning to wear on me.¡± Tan¨ª grinned. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°No,¡± Lavisa admitted, smirking. ¡°It was, however, difficult being subjected to her mood. I¡¯ve heard Fadenicians tend to be quite expressive. I suppose the rumors are true.¡± ¡°What? You¡¯ve never interacted with others outside your House?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never felt the need to.¡± They stopped at the Vlasalisk food bar to pick up a snack, and though he received nasty looks from several students, none bothered to throw him out. Except for a red-haired Vlasalisk girl with a thick bandage covering her crooked nose. Not that her adamant attempts to repulse him would prevent him from purchasing a slice of his new true love¡­ The divine, maximum flavor of their uber-sauced bread. Tan¨ª sank his teeth into a slice, enjoying the explosion of gooey, greasy flavors. Fruit, meat, and cheese¡­it was all the important food groups in one. Truly, there could be nothing healthier. Before Tan¨ª could finish God¡¯s delectable treasure, he caught Lavisa¡¯s unyielding stare. Tempted though he was to devour the rest in one go, Tan¨ª proferred the remnants to her. She feigned interest, eyelids shut in a display of complete indifference. Just as he withdrew his snack, something black flashed. Glancing at his palm, he found nothing. The innocuous, prim princess with all the grace of the queen, whom he often turned to for answers, now had her cheeks stuffed. She chewed with absolute delight, her lips curled into a smile broader than the crescent moon, and after she finished savoring the heavenly flavors, sighed. Lavisa licked off the excess sauce from her fingertips, wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, and uttered a soft and refined ¡°thank you.¡± As if she hadn¡¯t devoured the treat with all the manic fervor of a starved wolf. As they terminated into the wing, a shadow leapt from Tan¨ª¡¯s blind spot. Its inky fangs curling as if prepared to strike. ¡°Hey Tan-Tan. Wanna hang?¡± Tan¨ª almost jumped at the sudden explosion of noise. Jaster. The shadows peeled away from his jolly face. Toem. ¡°Right now?¡± Tan¨ª asked, anger bleeding into his tone. ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s Fifthsday, so I thought we¡¯d do something a little different.¡± Jaster grinned mischievously. ¡°I¡¯m kinda tired¡­ Can we do something tomorrow?¡± ¡°Nope. Gotta do it now!¡± Tan¨ª cocked a brow. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Cuz I know where ?zar is.¡± Chapter 24 ~ Lost and Found Lavisa sighed. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious.¡± Jaster lifted a tile from the floor, revealing a hole deep enough to fit a fully grown man. ¡°Deathly.¡± ¡°You realize what will happen if you go through with this, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, but that¡¯s only if someone finds out.¡± Jaster turned to Tan¨ª and gestured to the hollow. ¡°Now then¡­ Age before beauty.¡± A delightful giggle resonated from Lavisa. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± The Nimmian frowned. ¡°Oh, nothing. I was simply unaware you qualified as either.¡± The boy¡¯s face reddened. As clever as that was, Tan¨ª hadn¡¯t expected Lavisa to jump to his defense. Not that he was complaining. Without a second thought, Tan¨ª hopped down the hole. Instead of finding a filthy dwelling, he found an endless network of metallic wires encased in thick glass. Lights raced from one end of the tunnel to the next, coiling in a twisting, telltale pulse of timeless energy. He traced the streaming luminosities. First once, then thrice until he finally caught it: the beating of a heart. And its depth? Its echo. He could sense it within the very of his being. Ancient. True. It endowed him with memories of another life. When the wastelands of northern D¨¦qom had hosted a bountiful expanse of lush fields greener than the coast. Until that infinite darkness had sundered the sky one fateful day, leaving them with gold-veined reminders of what could never be. How ironic then, that his very existence be inextricably linked to that which had sought his destruction. When the tunnel pulsed once more, he found Her shielding him from the blast. Not because he was important or some vital key, but because he was all she could reach. Because he just happened to be in the right place at the wrong time. ¡°Tan?o?¡± Tan¨ª blinked. Lavisa was frowning at him. How long had she been standing there? ¡°Oh, sorry. Spaced off a little,¡± Tan¨ª admitted. ¡°Can you space off somewhere else? I don¡¯t like cramped spaces,¡± came Jaster¡¯s voice from behind. ¡°We can always go back.¡± ¡°And what? Sit around doing nothing all day? You¡¯ve no sense of adventure?¡± Lavisa raised a finger. ¡°I believe his is a rightful fear of school regulations, Sir Fernbank." The Nimmian scoffed. ¡°Regulations. Would we have gotten anywhere as a society if we never broke them?¡± ¡°Normally, I¡¯d agree, but because of the labyrinth¡¯s unpredictable nature, these rules have a place for good reason.¡± ¡°Easy¡­ You¡¯re acting like breaking them will hurt us.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right! They¡¯ll just kill us instead,¡± Lavisa stated dryly. Jaster tapped his head. ¡°Not if you know your way around.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a first-year. You¡¯ve yet to be introduced to the antechamber.¡± ¡°My father always said learning experiences are better than studied ones.¡± Lavisa sucked in a sharp breath. Perhaps she realized that speaking to a brick wall would get her nowhere. Tan¨ª was just glad they stopped. It got a little stale listening to the same back and forth, especially since the clash found its roots on the second floor. Now that they were in the catacombs they called a basement, Tan¨ª could see why the academy didn¡¯t want them poking around. These parts felt haunted. Not in the ghostly sense, but there was something else here: A presence. Heat. Thump thump came the ephemeral heart. Its lingering pulse delayed a fraction of a second until it whirred. A whining, sizzling hiss that scraped against his skull until something leaked through: A drawl. The half-forgotten wishes of a breathless voice urging him to reclaim it. What ¡°it¡± was, he didn¡¯t know. The idea embedded itself in a distant corner of his mind, growing quieter until its demands turned into an incomprehensible murmur. Even then, the warm floor held his attention. And¡­there. Yes, right there. Somewhere down but north. Or whatever way ¡°up¡± was here. That speck¡­ A light more bestial than a roaring flame. It made his blood boil. For hers was a powerful, crimson token. Easily worn, though not easily wielded. Lies. Fire. ¡°Do you guys feel that?¡± Tan¨ª whispered though he couldn¡¯t feel his lips moving. ¡°Feel what?¡± whispered Jaster in return, his footsteps echoing with a hollow thud. Lavisa¡¯s eyes darted around the place, and once she couldn¡¯t locate the source, turned to Tan¨ª curiously. ¡°What¡¯re you referring to, Tan?o?¡± The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Tan¨ª¡¯s gaze drifted to the singular point, and in a voice that didn¡¯t belong to him, murmured, ¡°The city I left for her; for us.¡± Once they reached the end of their path, Jaster planted his boot on a small protrusion jutting from the wall and pushed up. Dim light washed over them, but instead of seeing stone-gray walls, they found only the low glow of the sun. Tan¨ª climbed out of the tunnel, his fingers brushing against a dust-caked floor. The antechamber. It was enormous. Tools, stands, tents, and supply depots littered the sun-hewn landscape, but the single detail that caught Tan¨ª¡¯s interest was the Gothic architecture. A gloomy, ribbed vault wound across the ceiling, creating a sharp juxtaposition to the roughly carved floor. Elaborate arches supported their mighty weight, their frames blessed with the ascending hue of nightfall, and though they appeared aged, their detail was no less immaculate. Ominous figures sat perched upon these intricate arches. Beings with eyes redder than blood. Twilight-speckled shrouds cloaked their bodies, rendering a pseudo nightscape scattered with yellow, blue, red, and green spheres. They appeared neither man nor bestial. A hybrid yet neither, and upon their heads was a most curious mark: A hung trident grasping two lights. Tan¨ª scanned the chamber, though no matter where he looked, they were there. An endless army of cloaked watchers. ¡°Creepy¡­¡± Jaster muttered as he drew closer to Tan¨ª. ¡°Right? They look real. A bit too real..." Were they things like Tygenna? Other Agents whose names escaped him even now. He wasn¡¯t a loremaster. Truth be told, he knew very little about ancient traditions and histories, but if there was one tale that had stuck with him, it was from a traveling merchant he and Danza had helped escort to Histell. It dealt with a Cycle. Or rather, a group of ancient guardians that would descend from the Desolator¡¯s twinkling hide every few thousand years. No one knew why, but some claimed it was to inspect them. They had a penchant for imparting gifts to the populace. What they were was lost to time, but maybe, just maybe, the things they had left were still around. Just under a different name. ¡°¡­So only the first floor?¡± Jaster¡¯s voice broke through Tan¨ª¡¯s wall of thoughts. ¡°Yes. Though the first three have been sufficiently excavated, the initial floor remains the only level first- and second-years are permitted to enter,¡± Lavisa explained. ¡°So they got rid of all the fun stuff?¡± ¡°It¡¯s educational, Sir Fernbank. It¡¯s not supposed to be fun. As it stands, the field trip¡¯s primary aim is to introduce aspiring Juneac?o to unfamiliar environments.¡± Jaster inclined his head. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°In hopes of adapting, of course. A Juneac?o is bound to encounter scenarios both foreign and familiar to them. While our time in the academy teaches us to familiarize ourselves with the ins and outs of our pre-established order, the labyrinth¡¯s duty is to remind us of the chaos that is unpredictability.¡± ¡°Weird. Dragonfang¡¯s pretty obsessed with the place, but not because of what you said. They just really like shiny things, and what other place has shinier stuff than the labyrinth?¡± Lavisa grinned. ¡°Perhaps a Dragon¡¯s greed can be redeeming.¡± ¡°You make it sound like we only care about gold,¡± Jaster said. ¡°Perhaps, perhaps not, though if it wasn¡¯t for you or your ilk, Corat?o wouldn¡¯t possess its current advancements.¡± Tan¨ª glanced at his sheath. He had seen items akin to Brands before in Monasteries. They didn¡¯t appear in the shape of a dagger, nor did they dispel doors, but they did unseal barriers. Cans were another item that came to mind, not to mention the odd, silvery constructs that zipped around the floor cleaning the place. For whatever reason, they always ran whenever he neared. Maybe they were afraid that he would accidentally step on them and dent their perfectly round frame. That or accost them for not cleaning the spill right. Upperclassmen had a bad habit of doing that. ¡°Ilk? Now you¡¯re making it sound like we can¡¯t do nice things,¡± Jaster prodded playfully. ¡°A hero is rarely so noble, Sir Fernbank,¡± Lavisa stated. ¡°Don¡¯t people do nice things for each other all the time?¡± ¡°You aren¡¯t most people, Sir Fernbank.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t help.¡± Lavisa folded her arms, eyes drawn in wry amusement. ¡°Permit me to ask, but what do you hope to gain from this?¡± ¡°Your highness! I am shocked and appalled that you think I¡¯d want something out of the flustered Fad¨¦nix treasurer. All I want is to unite those uncomfortably close siblings.¡± ¡°Alright then, what¡¯s their last name?¡± Jaster blinked, the question seemingly taking him for a loop. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­what?¡± ¡°Their last names.¡± She waved. ¡°If you¡¯re so committed to their plight, you should know them by now.¡± Jaster laughed. ¡°Oh, yeah! Of course! It¡¯s uh¡­think it starts with a d. D¡¯Histe¡­dena¡­Stad¨¦?¡± ¡°Theirs isn¡¯t toponymic.¡± ¡°Pfft, I knew that. I was just testing you." Tan¨ª shot the Nimmian a disapproving look. ¡°Please don¡¯t try robbing my House again, Jaster.¡± ¡°Again?¡± Lavisa asked. ¡°When was the first time?¡± ¡°Details, details¡ªwhat good have they ever done us?¡± Jaster said nonchalantly. When neither pressed, he started down the jagged entrance. ¡°C¡¯mon, ?zar¡¯s not gonna find himself.¡± Tan¨ª paused as a sudden thought came to him. The third-year, despite all his flaws, was a patient, observant, and rather conflict-avoidant guy. Someone like him never wound up lost. No, they prepped for days, maybe even weeks before ever jumping into action. Not because they lacked the strength, but because they wanted to guarantee success. Glory worth bragging about. And he¡¯d left without telling them anything. Why? When he wasn¡¯t speaking to council members, he was with Canela, which was almost all the time. If anyone knew where he was, it was her. For him to go an entire week without them noticing¡­ That didn¡¯t bode well. Before any of them could step foot into the labyrinth, Tan¨ª yelled, ¡°Wait! Shouldn¡¯t we bring a weapon or something? Beasts can be lurking, right? Wouldn¡¯t it be smart to have something that could¡­y¡¯know, stab them?¡± Jaster waved. ¡°Nah, we¡¯ll be fine. A Dragonfang diver told me ?zar was somewhere on the second floor. It¡¯s mostly safe there.¡± ¡°Mostly?¡± ¡°C¡¯mon, you know better than to give me that look. We¡¯ll be fine. I haven¡¯t lied to you yet, have I?¡± Realizing he wouldn¡¯t get anywhere by arguing, Tan¨ª joined Jaster. A part of him was curious about what the labyrinth had in store. It was the hot topic most first-years buzzed about. Mainly because no one told them anything about it. The other years wanted to ¡°keep it a surprise.¡± Tan¨ª stepped through the threshold and winced as an otherworldly light washed over the land. He shielded his eyes from the faux blue glow plastered upon the pocketed ceiling, but the moment his vision recovered, he gasped. If the antechamber was relative to the cafeteria, then the labyrinth¡¯s first floor was akin to a small city. It was titanic. A subterranean ruin that clawed at the shadowy corners of the infinite cavern. A steep set of stairs descended into the city, though beside it sat several platforms sitting on a slide. They appeared large enough to fit large groups of students. Tan¨ª struggled to make out the finer details of the labyrinth, but he could tell that it was old and unnatural. It didn¡¯t possess the tented structure of sky castle architecture; the shape was too¡­elongated. Almost stringy. Like someone had stretched the nearly glowing orange buildings to their winding limits. Eyes refusing to lift from the scene, Tan¨ª asked, ¡°Lavisa, does this place have a name?¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad you asked. You see, the labyrinth¡¯s true name is The Lair of the Firestorm Drake. Named in honor of your House¡¯s founder, Fadina Fad¨¦nix,¡± Lavisa answered. ¡°Who gave it that name?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? It was D¡¯Arcy Dragonfang. Her greatest friend.¡± Chapter 25 ~ Lair of the Firestorm Drake The heavenly blue light dimmed as they zipped towards the abyss, their swift descent accompanied not by the whistling wind, but by the steady droning of a mechanism that kept their lift afloat. It granted them the comfort of a steady step, but to Lavisa, it was a reassurance that the darkness below wouldn¡¯t devour them. Not like that hateful mass of scales too dark to light the Solanarium. She immediately extinguished that line of thought. Nightmares would prove a fatal bane down here. The rumination was in dire need of correction. So, she turned her undivided attention to the dwelling. The locale¡¯s peculiar sun-colored architecture looped skywards, scaling the unsurmountable that even now bent towards the faux moonlight. Ripples of heat radiated from the vast presence, painting translucent waves that crashed against the liminal boundaries of its enclosed sky box. She peered at the scenery, uncovering not ocean, but a cascading tide of shifting thoughts, faces, and acts. Their every echo a fragment lost to time. She caught wisps of a vow. One she¡¯d heard the other year during her first exploratory dive; one which chased her into the dark of her dreams. Then an echo. The Thoughtless One. That which he adored. The one he believed to be the sole redeeming quality of his life. Her detachment, embodied in that festering, velvet-laced tone of hers, reminded Lavisa that obsession superseded boundaries. Love. Promises¡­ Theirs would be secondary to what the heart desired. And hers had always belonged to discovery. To the pursuit of a greater truth, and she had exposed it. Lavisa¡¯s brow furrowed. Exposed. One could not expose a greater truth that had never existed. Her fervent chase had misguided her into recreating said artificiality. Just as their Creators had eons ago. And it had left them with this. Or so Lavisa interpreted her will as such. It was all so blurry in her mind. Years of dreaming her dreams had led to lukewarm inference at best. As for what she deduced, she could not say with absolute certainty. That man and woman, however, were at the center of it all. The one that could not care for any except her, and the one that could not care because she never had a reason to. Because no one could capture her fancy. He¡ªthat man who could only ever smile once imprisoned in that Prism greater than the moon¡ªcame to her attention when she no longer had a goal to pursue. When her life''s work had inadvertently doomed them all. And she only loved him because he would not shun her. Could that ever be justified as true love? Could trapping them in a shell within a shell, detached yet reiterating ceaselessly be described as a mercy? As true immortality? She wondered... Lavisa banished the thought from her mind. No, a nightmare was only that: a nightmare. Pondering the matter wouldn¡¯t do her any favors. They were figments of her imagination. If what Fractism claimed was true, then perhaps they were long-forgotten Wishes of their previous Iterations. Longing for a restoration of the old ways. Her hands drifted to the cool railing, his timeless, phantom breath gracing the silence. It was soft, tired. He barely ever slept. Maybe that blacker-than-night shade was to blame. The only thing capable of conjuring his ire. And his only friend, despite its calculated madness. Lavisa squeezed the railing. No. She needed to focus. That way, she could do away with the needless distractions. A?el knew best. That¡¯s why he endeavored to distract her with small work. Tan?o¡¯s and Jaster¡¯s bubbling voices transformed the otherwise boring descent into an entertaining affair. They discussed recent projects, food, and, strangely enough, the roof again. Why did they always mention the bloody roof? The exchange, as she expected, terminated at the location of interest. Though the school dubbed it the labyrinth, the place didn¡¯t truly resemble a maze. A twisting city that rose and fell at odd intervals, yes, but not a maze. From here, she spotted the semi-transparent glass dusted with chalk. Sheerstone. The same material used in the creation of Juneac?o phials and jugs of milk. Just thinking about the enriched milk left her parched. The mineral wasn''t native to the subterranean depths, but large deposits tended to be found near or in Ses?o Tomb Cities. A?el once claimed it the doing of late Juneac?o. That their "residual Presence" wasn''t efficiently cycled into their next Iteration much like the common rabble. His reasoning? A Juneac?o''s very being was partially distilled with the thrumming pulse of Sedd. Their mother''s gift. This gift had the unintentional consequence of quartering. A permanent reduction of the totality of their person, or something equally as ludicrous. It didn''t happen in every life, as she had initially panicked at the ripe age of nine (enough to get him in trouble after she started wailing after her mind equated being 25% less of a person as dead). His esoteric insight on the matter succinctly detailed his answer as thus: When people made pacts with Tygenna, they were binding. Not because she wished to arrest them to their oaths, but because the power she invoked to bless them was so far beyond her ability that it took most of her will just to stitch them back together. And she had to do this to everyone. It was an act of sacrifice; of love. Growing up, it had served as the perfect answer for why so few people were blessed with Sedd. Because she was afraid of hurting them. That something so powerful, just one step short of God, still had her limits. Lavisa¡¯s hand drifted to her left hip. Yes, there it was. Her Blood-Loader. The first floor posed no real threat but beyond that? One couldn¡¯t be too cautious. Though she would¡¯ve preferred the reassuring presence of her Towerblade, she also realized that lugging a weapon nearly twice her size through the halls wasn¡¯t the wisest idea. Especially in broad daylight on a Fifthsday. Despite her influence, she couldn¡¯t prevent her teachers from reporting back to her father. Best to play it safe. ¡°Sir Fernbank,¡± Lavisa began, her tone cool and controlled, ¡°did your informant tell you of ?zar¡¯s exact whereabouts?¡± The Nimmian shrugged. ¡°Just said he was around the second floor.¡± ¡°And you didn¡¯t bother asking for details?¡± ¡°I tried, but the guy wanted SG in exchange. I¡¯m not Tan-Tan.¡± Tan?o made a face. Lavisa cocked a brow. ¡°How much were they changing?¡± ¡°Around two-hundred SG.¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°Dragons know things.¡± Jaster leaned against the railing. ¡°Buncha treasure-hoarding lizards, though. Not easy extracting information with a pretty smile. Even one as good as yours.¡± Lavisa stared. Why would a Housemate charge him for simple information? Didn¡¯t they have honor? Juneac?o¡¯s aided one another, not extorted! Though her knowledge regarding the other Houses was slim, Vlasalisk operated under a code of honor. Distorted as they were to accommodate a school environment, they inspired awe and loyalty. What more could a Juneac?o ask for? The platform came to a steady stop as they terminated at the labyrinth¡¯s base. Tan?o hopped out, his eyes on the winding structures shielding them from the faux moonlight. From the top of the staircase, they appeared no bigger than her pinky finger, but now? They dwarfed the watchtowers strewn across Corat?o¡¯s sweeping countryside. Lavisa listened to the hum of the dim structures. The buzz of glittering, living fragments littered the floor, and those statues! Silvery rent icons that depicted a bird in flight. Unlike the ones in the academy, these were simple, everyday figures. Not an instantaneous method of transport. If they owed the labyrinth¡¯s creation to the Ses?o, as the academy often claimed, were these statues directly inspired by those of the sky castles, or was their creation purely coincidental? Just a statue that bore an uncanny resemblance to that of their transmitters. Tan?o and Jaster kept forward, twisting and turning to catch a better glimpse of a deformed building that arched overhead like some sort of bridge. Lavisa thought them cute as they ¡°oohed¡± and ¡°awed¡± at the architecture¡¯s foreign splendor. Most first-years spent a portion of their first three months learning about the labyrinth before ever receiving a chance to explore it. The trip itself wasn¡¯t the most exciting thing in the world, though being somewhere new was exciting in its own right. One could find anything down here. Treasure, secrets, danger. Perhaps even all three. She only wondered just how many of these secrets the founders had left behind. When the first-years refused to take another step, Lavisa stepped forward. Guiding them as best she could. The winding path to the second floor, however, annoyed her. As great of a deterrent as it was, they could¡¯ve at least made it more convenient for divers. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. ¡°Lavisa,¡± Tan?o whispered, ¡°you know where to go, right?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve no need to fear, Tan?o. I¡¯m more than familiar with the labyrinth.¡± ¡°Oh, right. I forgot you¡¯ve probably already been here before¡­¡± They passed several excavated zones decorated with markers, candles, and man-made tools. Piles of dim, sun-hewn rubble wobbled atop the tables. Attracted, yet incapable of forming a cohesive whole as its siblings did. Despite the two-hundred-year-old discovery, scholars had yet to attach a logical explanation behind its animation. Perhaps it had none; perhaps it bore no presence. As old and dusty as the site was, there was a certain charm when excavation was active. Lavisa only hoped that they didn¡¯t pass any divers. If she were anyone else, then she wouldn¡¯t have minded sneaking down, but her? The princess of Corat?o? That was bound to attract unwanted attention. They¡¯d notice. If not for her eyes, then certainly her hair. There weren¡¯t many Anglers in the school. Perhaps I should¡¯ve worn a shawl. Something brushed against Lavisa¡¯s hand, and when she looked, she found Tan?o pressed against her. His curious orange-green eyes fixed on a distant set of ruins. Looking at him now, she could tell that he was small for his age, but those scarred hands? A sign of experience. The tested facade of Juneac?o. Then again, slamming one¡¯s head against a wall was sign enough. Lavisa¡¯s first instinct was to demand he remove himself from her side, but she couldn¡¯t work up the courage. Something told her it wasn¡¯t right. Perhaps it was because of his injury, or perhaps she was afraid of dispelling this wondrous moment from his mind. Whatever the case, she allowed him to remain. ¡°Hey, Lavisa. Did people used to live here?¡± Tan?o asked. She glanced at the faux moon. ¡°Though several signs point to human habitation, remains have yet to be found.¡± ¡°Remains? As in¡­¡± ¡°Yes. Human remains.¡± Tan?o turned to her, realized how close they were, and then took a giant step sideways. His eyes aimed elsewhere. ¡°T-That¡¯s good, right? Means no one died here when the castle crashed.¡± ¡°Perhaps, but one can argue that the residents of the city had made their escape into the subterranean levels,¡± Lavisa explained, fighting back an amused giggle. ¡°Have any bodies been found there, or¡­¡± ¡°No. This site is more than likely a Ses?o tomb city given its architecture. If there were corpses, then the crash landing would¡¯ve destroyed the burial mound long ago.¡± ¡°Tomb city? Never been to one before, but aren¡¯t they¡­well, smaller? More spirally And less deep? Heard they go down, but from the way you put it, it sounds like there¡¯s more than three floors.¡± Lavisa explained that the total number of levels had yet to be uncovered. The first ten floors, though charted, boasted only fragmented illustrations of its layout. Beyond those, no one knew. The beasts didn¡¯t make it easy for divers to map it out. Spawns of the Desolator, as the legends claimed. Tan?o turned to Jaster and discussed what he learned. The Nimmian fed him what he knew of the labyrinth, which wasn¡¯t much to begin with. A place as old as this¡ªor perhaps it would be more specific to say tomb cities in general¡ªclaimed only one destiny: To be forgotten. Magnificent as they were. Had the Ses?o wanted it that way? She knew they constructed these monuments to gain favor from their chief god, but why did they leave them empty? Yes, their greatest warriors received the honor of entombment atop their chasm-of-a-city, but why wage a continent-spanning invasion for a hole? They enjoyed dumping their deceased in that long, lost sea towards the west. A realm that even the mire lurkers of legend feared to tread. This was, as A?el loved to lilt, an artificial afterlife. After a small lull in their exchange, Tan?o turned to Lavisa with a hesitant smile. ¡°Hey, mind if I ask something?¡± Lavisa dipped her head. ¡°You may.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t mind going this far, right?¡± ¡°I feel as if it¡¯s a bit late for you to ask that.¡± ¡°But¡­why?¡± Lavisa glanced at his forehead, then returned her attention to the road. When she spoke, she aimed for neutrality. ¡°I¡¯m curious, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°About ?zar? Didn¡¯t know you were acquainted,¡± Tan?o remarked ¡°Though I¡¯ve crossed blades with him before, I¡¯m ashamed to admit I¡¯ve yet to receive the honor of familiarizing myself with him. Not that his sister would allow it.¡± ¡°Sticking your goose out for a guy you don''t even know? I get that you¡¯re curious, but I don¡¯t feel like that¡¯s a good enough reason. Not any better than Jaster, anyway.¡± ¡°I need no reason to aid a fellow Juneac?o, Tan?o. I¡¯d do my best to remember that if I were you.¡± Tan?o blinked. For a brief, hair-raising moment, Lavisa wondered if she had overstepped her boundaries, but what she received wasn¡¯t a glare. It was a small, relieved grin. ¡°Do you know anything else about him?¡± inquired Tan?o. ¡°You¡¯re a member of his House, are you not? You should know more than I,¡± Lavisa reminded him. ¡°Yeah, but you¡¯ve been here longer. You must¡¯ve seen things.¡± Lavisa rolled her head to the side. She recalled his fresh, second-year eyes. Not those of the sleep-deprived third-year. The way he''d eagerly accept any challenge issued to him, how he often pushed his clingy sister away, and how he brandished that victorious smirk with supreme ease. Though his scholarly intelligence left much to be desired, he was an uncontested powerhouse in dueling. It¡¯s what made Canela¡¯s pleas for affection all the more¡­well, sad. She wanted to be with him¡ªtalk to him¡ªbut all he did was act like she didn¡¯t exist. Treating her like she was a burden at the best of times. Then again, the treasurer was¡ªin Lavisa¡¯s opinion¡ªan odd bird that preferred the taste of her own blood. Bitter-sweet as it may be. ¡°He¡¯s¡­a man of odd tastes. Perhaps said tastes influenced by a voice not his own.¡± Lavisa paused, gathering her bearings. ¡°Though legal given their partial relation and status as Juneac?o, it is nonetheless¡­disconcerting.¡± She shook her head. ¡°I pray her fascination with him is nothing more than a phase.¡± Tan?o grimaced. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about Canela, please.¡± ¡°Believe it or not, there was a time when ?zar wasn¡¯t so timid. Think Innes, though significantly more tolerable. If tolerable is you preferring to be harassed with a plank of wood rather than an iron rod.¡± ¡°Really? He doesn¡¯t really strike me as the type of guy.¡± ¡°The ?zar you know is naught but a shadow of his former self, Tan?o,¡± Lavisa stated. ¡°Try as we might to remain unaltered, we aren¡¯t meant to endure. ?zar¡¯s demeanor is a result of his failure. Nothing more, nothing less.¡± Tan?o frowned. ¡°That¡¯s pretty heartless, La.¡± ¡°I¡ª" Lavisa blinked. ¡°What did you call me?¡± ¡°Oh, uh¡­sorry. That sorta slipped. Continue, please.¡± ¡°Very well. ?zar¡ªfor all his timidity¡ªwas once an unabashed, conceited top student. A position held by no more than nine people at a time. How one achieves this position varies. Most, however, earn it through a combination of physical, Sedd, and academic excellence. ?zar acquired the honor with his unparalleled application of Sedd, and so received the rare opportunity to do what most his age only dream of: Undergo the trials of champions.¡± ¡°Wait, really? A Fadenician?" The words tumbled from Tan?o''s lips in disbelief. Then, after a needed pause to digest the information, he asked for clarification. "I¡¯m...assuming that¡¯s the test House champions go through to qualify for the position?¡± ¡°Correct. Champions primarily consist of fourth- to fifth-year students. Their experience and grown bodies are to thank.¡± Lavisa brushed a stray strand back into place, then continued. ¡°Rarely do third-years show the potential to surpass their older contemporaries, though it isn¡¯t unheard of. Only rare. ?zar, however, was the only second-year to have shown this potential. But then¡­¡± Tan?o leaned in and whispered, ¡°Then what?¡± ¡°¡­No. It is not my place to share.¡± ¡°What! You can¡¯t just say that after leading me on! That¡¯s just cruel, La.¡± Lavisa sighed. She had been hoping he¡¯d heard snippets of ?zar¡¯s tale from his Housemates, but that didn¡¯t seem to be the case. Uncertain of how else to avoid it, Lavisa relented. ¡°There was¡­an incident during the last trial. The great hunt.¡± She folded her arms, hoping it would dispel her initial discomfort. It didn¡¯t. ¡°Candidates are sent to the depths of the sixth level. What are they to do, you ask? Simple: They¡¯re to slay a beast and return with a trophy. ?zar claimed his trophy not long after, but instead of being met with a congratulatory cry, he heard a scream. It was his sister. She had¡ªunbeknownst to the judges¡ªslipped into the labyrinth. All so that she could guarantee his safety. Or so she claims.¡± ¡°And then?¡± Tan?o pressed. ¡°?zar located Canela before the beasts fell upon her. It¡¯s thanks to his swift action that she remains in our waking realm.¡± Lavisa lowered her head, her voice falling to a dark whisper. ¡°But her cry¡­it only attracted more beasts. Were it not for the judges, they would¡¯ve perished. Even then¡­¡± She grunted. ¡°The wounds ?zar suffered in her defense had nearly taken the use of his legs.¡± ¡°So he passed, right? He got the trophy, protected his sister, fought off monsters, and made it back alive. Yeah, he almost his legs, but who doesn¡¯t? Shouldn¡¯t he be House champion?¡± Tan?o asked. ¡°No. ?zar lost the right the moment his sister set foot on the premises. Although he wasn¡¯t aware of it, Canela¡¯s statement had given them the impression that she had manipulated the odds in his favor. It not only resulted in his immediate failure but also a House-wide ban that prevented ?zar from ever taking the trial again. Even if he were to switch to Dragonfang or Vlasalisk.¡± Tan?o¡¯s eyes fell. He looked¡­ Defeated. Or perhaps dejected? Whatever it was, she didn¡¯t like that look. Not one bit, but there wasn¡¯t anything she could do to change that. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you could be banned from doing a test. Even among the Houses,¡± Tan?o murmured to himself. ¡°Rules exist for a reason,¡± Lavisa said. ¡°Don¡¯t ever forget that. No quarter must be given should they be violated. ?zar, despite his talent, has proven untrustworthy. Thus, losing the ability to claim the title. He deserves naught but the ire he¡¯s engendered for his crimes.¡± ¡°But¡­he just lost. That doesn¡¯t mean they should shun him like a paranoid sailor.¡± ¡°He cheated. That is all they must know, and that is all they need to hate him.¡± Tan?o straightened, fists balled at his sides. ¡°But it wasn¡¯t even his fault. How can you just say that like it¡¯s nothing? And what about Fad¨¦nix, huh? Are you going to say they accept him because he¡¯s bad luck too? That the only reason they don¡¯t mind him is because they¡¯re just like him?" ¡°He is their burden to shoulder, Tan?o,¡± Lavisa answered, meeting his eyes with even steel. ¡°Not Vlasalisk¡¯s nor Dragonfang¡¯s. He is Fad¨¦nix¡¯s shame, and so he shall burden them, and only them.¡± Tan?o¡¯s eyes flashed with outrage. ¡°Don¡¯t call him that! You can¡¯t just call someone a burden. It wasn¡¯t even his fault. I know it wasn¡¯t. He isn¡¯t the type of person to cheat. No matter what anyone else says, and you should know that if he''s half as talented as you say he is." ¡°It matters not what sort of individual he strikes you as, Tan?o. What¡¯s done is done. He¡¯s paid for his crime, and so he must live with that.¡± Lavisa held his gaze, and though she knew he would be the first to break, averted hers. Her voice dropped suit. ¡°He would¡¯ve made for a fine champion, you know? Perhaps the greatest of our generation. I do not doubt that. Not for one moment." ¡°...Then why do you sound like you don¡¯t even care?¡± ¡°Because he must live with that, and so must you.¡± Tan?o gaped at her. She didn¡¯t pay it any mind, though. He¡¯d get over it. Working herself up for an old ban would do nothing. If this was fate, then so be it. They could only work with what they had. And that cheater had nothing. After Tan?o had ample time to recover, he managed a stuttering response. ¡°M-My House¡­ Fad¨¦nix. No one ever talks about¡ª I mean, they don¡¯t ever bring it up. Why?¡± Lavisa wasted no effort thinking up a response. It simply came to her. ¡°Shame is a foul replacement for normalcy. It¡¯s best to be buried while fresh.¡± Chapter 26 ~ Dragons Poison Tan¨ª kept ahead of Lavisa as they traversed the infinite depths of the second floor. The place bore a striking resemblance to the first, the tired orange glow shifting ever so slightly. If he neared a building, it burned red. If he distanced himself, it dimmed yellow, the gutturing illusion a too-tall flickering flame. Once¡ªafter Jaster¡¯s dogged persistence¡ªthey even entered one of the various buildings. Inside, blocks of hazy light plastered the walls. Portraits. The same in the school. Some depicted natural landscapes, others the twinkling scales, but it was the drake at the back of the room that demanded his attention. Its body aglow in the suffocating darkness that threatened to devour it. He¡¯s only ever heard tales of those fortunate enough to near the wraiths. It didn¡¯t ¡°run,¡± but it did bleed into the depths which it occupied. Because of their introverted nature, most paintings illustrated them from a distance, as that was the best glance an artist could steal for reference. Certain myths claimed they were the spawn of the Desolator, though they didn¡¯t wreak havoc as a dragon would. No, they only ever observed; their listless gazes burning through the thicket of nature¡¯s wonder. The D¨¦qoish believed them to be realm wanderers. Things that lived anywhere and everywhere in Vale?o. Danza loved to allude that they followed the will of a "greater mind." Tan¨ª had no such luck encountering their kind in the wild, however. He doubted they even existed, but an old D¨¦qoish was saying that prevented him from completely buying into said disbelief was, ¡°One can¡¯t ever be around without a drake stalking you.¡± A drake watching without his knowledge¡­ Just thinking about it left him shivering. He had this creeping, burning feeling on his neck whenever someone stared at him, but he was a Grazer. They could¡¯ve watched him every night, and he¡¯d be none the wiser. Tan¨ª, eventually, ripped his gaze away from the lifelike image. Relics crafted out of a chilling non-metal senselessly decorated the room, but aside from a set of silvery statues that bore an uncanny resemblance to the watchers in the antechamber, there wasn¡¯t much to be found. Just a hall that branched off into two empty rooms and a flight of stairs. If this truly was a tomb city, then why had the Ses?o gone through the trouble of preparing furniture they would never use? Wouldn¡¯t the space suffice? He knew Dhasderinn¡ªtheir chief god¡ªwas demanding, but all of this? It seemed excessive. Upon exiting the building, a resounding rumble graced the air. The door slammed shut behind Tan¨ª, its deafening crash adding to the heavenly cacophony. Just as quickly as it had come, it faded, replaced by a distant set of clicks and groans. Like an invisible cog winding through the air. Tan¨ª strained his ears to catch an echo of noise, but nothing ever came. Odd. They passed a mound of rubble decorating the center of the street, then turned, and turned, and turned some more as they explored every inch of the second floor. Unlike the first, they couldn¡¯t sweep through the place. How bloody exhausting. The streets never seemed to end. Only introducing another uninspired avenue strewn with mounds of shivering debris. Buildings grew, and others stretched toward the horizon. Their stringy shapes were undulated like a false flame. Stiff fingers seeking to cradle the light. A Wish beyond their ken. Wait¡­ ¡°Hey guys,¡± Tan¨ª said aloud. Lavisa stopped. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this kinda¡­samey?¡± ¡°Like any town would be,¡± Jaster said, completely disinterested. Even a little bored. ¡°Yeah, but like this?¡± Jaster turned to him, appearing somewhat confused. ¡°Once you¡¯ve seen one building, you¡¯ve seen them all.¡± Tan¨ª glanced at the mound of shivering rubble lying on the street. The collection sat skewed. Not scattered, but off-center. As if someone had brushed it aside. ¡°Then what about that? Why¡¯s that everywhere?¡± Tan¨ª pointed to the debris. Jaster arched a brow. ¡°Because it¡¯s a ruin?¡± Lavisa¡¯s lips remained a neutral line as she listened to their back and forth, but no matter what Tan¨ª argued, Jaster had a sound explanation prepared. Some buildings were in sadder shape than others. After a small lull in their exchange, Lavisa spoke. ¡°Tan?o?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Should we return you to the surface? All this stale air doesn¡¯t seem to be doing you any favors.¡± Tan¨ª shot her a flat stare. ¡°I¡¯m fine. C¡¯mon, you can¡¯t be serious and tell me this place isn¡¯t samey.¡± Lavisa gave her surroundings a sweeping scan, then shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s not.¡± ¡°Good blood¡­ How does anyone find treasure down here?¡± ¡°They don¡¯t. It¡¯s only during the routine field trip that the faculty hides treasures for the students to find.¡± ¡°Like a scavenger hunt,¡± Jaster added. Lavisa lifted a finger. ¡°Precisely. It helps engender exploration.¡± Tan¨ª sighed. ¡°Okay, fine. Whatever. Guess I¡¯m just imagining things.¡± They pressed forward, nearing yet another mound of rubble. Tan¨ª searched for ?zar, but no matter where he looked only buildings lay. Most started arching over the street like bridges, their slanted roofs meters from touching. How did the Ses?o build those? Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. The shorter structures waned to a needle-thin point, looping with the arches to reduce the area into a makeshift tunnel that only ever revealed the slim light of the faux moon. Jaster reached into his Blood-Loader and, retrieving a green stone from his pouch, cracked it upon his knee. Light flooded from the rent crystal, bathing the room in a comforting glow. Brightstone. Tan¨ª cried ?zar¡¯s name, his voice echoing down the tunnel like a ghastly breeze. Nothing. Again, he called, with Jaster joining him. And again, there was nothing. His eyes fell to the earth in defeat, but instead of releasing the pent-up sigh desperate for freedom in his lungs, he froze. The faux moon flashed and the ached tunnel unfurled into stringy towers. Tan¨ª spun around and broke into a sprint. Once he reached the end of the street, he peered down the innocuous path they had come from. What¡¯s happening? Tan¨ª sped down their original path, hoping to find a single street that would differentiate itself, but it was more of the same. Sometimes higher, sometimes lower, but that rubble. That bloody rubble. It kept moving. Even glancing away from it caused it to shift. ¡°Tan-Tan?¡± came a distant voice. Tan¨ª didn¡¯t dare look back. The place would just move again. As if it were trying to¡­ A chill ran up his spine. Were they trapped? If this was anything like a Fractist Maze, it wasn¡¯t supposed to keep them trapped. It was supposed to make them think. Tan¨ª started down the road, but instead of making a left or a right, he stopped at the center, then spun around. There she was. Lavisa¡¯s noble visage etched with concern, and though he wouldn''t have minded looking at her pretty face for a second longer, Jaster stepped in front of her. ¡°Tan-Tan, you there?¡± The Nimmian waved. Tan¨ª blinked, a wave of nausea crashing into him. ¡°Huh?¡± Jaster and Lavisa exchanged a concerned glance. When neither answered, Tan¨ª took a step back. A force snatched him from his spot, rendering him weightless as the faux moon accelerated into focus. Before he could utter a cry, the air escaped his lungs. His ears buzzed as the dull impact echoed in his skull, though worse than that was his inability to breathe. He gasped for air, but his lungs refused to obey. Tan¨ª wasn¡¯t dying, but falling flat on his back in front of the princess of Corat?o? God, what a failure. He wanted to die if it meant not sitting up and seeing her laughing at him. Before Tan¨ª knew it, someone lifted him from his spot. A pair of arms. One more slender than the other. ¡°You good?¡± the Nimmian asked with a whisper. Tan¨ª squeaked out something that sounded like a yes. Lavisa¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°We should rest. Traversing a single floor is a great enough task, but two? Let¡¯s not push ourselves.¡± ¡°I¡¯m¡ª¡± Tan¨ª finally breathed. ¡°Fine.¡± ¡°You need rest." ¡°No, I can¡ª¡± Lavisa sat him upon a crude construct at the edge of the street. It looked like a metal bench, but more slanted. She sat beside him, inspecting his arms and back for potential injuries. The Nimmian joined them a second later, his eyes aimed at the rubble Tan¨ª had tripped over. It was back at the center. ¡°Hey,¡± Tan¨ª called, ¡°why is everything¡­well, why is it all back?¡± The Nimmian flashed him an odd look. ¡°Back? What¡¯re you talking about?¡± ¡°Everything moved, but now it¡¯s all back.¡± Three gloved fingers hovered before Tan¨ª¡¯s face. Lavisa. ¡°Tan?o, how many fingers am I holding up?¡± Tan¨ª grimaced. ¡°I didn¡¯t hit my head.¡± ¡°You kinda did,¡± Jaster added, matter-of-factly. ¡°Okay, I hit my head a little, but not enough to give me a concussion.¡± Lavisa¡¯s gloved hand pressed closer to his face. ¡°Tan?o. How. Many. Fingers. Am. I. Holding. Up.¡± Exasperated, Tan¨ª brushed her hand aside. ¡°Good blood, you¡¯re holding three! There! Now, can you stop waving them around like bait and explain what¡¯s happening?¡± ¡°How do you mean?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been walking in circles for an hour. Don¡¯t you remember? All the buildings started connecting, but you said I was imagining it.¡± Lavisa gave a slight inclination of her head. ¡°I don¡¯t recall.¡± Tan¨ª stared. ¡°What? That¡¯s the only thing I¡¯ve been complaining about.¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t,¡± Jaster said. ¡°What¡­? Are you serious? Haven¡¯t you guys been paying att¡ª¡± ¡°Tan?o,¡± Lavisa calmly interjected, ¡°you¡¯ve yet to move.¡± ¡°¡­Excuse me?¡± ¡°After we left the building, we believed you to have wandered off, but when we returned¡­¡± Tan¨ª twisted around in his seat. There it was. The house Jaster had prodded them to investigate. The realization struck Tan¨ª like a gale-force wind. Their journey, the winding of his mind as the streets twisted but never truly bent¡­he¡¯d imagined it? ¡°S-Stop playing,¡± Tan¨ª stuttered, clinging to what remained of his anger. ¡°Just tell me the truth.¡± Lavisa¡¯s lips dipped. ¡°What reason would we have to lie, Tan?o?¡± ¡°You tell me! Everything moved, but you keep telling me it didn¡¯t. And what do you do? You keep treating me like I¡¯m a kid making things up!¡± Realization dawned on Lavisa¡¯s delicate features. ¡°You haven¡¯t Awakened, have you?¡± ¡°What? Of course, I have!¡± ¡°No, you haven¡¯t. If what you described is the truth¡ªyour perceived truth¡ªthen I know exactly what you¡¯re suffering from.¡± Tan¨ª raked at the fabric of his pants. She didn''t understand a thing. Didn''t see it his way. He was a Juneac?o. That¡¯s what Danza always told him no matter where they went or whatever the children said. If he didn''t believe, if he said anything that went against the carefully cultivated truth, then they¡¯d lose all respect for him. They¡¯d stop being his friends. That couldn¡¯t happen. No matter what, he wouldn''t let it happen. He didn¡¯t want to be alone again. He didn¡¯t want them to leave, too. ¡°I¡¯m a Juneac?o,¡± Tan¨ª hissed with all the conviction he possessed. ¡°Stop telling me I¡¯m not. I¡¯ve Awakened. I have. You don''t need to see it, but I have.¡± Lavisa held his gaze, her eyes narrowed. ¡°Allow me to explain, regardless. You see, Tan?o, what you might suffer from is the dragon¡¯s poison. An incantation of the Toem branch developed by D¡¯Arcy Dragonfang. Those unshielded against ill-will suffer from complete paralysis, as well as audio, visual, and temporal hallucinations.¡± Tan¨ª peered at her incredulously. ¡°Why is that a thing?¡± ¡°To prevent grave robbing. Only a Juneac?o with an Awakened brand can traverse the locale without suffering adverse effects. In short, it addles you. Leaving those without a brand paralyzed until some outside force jostles them free.¡± Tan¨ª winced. He couldn¡¯t even be down here without burdening them. Almost as if she could sense his thoughts, Lavisa stood. ¡°Come, we should return before it¡¯s late.¡± Jaster yawned. ¡°Got a feeling in my bones it¡¯s already past curfew.¡± ¡°Which is exactly why we must leave. Let us away.¡± Before they could start, a reality-shattering rumble anchored Tan¨ª to the Firmament. The brilliant hues that had once painted the realm were reduced to a monochromatic madness. It was closer than before; deeper. And it called to him. No. To the Iteration greater than him. Tan¨ª craned his neck back, an icy, shaky breath sealing his throat. There, beyond the faux moon¡¯s grasp, he glimpsed a writhing darkness blacker than all the nightmares in the world. And it trembled with a manic glee as if he were its sole, ever-promised treasure. The chill of Frostfall seeped into his veins, sprouting untold fables that flashed with searing agony. The warm Prism days. Their prison the device of a woman who had sought to delay the end. No, not delay. Overthrow it, and she had succeeded. An immense, bone-crushing mania poured from the eye. Hate, pain, anticipation, love, and nostalgia. Each unspoken word was more deafening than the dying screams of a star. And it yearned to be at his side again. If only to right the wrongs of the world. Not simply those that had maimed them, but all of creation. But it wasn¡¯t real. Tan¨ª knew it wasn¡¯t. And so, he broke forward. Clinging to the fragile notion that the darkness was a product of the Dragon¡¯s Poison. The streets blurred into a kaleidoscopic streak of sunset hues. He ignored the voice, ignored the prying darkness, and ran on instinct. Hoping something could remove him from His presence. And there, lying broken beneath the shade of a crumbling house, was ?zar¡¯s mangled body. The teetering wheeze of a soundless voice nipping at his shoulders. Chapter 27 ~ ?zar Lavisa raced through the street, blood pumping in her ears. She could still hear it, feel it. The disheartening distress that bled into his quivering voice. Was a beast to blame? It wasn¡¯t unheard of for a stray leader to slink past the barrier, and if it had¡­ Faster. Lavisa pushed each stride harder than the last, the waning, morning-colored monoliths around her blurring, and though she could barely sense the heat, she caught the distinctive coppery whiff of burning blood. She stirred her Well with a fury, tossing the once calm energy over her core''s edge. This much wouldn¡¯t be enough. She had to be faster. Tan?o turned to her, his eyes wide with panic. That look. She recognized that look. One wrought by the unholy glimpse of death standing at their doorstep. Lavisa wouldn¡¯t make it. A beast would sweep him into its clutches, and if the stories were true, he¡¯d¡­ She cast the idea from her mind, reached into her Blood-Loader, and produced a bubbling phial. Uncorking the container, she whipped it forward, splashing its molten contents across the cracked street. Bolts of faint energy drew her boots towards the shimmering surface, promising stability, but instead of welcoming its embrace, she dispelled its grip. Lavisa burst forward in an explosion of rippling energy, the world thinning as she lost purchase. Gravity coaxed her to the center, but she leaned away, rejecting its seductive grip. Good blood, the start was awkward, but she couldn¡¯t afford another second of stirring. Not now. A crescent stream of rippling blood veered towards Tan?o, drawing Lavisa along her predetermined course. There was still no haze in sight. Perfect. Lavisa twisted, held out an arm, and within the span of a second, felt something crash against her. She endured the bone-stabbing jolt of discomfort, hooking an arm around him as she promptly drew them to the side. The world roared in her ears as they spun. Lavisa felt for the floor, desperate to regain her balance, but there was nothing, only the hot air of the Firmament. Instead of crashing, she bounced. The floor repelled her like the firmest of mattresses. They knocked their heads against the street, and though it wasn¡¯t painful, the nauseating experience of crashing repeatedly with no control whatsoever left her vision swimming. Throat-burning bile washed against her throat, making her gag, yet she clung to him. Clung to him until the world stilled, and then some. ¡°Lavisa¡­¡± Tan?o wheezed. Lavisa tightened her hold. ¡°Y-Yes? What is it? Are you well? What did you see?¡± ¡°No¡­gonna¡­throw up¡­¡± Lavisa drew them into a sitting position, her Brand at her side. It wouldn¡¯t do any actual damage, but perhaps a well-placed strike on the head would disorientate their opponent. ¡°Where¡¯s the beast?¡± she whispered into his ear. ¡°B-Beast?¡± he rasped sickly. ¡°Yes. Where is it?¡± ¡°G-Good blood, can you stop? We need to help ?zar!¡± Lavisa released her grip. ¡°?zar?¡± Before she could press him for specifics, Tan?o scrambled to his feet and made a mad break for a house at the center of the ruined street. Lavisa staggered to her feet, nearly tipped over, and once the world settled, followed him. The house he aimed for appeared as any other did: High, concaving walls, a looping fence of thin, silvery wires, and a crumbling porch painted red. Lavisa¡¯s blood ran cold. She could see it: the faint outline of a still form hidden within the gloom. Their golden strands a brilliant tombstone not even the darkness could mask. The sound of something slick sliding against the floor jolted Lavisa from her reverie. A blur of motion crossed her sight, though it didn¡¯t stop gracefully. They came to an awkward jerk, tripping over themselves and bouncing several times down the street until they crashed into a nearby building. With all the grace of a blood druk wolf, Jaster plopped face-first onto the faux lawn, his groan muffled by the malleable surface. Tan?o spun around to face them, his expression a cross between frustration and confusion. ¡°Hurry!¡± The Nimmian grunted. ¡°Give me¡­a minute¡­¡± Lavisa watched as Tan?o rushed to the corpse¡¯s aid. There was nothing she, nor anyone else, could do. They were gone. Didn¡¯t he realize that? Nothing would bring that Fadenician back. Not crying, begging, or asking God to show them a sliver of mercy. This was a power beyond them. The light would fade from their eyes; their breaths coming in shorter gasps until they ceased altogether. Then they¡¯d sit in stunned, bitter silence. Wondering what more they could¡¯ve done to extend their agony, even if for a brutal second. Lavisa¡¯s breath shortened as Tan?o began shaking the body. When that didn¡¯t work, he tried speaking to it, reminding them of the family that dearly missed them. Sorrow never once brushed her heart. Oh no. In its stead settled a low, bothersome heat that nagged at her core. Shaking him¡­ Why? The dead deserved their rest. That¡¯s why her father had ordered her to stop shaking that cold, lifeless body that had brought so much sunshine it hurt. And this commoner violated that peace. Treating the cadaver as if it were a mere plaything that would respond just because he wanted it to; just because he thought he was deserving of it. What arrogance. What ignorance. He profaned their shell. Wasted his voice, and if he dared cry, bastardized the joy they¡¯d brought. All for what? Several seconds of grief? Despite the chest-tightening heat that threatened to consume her, Lavisa inched closer to the scene. Time thinned to a Cycle-spanning eternity. Her stiff legs drawn towards the absence in the Solanarium¡¯s glory. Jaster arrived long before she ever did. ¡°¡­isa¡­La¡­¡± Lavisa stared at the thing''s slack face. She found no pinch of discomfort, nor the furrowing of a distraught brow. Only serenity. A return to nothingness. ¡°¡­help. Don¡¯t know¡­¡± Lavisa refused to pry her gaze from the things mien. If her eyes drifted, then she''d remember. She didn¡¯t want that; she had to be strong. If not for herself, then for them. It¡¯s what A?el would¡¯ve wanted. ¡°Your highness!¡± Lavisa started. With nary a thought, she craned her neck to Tan?o, and though she was in full control, she wouldn''t cease trembling. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°We need to get him out. Jaster and I can¡¯t carry him all the way back by ourselves. We¡¯ll need to switch off,¡± Tan?o said, an edge of panic in his voice. ¡°I¡­no. We can¡¯t.¡± ¡°What? Why? Is there another way out? Maybe something faster than the lifts?¡± He¡¯s dead. Don¡¯t you understand? Dead. ¡°No,¡± came her hollow response. Tan?o¡¯s lips dipped. ¡°What? Y¡¯know what, forget it. Let¡¯s just carry him. You¡¯re stronger than us, so get his front. If you get tired, we can¡ª¡± If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°NO.¡± Tan?o recoiled at the volume of her voice. She wasn¡¯t whether he appeared more confused, distressed, or desperate, but he wore all three well. ¡°Wha¡ªWhat do you mean no? Lavisa, he¡¯s our classmate! He might not be a Vlasalisk, but that doesn¡¯t mean¡ª¡± ¡°I never asked for your opinion on the matter, Tan?o. Nor do I consent to the removal of a corpse on academy grounds. If we must, we will report this matter to the proper authority.¡± Tan?o¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Dead? He¡¯s not dead! He¡¯s not. If you looked at him for more than five seconds, you¡¯d see that too!¡± The singular flame in Lavisa¡¯s breast burst, suffocating all thoughts that wished to defy it. She set a cold, piercing gaze upon him, and summoning her father¡¯s memory, began, ¡°You dare defy your future sovereign, peasant? You, who has been graced with my presence, patience, and charity?¡± ¡°No, I nev¡ª¡± ¡°And now you not only plainly defy me, but choose to insult me? I, a direct descendant of King Bastino I. The true and rightful heir of our great nation.¡± ¡°What? No, no! I was just¡­I¡­¡± ¡°I could have you gaoled for this slight. Perhaps thrown into some musty cell deep within Histell¡¯s dungeons. Destined to wither away with your unmet aspirations.¡± Tan?o¡¯s brow knit into an expression of supreme grief. He sat in silent obedience, though even that did little to deter her fury. ¡°Hear me, and hear me well, D¡¯Histell. You serve the crown of Corat?o. Not the Juneac?o, not a lord, not even God. You serve me. Do you understand? ME. Your ideals, our codes, those are second to my will. And they shall remain as such, so kneel. Beg for my forgiveness, and I shall absolve you of this crime.¡± The boy from Histell tightened his grip on the corpse¡¯s uniform, squeezing the bloody uniform for all its worth. And the sight only infuriated her. ¡°That was not a suggestion, D¡¯Histell; that was an order. Kneel.¡± ¡°¡­How do you know he¡¯s dead?¡± Tan?o whispered. ¡°He¡¯s broken, Tan?o. Can¡¯t you see that? The number of gashes, the dried blood, even his empty Blood-Loader. What more evidence do you require?¡± Her anger diminished to a cold flicker, leaving her hollow. Still, she kept the front. ¡°Besides, this was inevitable. Juneac?o like ?zar aren¡¯t destined for a peaceful end.¡± ¡°You said¡­¡± Tan?o closed his eyes, his voice cracking. ¡°You said that he was different, right? That he was talented. The first kid in fifteen years to be that good. How¡ªHow can he just be dead?¡± Lavisa swallowed a hot lump in her throat. ¡°Talent doesn¡¯t equate to invulnerability. If that were so, then the greatest Juneac?o would remain with breath in their lungs. Skill¡­it only leads to a swifter demise. I only hope his was a quick one.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t¡­just don¡¯t say that.¡± ¡°If you must grieve, then do so on academy grounds. Not here. I¡¯d rather he receive all the honors of a proper burial, lest his Wish go unheard.¡± ¡°¡­We can carry him. Check to see if he¡¯s really gone. If we wait, then maybe it will be too late.¡± Jaster set a comforting hand on Tan?o¡¯s shoulders. ¡°It''ll be easier this way, Tan-Tan." Tan?o struck his thighs with a balled fist, the bruising strikes leaving his lips quivering. It was only after Jaster held his arm in place that he pried open his eyes. His gaze drawn to ?zar¡¯s unholy form. ¡°¡­What¡¯re we gonna tell Canela?¡± he asked with a strained whisper. Jaster released his arm. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°She has to know. We can¡¯t just wait for the teachers to tell her and act like it¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°I can offer her a grievance sum,¡± Lavisa suggested. Tan?o gaped at her in utter disbelief. ¡°NO. Don¡¯t just give people money when someone dies! That won¡¯t do anything.¡± ¡°It¡¯ll certainly give her extra funds.¡± Tan?o pushed himself to his feet and paced around the place. They would leave, but perhaps he needed a moment to cool off. Lavisa would grant him that much. The boy from Histell grumbled and swore to himself as he attempted to fabricate a solution. Not that Lavisa would allow it. ?zar was tall for his age, but unlike most students, possessed a filled-out physique. Broad shoulders, powerful forearms, and biceps that swelled with a taut strength. His abdomen was a rather...well, shameless topic she''s heard several of her housemates gossip about. With his uniform in tatters, she could see why. The revelation contrasted the typical image of the slouching third-year. She often forgot just how much time he spent hiding behind his sister. That, and his capes certainly worked wonders to mask his champion-like physique. No¡­these images didn¡¯t fit. Had they discovered someone else? A poor sod washed in blood. As Lavisa attempted to merge the identities of the two students, a low, shuddering gasp ripped through the air. Her eyes darted to ?zar¡¯s chest as it lurched with effort, his lungs raking in what oxygen they could. He was alive. Good blood, he was alive. Tan?o scrambled to his side in a flurry of motion, clasping the third-year¡¯s hand in his. ¡°?zar! Hey, can you hear me?¡± A second shallow breath followed, followed by a ragged cough. The third-year slowly cracked an eye open, never managing more than a thin vent. ¡°Tan¨ª? What¡¯re you doing here?¡± ?zar rasped. Tan?o forced out a glass chuckle. ¡°What am I doing? You disappeared for a week and you''re asking how I''m doing?¡± He laughed again. ¡°I suppose a little privacy is too much to ask for¡­¡± ¡°You spend every day in a garden. What more privacy do you need?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­flowers don¡¯t complain much, but sometimes, I don¡¯t want to be around anymore.¡± His lids fell, but before they could close, Tan?o squeezed his hand. ¡°C¡¯mon, get up. We need to get out of here.¡± ¡°I¡ª¡± ?zar coughed. ¡°I think not, Tan¨ª.¡± ¡°W-Why?¡± ¡°Because¡­it¡¯s nice and peaceful. No one to scold you, no one to remind you of this or that. It¡¯s just perfect. I want to be down here. Forever.¡± Lavisa¡¯s heart twinged. The low, trailing moan that followed his words, the exhaustion behind them¡­ He¡¯d pass, too. Regardless of what they did. ¡°But what about Fad¨¦nix? You can¡¯t just hole up here expecting they¡¯ll forget about you,¡± Tan?o reasoned. A tired smile touched ?zar¡¯s lips. ¡°Forget about me? That¡¯d be amazing.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­guess you wouldn¡¯t understand. That¡¯s fine. I don¡¯t blame you. Some people want to be remembered for all the good they do. Maybe even for being different or something more, but people like me?¡± ?zar sighed, closing his eyes. ¡°Nah, it doesn¡¯t matter. Complaining never does anything, anyways.¡± An uncomfortable silence elapsed until he spoke again. ¡°Hey, Tan¨ª.¡± Tan?o sat him up with a grunt. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°You ever feel like you¡¯ve nowhere left to go? That maybe you¡¯re sinking and it¡¯s too late to ask for help?¡± ¡°I dunno.¡± ¡°Yeah, neither do I. It¡¯s just easier drowning in the mud. It''s a little comfortable after a while.¡± Tan?o trembled as he lifted ?zar from his spot. He wasn¡¯t strong enough to carry him but helping him walk seemed like the next best thing. That is until ?zar uttered an unholy curse that would¡¯ve made the dead turn in their graves. If it wasn¡¯t for Jaster¡¯s swift intervention, the third-year would¡¯ve collapsed. His pinched face, however, revealed the muscle-straining effort it took to remain upright. ¡°Tan¨ª,¡± ?zar wheezed. ¡°I¡¯m not going to leave you,¡± Tan?o gasped. ¡°No, listen to me. It¡¯s here.¡± ¡°What''re you talking about?¡± ?zar leaned in and whispered something. Lavisa only caught one word: Fad¨¦nix. Tan?o¡¯s eyes flickered wide open. ¡°Wait¡­h-how? And where? No...are you sure?" ¡°I heard it calling. Deep down near a tomb.¡± Tan?o responded with contemplative silence, his gaze drifting across the ground. There was something almost¡­calculating about the look. His sunset-field eyes came to a stop some thirty feet ahead of them, but all he did was stare. His lips slightly parted. ¡°You can hear it too, right?¡± ?zar asked weakly. Tan?o shook his head. ¡°What does it mean?¡± ¡°Synthesis.¡± ¡°Why¡¯re you telling me this?¡± ¡°Because Fad¨¦nix needs to be told.¡± ¡°Then tell them yourself.¡± ¡°Just leave me. Let this be my one and only good; let this be the favor that breaks our streak. If I¡ª¡± A lung-rattling cough struck ?zar. One that soon devolved into a laugh. ¡°Nah. No point in sulking now. Mother wouldn¡¯t like that. Just get on up there, alright? They''ll be happy." ¡°NO.¡± Tan?o roared, his defiance echoing in Lavisa¡¯s ears like a thunderbolt. ¡°I¡¯m not gonna leave you. Not here. I don¡¯t care if you think you¡¯re the shittiest person in Hierrs¨¦, you¡¯re still my Housemate. That¡¯s why I¡¯ll watch out for you like you watched out for me.¡± ¡°Tan¨ª¡­¡± ¡°And what about Canela, huh? Are you just going to abandon her, too? Do you think she¡¯s just going to forget about you like it''s nothing?¡± ?zar bit his lip, his crimson-green eyes robbed of that faux joy he¡¯d used to mask his fear of death. In their stead was but a deep, remorseful glint. One that threatened to overshadow the gloom. ¡°She¡¯s your sister, ?zar. The one person who¡¯s known you your entire life. If she were a friend, or maybe some random Housemate, then maybe it¡¯d be different; maybe it wouldn¡¯t even matter, but her? She won¡¯t forget you. Even when she¡¯s so old she can¡¯t remember the year, she won¡¯t forget about you. You¡¯ll be the first thing on her mind. And one day, maybe the last.¡± Tan?o stepped forward on trembling legs, and so did Jaster. ?zar hissed, but that didn¡¯t deter the first-years. ¡°I can¡¯t make you choose if you want to stay; I can¡¯t even tell you to be happy. But you wanna know one thing? We¡¯ll get there. I don¡¯t know how, but we¡¯ll get there. Cuz the alternative is hurting the people you love the most, and you won¡¯t even be around to regret it.¡± Lavisa¡¯s throat tightened. The way he spoke reminded her of A?el. Uncertain, but confident. A person who didn¡¯t believe in lies but knew there would be more than sorrow. They just needed to try. Maybe¡­maybe it could work out. Maybe there could be more than disappointment. Forgetting her doubt, she approached them, prepared to offer her aid, but a clicking rumble resonated from the corner, stopping her. There it was¡ªthe hulking, hazy form of a hound with wings as it rolled into view like an eerie fog. One taller than even a Lunarkin. A pack leader. Chapter 28 ~ Chase A beast the size of a carriage padded towards them, its paws gliding across the ground like a mist poured from the morning sea. It came to a creeping stop some ways before them, the air crackling with delighted frost as its unblinking pockets for eyes stared at them. It exhausted no effort in halting, almost as if the energy propelling had been nothing more than his imagination trying to justify its flickering from one position to the other. ¡°Jaster?¡± Tan¨ª whispered. ¡°Yeah?¡± the Nimmian whispered back. ¡°Start moving slowly.¡± ¡°What! Are you kidding? Do you even see what''s in front of us? Ask for my mum''s arm why don''t you." ¡°Fine. Then we¡¯ll just stand here until it does something.¡± Jaster groaned. ¡°I swear to God, I¡¯m never coming down here with you again.¡± Tan¨ª rolled his eyes. Had the Nimmian already forgotten who invited who? The beast lowered its head, tracking them with a swivel so smooth that no living being¡ªanimal or not¡ªcould reproduce. It had a snout, yet it never breathed; it had ears, though they weren¡¯t pricked. Those eyes, and only those eyes, shimmered with thought. A terrible whiteness ringed by twinkles so black that they dripped with tears of ink. ¡°Tan?o,¡± came Lavisa¡¯s low voice. He chanced a glance at her. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve an idea.¡± ¡°Well? You don''t need my permission.¡± Lavisa dipped her head. ¡°Given its size, the beast appears to be a pack leader.¡± A shiver ran the course of his spine. Eyes darting, he searched the ruins for echoing traces of its minions, but when he descried none, he asked, ¡°Where are the others?¡± ¡°Someways past the seventh floor. Linefeeders are far too weak to cross the barrier.¡± Tan¨ª relaxed. ¡°So, we¡¯re good?¡± ¡°No. Pack leaders are faster and stronger than their diminutive minions. A true match for an experienced squire.¡± ¡°Then what you¡¯re saying is¡­¡± ¡°That we¡¯re outmatched?¡± Lavisa finished for him. ¡°No. We are, however, ill-prepared to combat this menace. We¡¯ve no weapons nor armor to ward off its blows, and seeing as its claws can rend wood, I suggest we err on the side of caution." Tan¨ª kept shuffling to the side, knees buckling as ?zar burdened him. That thing had probably rendered the third-year crippled, and if he was as strong as she said he was, then Tan¨ª, Jaster, and Lavisa stood no chance of besting the beast. ¡°¡­thers¡­¡± ?zar wheezed. Tan¨ª leaned in. ¡°Come again?¡± ¡°Others¡­here¡­ It wasn¡¯t the only¡­ Eighteen¡­maybe twenty. Couldn¡¯t fight them all. Couldn¡¯t¡ª¡± ?zar bit his tongue, silencing a scream. Tan¨ª tossed a critical glance down the street. There was nothing there except¡ª His heart stopped. Yes, there. He couldn¡¯t see it well, but it was there, staring. Another beast. It didn¡¯t glide right, though. If anything, it hovered to one side. A once-over revealed that its left leg was missing, but no blood poured from the spot. Tan¨ª slapped himself. He had to focus. No matter what happened, no matter how many there were, they¡¯d survive. They only had to act smart. ¡°Tan?o,¡± Lavisa called. He grunted. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°I¡­ About earlier. I¡ª¡± She hesitated, her stoic fa?ade returning a second later. ¡°We need to reach the first floor.¡± ¡°Won¡¯t it just follow us?¡± ¡°Not past the first barrier. Though the second and third floors tend to waver in strength, the first remains a stalwart defender of the academy¡¯s peace. No beast, no matter how mighty, can break through.¡± ¡°Okay, I already knew that, so why¡¯re you stating the obvious?¡± Lavisa¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°I only wished to remind you before I draw its enmity.¡± ¡°D-Draw It away? As in¡­you¡¯re going to distract it?¡± Tan¨ª asked with a slight quiver. ¡°In a manner of speaking.¡± ¡°No! Why would you even think of that? Are you stupid?¡± Lavisa¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°I am your future rul¡ª¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to be bloody dead if you don¡¯t think right!¡± All but the beast flinched at Tan¨ª¡¯s outburst. Training his eyes on the animal, he continued. ¡°Look. I¡¯m not a prince, or a princess, or whatever. I¡¯m just a kid who had to grow up with dirt and like it. I don¡¯t pretend to know better just cuz of that, and I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll ever amount to more than a disappointment to all the nobles, but why would YOU, a bloody PRINCESS of all people, risk your life for two students and a foreigner?¡± ¡°As future monar¡ª¡± ¡°You should attach dead with how you¡¯re acting.¡± A light blush dusted Lavisa¡¯s cheeks. ¡°I will not tolerate these slights, Tan?o. Not upon my honor. It is solely through my bloodline¡¯s efforts that this kingdom persists. Were it not for us, then there would be no freedom, no Juneac?o, and no peace.¡± ¡°And I completely understand that! Really! What I don¡¯t understand is why you want to extinguish all of that.¡± Tan¨ª adjusted his stance so his sore shoulder wouldn''t scream at him. ¡°Think about it. If you die, do you think your cousins¡¯ll grant the privilege of the throne to the oldest? No. They¡¯ll fight over a stupid chair like all the Tyrians, and it¡¯s all because you thought it would be ¡®noble¡¯ to risk your life for three people nowhere near your level. Guess what? Any good leader knows their life comes before everyone else¡¯s. They¡¯re a sign! All the hopes and dreams of the people who just want more in life. That¡¯s why Juneac?o pledge themselves to a sovereign before any Order or lord. Because they¡¯re preserving more than your life¡ªthey¡¯re preserving the hopes, dreams, and Wishes of everyone that exists!¡± Tan?o argued breathlessly. Lavisa¡¯s embarrassment melted into anguish. She glanced at ?zar, then at the beast; her eyes telling two different stories. ¡°If I remain idle, then you¡¯ll¡ª¡± ¡°Nobody¡¯s died yet, Lavisa,¡± Tan¨ª echoed Danza¡¯s sentiment. He met her eyes, and though he had nothing to offer, flashed the princess a small, comforting smile. ¡°So save your tears for another day. They''re better when you''re happy.¡± Lavisa¡¯s lips parted, but every attempt to utter a response was met with failure. Tan¨ª spared the nearby bloody mound of rubble an inquisitive glance and spotted ?zar¡¯s sword. It was a longsword. He had experienced with those, even if the one Danza had trained him with had been nothing more than a piece of hardwood. ¡°Lavisa,¡± Tan¨ª called, ¡°my shoulder¡¯s a little stiff. Mind taking him for a moment?¡± Lavisa nodded, swiftly taking his spot without issue. Since she was taller than Jaster, she had to bend down to avoid causing ?zar discomfort. Then, once Tan¨ª was free, he bolted towards the sword. Pouring every ounce of energy he possessed into each stride. He broke into a slide, leaned towards the mound, and snatched the blade from its makeshift hill. The added weight coaxed him sideways, so he fell into the motion, opting to follow instead of fight. He wrestled against the whirling world, lifted the blade high, and tossed it with a wild spin upon his final revolution! The silvery typhoon whipped through the air, singing with crimson glee as it grazed the trio. Until, finally, it struck the beast! Severing its leg with a clean, misty slice. A distorted, whistling-click pierced the air as the thing collapsed. Hurt, but very much alive. ¡°Go!¡± Tan¨ª yelled. Lavisa twisted around to face him. ¡°Ta¡ª¡± ¡°Hurry!¡± Jaster stepped away, compelling Lavisa to follow his lead, lest she further impair ?zar. Tan¨ª tried following, but the moment he made it onto the street, the beast lunged at him. He slid out from under its attack, snatching the handle of the discarded blade as he went. Stumbling onto his knees, he gauged the distance. The thing was too far for a proper counterattack, so muscles bunched, he hurled the weapon with all the desperation he could muster, the blade whirling in beat with his hammering heart. The beast ducked, resulting in the blade clattering harmlessly against the side of the nearby ruined building. It swiped at Tan¨ª in retaliation, its blacker-than-night claws thinning the air with abyssal bolts. It was fast, but only half as fast as Lavisa¡¯s sword strokes. He dove out from underneath its path, the blade-like nails reducing the Firmament to a shimmering aftershock. Scrambling to his feet, Tan¨ª discovered his earlier fatigue replaced with the unparalleled desire to live. So, he blindly darted into the building ahead, hoping the entrance would keep the beast at bay. The welcoming glow of sunset stone greeted Tan¨ª as his eyes furiously adjusted to the interior''s luminosity, but before he had a moment to relax, the building quaked. Each shudder dispelled particles from the ceiling in great geysers of dust, daubing the spotless furniture with age. Suddenly, the entrance burst open in an explosion of sun-melting fervor. Tan¨ª shielded his face from the spray of dim stone, but none pelted him. The beast came barreling towards him in the shower of debris. With panic guiding him, he sprinted down the hall, the beast¡¯s hulking mass tearing through the slim passage. A door greeted him at the end of the hall, but instead of stopping and throwing it open, he threw his shoulder forward. There was no impact. He just sliced through the air. Bewildered, Tan¨ª stumbled, his adrenaline drowning out logic as he aimed for the only window in what he assumed to be a bedroom. Tan¨ª threw himself through it, but just like the door, there was no resistance. A discovery that did more harm than good, as he had used all his strength to toss himself forward. He soared, and for a brief moment, wondered if this was what crashing birds experienced. A blinding flash of red light eliminated all thought, his bones stiff in all the wrong places. Finally, he realized he was lying in front of a dead tree. He pushed himself up with a groan, his head throbbing with an all too familiar ache. Good blood, I really need to wear a helmet. Tan¨ª grappled with a crippling wave of nausea as he stumbled to his feet. A headache wouldn¡¯t stop him. There were worse things than a slight bump on the head, like being eaten alive by an unholy creature, or being late to master Yedevar¡¯s class. A deep, rumbling-click dispelled all thought from Tan¨ª''s mind. It brushed against his right ear, and it sounded close. Too close. He glanced from the corners of his eyes and when he couldn¡¯t see it, turned. There was another beast. This one with all its legs. A resounding thump echoed from behind, growing louder and louder until Tan¨ª thought his eardrums would burst. Thunder in his ears, the beast before him snapped, its jaws flying towards his head. The beast from before broke onto the scene, clumsily crashing into Tan¨ª¡¯s would-be attacker in a shower of sunset stone. Tan¨ª scrambled from his spot and down a slim alley. He mapped out the route in his mind, but as he exited the passage, he spotted a single beast to his left. Its voidless eyes set on him. So, Tan¨ª made for the right, keeping a close eye on the blinking haze that glided towards him. Once he was far enough, he broke into a sprint, his legs carrying him as fast as humanly possible. Tan¨ª swallowed and attempted to take the next turn, but there, waiting for him, were a pair of beasts. He caught a snippet of high-pitched whistling-clicks from the distance. Were those two still fighting? Wait¡­ If he could recreate the circumstances of that collision, he could turn them against one another! That would work. It had to. He only hoped his skull was durable enough to survive several more impacts. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Tan¨ª escaped into the safety of a nearby building and began inching his way back, eyes to the entrance. Calm. He just had to calm down. Think clearly. Being distracted by the harrowing fear of death wouldn¡¯t help him now. If that current group tracked him, it meant they had to take turns bashing in the entrance. Maybe they¡¯d even crash into each other and instigate another fight. A small smirk tugged at his lips. Tan?o, the great vanquisher of beasts. Too bad they¡¯re stupider than they are scary. Debris exploded from behind him, scattering the hall in dim orange chunks as the quarreling beasts barreled through the passage, snapping at each other¡¯s necks. Tan¨ª crept back towards the entrance, but it was too late. The haze had already broken through the front door, leaving a gap large enough to fit three. Short of breath, Tan¨ª returned to the two, and while he briefly entertained the notion of sneaking by, he decided against it. He was as likely to be injured by them as the ones actively hunting him. With nowhere else to go but up, he zipped across the staircase and onto the second floor. The house quaked as the beasts tore through the walls. Good blood, they were going to bring him down with them. If he reached the roof, then he could climb down. Maybe even find a fence tall enough to latch onto! No. The rooftops were his best bet for safety. Favoring possible injury to mutilation by beast, he devoted himself to the completely sane idea of rooftop jumping. He picked out the first window he saw, calculated the distance, and dashed with excessive urgency. He was, however, as bad at mathematics as he was in literature. Tan¨ª came short of the jump, banging his head against the sharp edge of the roof, and while the ungodly, stabbing pain crushing his skull lanced through him, an encapsulating sear arrested his right leg upon landing. The only leg that managed to get a solid foot on the ground. He couldn¡¯t scream, he couldn¡¯t howl, he couldn¡¯t even curse. The heat silenced him, and with a stiff stumble, he promptly collapsed. Soon enough, the threading pain was replaced with a static, needling fuzz. Once it faded, Tan¨ª blinked, his mind swimming with exhaustion. He was staring up at the faux moon, his wet forehead throbbing. God, not again¡­ With a deep breath, Tan¨ª rolled onto his hands and knees and pushed. A mind-bending, molten claw ripped through his right leg, lighting every nerve ablaze. His breath caught, dying with a squeak before promptly collapsing. He gasped breathlessly, squeezing a handful of palm-numbing rocks, and though the abyss beckoned him, he resisted its icy touch. He rolled onto his back, gulping air as the iron brand slowly withdrew from his flesh. His thoughts reduced to hazy wisps, their meaning lost. Nothing had ever felt this bad before. Not falling off of Blondie mid-gallop, nor slamming into a wall. He could live with all of those injuries, but this? Tan¨ª sucked in a stale breath, preparing himself for the task ahead. That¡¯s when he noticed it. Or rather, the lack of it. The grunts and clicking-whistles of the beasts. Tan¨ª strained his ears to catch a sound, and when that didn¡¯t work, he peered down the alleyway. Nothing. He swiftly rolled onto his stomach, balanced himself on one knee (the one connected to his good leg), then held his breath. The other came down, and he pushed. The heat reignited tenfold, coaxing a mangled scream from his throat. Inch after inch, he slowly stood back to his full feet, until finally, he stilled. His right leg feeling stiffer than a used pole, and hotter than a Sun¡¯s Peak day. Clearing his mind of all concerns, he stepped forward, and slipped on his bad leg. A thousand blazing needles exploded from the bone, embedding themselves in the twisted muscle that sent his mind reeling into a crescendo of blazing white agony. He fell again, cursing and screaming until oxygen voided his lungs. Only then did the pain recede. Can¡¯t stay here¡­can¡¯t¡­ He dragged himself forward with what little strength he possessed. Lavisa¡­ Their first voyage felt so long ago. A month and a half¡­ Seeing her smile, hearing her laugh for the very first time, even the way she treated him! So different from the rest, yet she still put up an act. Tan¨ª groaned as he took a brief respite, and after sucking in more oxygen, pulled. Jaster¡­ The Nimmian was his first friend. Invited him when no one else wanted him around, cooked, and studied together! They even had their own exclusive room to relax in. Not many could brag about that. Then there was his House. They had never been particularly inviting, but Canela and ?zar were exceptions. Sure, they were strange, but who wasn¡¯t? Tan¨ª dragged himself out from the alleyway, only to discover the beasts from before waiting around the corner. They stared at him with those unblinking, twinkling eyes. So infinite and deep. Like the Desolator''s hide. Realizing what would happen next, Tan¨ª reached into his Blood-Loader and uncorked a phial. ¡°Do you know how to make a Wish, Tan¨ª?¡± came Danza¡¯s phantom recollection. Blood painted the ground in currents of dull, rippling red matter. ¡°Some think it¡¯s all about praying and hoping. Y¡¯know, the easy, private way, but that ain¡¯t how it works with Juneac?o. We don¡¯t have that fortune.¡± Tan¨ª scraped the shimmering stream into a crude circle with his thumb, leaving just enough puddles inside to create delicate arches and sweeps. The moon. The sun. ¡°Y¡¯need something good. Fear, hope, happiness, life. The things that make you, you. One phial won¡¯t do it. Two ain¡¯t good enough. You¡¯ve got to give everything. Cuz having so many children means you can¡¯t spare others the time.¡± Tan¨ª sketched the last mark upon the glyph, his thumb caked in blood. Finished, he pressed a hand against the lukewarm surface of the Wisher¡¯s Well. The same mark that branded their eyes upon Awakening. If he ever had one. It was their Mother¡¯s favor made manifest. Tygenna. Tan¨ª called out into the recesses of his mind. Mother, the first, the greatest of all dreamers, I beseech you in my final hour. Grant unto me your favor, my destined Wish. Something stirred. It was here, but not. A heat that dwelled within the shell of permafrost. I want nothing. Just like all the great Juneac?o before me, I want nothing. A smile cracked on his lips. Well, almost. I want something, but I¡¯m not sure if it''s right. Or even if I deserve it. The static jolt of haze neared. Maybe I don''t. Maybe I¡¯m just asking for nothing in the end. Someone¡¯s probably asked for it, no doubt. They¡¯re amazing, after all. Even then, I¡­ Tan¨ª¡¯s throat bobbed as the padding neared. I want Jaster to always have a tasty meal every day. Maybe something so delicious that it¡¯d help him make lots of friends. And Lavisa¡­ I don¡¯t know what more you can give a princess, but I¡­ Well, I really want you to give her a new joke every day. I don¡¯t care if it¡¯s through a dream, or some random person she meets. I just want her to laugh. And not that fake laugh, either. I want her to laugh so hard that it hurts; I want her to laugh so hard that when she stops laughing, she¡¯ll still want more. Tan¨ª tensed as the shadows overcame him. It was going to happen. He couldn''t stop that, so why? Why did he want to see them one last time? Please, Mother¡­ He dragged a hand across the bloody glyph, tarnishing the crude circle. Please¡­ A stifling blast of heat swept over the street, engulfing Tan¨ª in its suffocating grasp. He choked, tried to breathe, and when that failed, cleared his lungs. God, he could taste it. The metal; the intoxicating zest of raw power lapping at his flesh. It reminded him of when he''d mistaken Danza¡¯s blood for wine. Not that it was Tan¨ª¡¯s fault. Danza should¡¯ve given him a sip like he¡¯d asked. The ensuing prickling surge, the searing that dried his mouth, it was just like then, but more potent. Alive! Tan¨ª croaked, his dry lips cracking as the second surge crashed into him. He wobbled, shielding his face from the blast, but the heat slipped past the vents, caressing him with an onslaught of life-draining zephyrs. He wrestled against the unseen specter, doing whatever he could to free himself from the godly stifling. Nothing he did, however, worked. It just worsened with every passing second, squeezing what paltry vigor he clung to until he felt like a dried husk. That¡¯s when he realized something: He was going to meet his end, anyway. Why struggle? With that thought in mind, Tan¨ª fell slack. Prepared to meet his demise. Only then did the oppressive flash relinquish its hold. ¡°Tan?o Zahara D¡¯Histell!¡± a familiar voice thundered. One so haughty it looped right back to being eloquent. Even now, he could see them, their skill with a blade rivaling their ability to dish out unwarranted criticism. ¡°You¡¯ve broken curfew, trespassed senior property, and now you think it appropriate to perish before you¡¯ve even received proper punishment? Oh no. You shan¡¯t escape my wrath, D¡¯Histell; you shall atone for every sin like a proper Juneac?o. Chin held high.¡± Tan¨ª didn''t stir. It was too late for him. These beasts would finish him, and it would be all for nothing. If she were a bit faster, or even stronger, then maybe¡ª ¡°Did you not hear me, D¡¯Histell? Chin held HIGH. Not low; not to the floor. High. You¡¯re better than that.¡± Tan¨ª¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He didn¡¯t want to, he didn¡¯t even plan on obeying the command, but those words, the lingering hope that he could be something so much more¡­ It was impossible to resist. A primordial want that made almost everything else seem negligible. He craned his neck, and though the shimmer in his vision obscured much, he saw her. Master Sanrevelle. Eleanor. She approached him with swift, measured strides, her resounding footfalls the heralds of inevitability. Her fingers coiled about the hilt of her blade, her free hand clutching the saber''s scabbard. Tan¨ª paused. Yes, he¡¯s seen that sword before. D¡¯Arcy¡¯s Spine! The relic of House Dragonfang. Master Sanrevelle cracked the blade from its rest, but heat, unlike before, refused to pour from its sickly steel. Beasts lumbered in response, their smooth motions replaced with choppy, unreal flickers of madness. A steady clicking emanated from the horde. They shook their heads one moment, then glared at Master Sanrevelle the next. D¡¯Arcy¡¯s Spine sailed free from its scabbard with a bone-crunching crack. The blade wasn¡¯t terribly long. Maybe three feet at its greatest extent, but the paintings decorating the Dragonfang wing could do it no justice. A venomous green edge with a black flat, and its guard¡­good blood, that eye. It was alive, trembling with a blacker-than-night glee. What happened to its red hue? Once again, she had forgone her previous attire, substituting her one-piece for a black open-front coat that hugged her athletic form, accented with golden trim. Draped over her left shoulder was a gray cape, one which fluttered as she went. It even depicted the grapevine of Corat?o! Just like the Jury of Ila?el¡¯s regalia. Actually¡­it looked a bit too much like the regalia. Just muted like a storm sky compared to their ocean-blue hues. Completing her formidable appearance was a wide-brimmed hat. One adorned with a cluster of orange feathers complementing her flared collar. She brought the saber to a stiff salute, the steel in her eyes rivaling the scintillating fang. A challenge. One the pack silently agreed to as they bared their fangs. Flicking the relic aside, she flashed forward, the Firmament rippling behind her in jets of smoke. His eyes darted about for a sign. She often sat and watched as the rest of the class whacked each other silly, but to suddenly throw herself at a host of beasts? Well, that was bloody crazy. But...good blood, he''d never seen anyone move that fast before. The beasts let out a chorus of whining clicks, shaking off the suffocating spell that gripped them. Not simultaneously. Several of them growled at the ground as they shouldered the oppressive weight. But the others? They exploded forward in a manic frenzy, their hazy forms a blur. Icy dread gripped Tan¨ª¡¯s heart as he caught the blurring form of his instructor. Even if Eleanor was strong, she was just one person. They¡¯d smash her to bits and gobble her up like an appetizer, and it¡¯d be his fault. He had to do something; he didn¡¯t know what, but he had to do something! ¡°MASTE¡ª¡± Tan¨ª choked as the oppressive tide returned in full force. It wasn¡¯t filling the space; it was entering his lungs. Burning his precious supply of oxygen until nothing but searing smoke remained, and even then, it didn¡¯t relent. The leading beast broke the formation with a lunge, swiping at the Tyrian¡¯s midsection. She dodged sideways, the scabbard redirecting the trailing claw that threatened to tear into her. Another beast followed suit; its jaws ready to devour her. Before its fangs could pierce her, the scabbard sliced forward, tearing through the wind until it glided just like them. Unreal; perfect. Master Sanrevelle smashed the beast with the blunt instrument, using its momentum to launch herself into a death-defying waltz. She guided the beasts step-by-step, their blacker-than-night claws rending the vacant space she¡¯d once occupied. When they grew bold, she slapped their paws with a flick of her scabbard, prompting them to fall back in line with a clicking hiss. Tan¨ª watched, engrossed as she threaded through the mass. Her footwork consisted of measured sweeps and blinding pivots. A lunge there, a retreat here, but she was never pressed. Only focused as her boots struck a furious tempo to their phantom song. She ducked, twirled, and slid when her partners threatened to overwhelm her. Her mien a serene depiction of absolute calm, for she was now rendered a Juneac?o of pure instinct. Light ringed Master Sanrevelle as her fervor escalated, the scabbard¡¯s slot radiating wisps of energy. The beasts renewed their efforts, launching a series of compound attacks that were as savage as they were cunning. Most aimed for dismemberment, but as Master Sanrevelle had made evidently clear, this was not their dance to guide. She erupted into a tempest of twilight fury. One, two, three steps, each a fading afterimage of the last. A flick of her wrist here, a swift thrust with her scabbard there, but despite her saber''s make, she never once sullied it with the faux haze of her foes. The light about her thinned, and though it was a dwarf among giants, the sword''s slot gleamed with a familiar warmth. One whose blood poured from the sky. The sun. It was like looking at the sun. A deafening roar ripped from the depths of the scabbard¡¯s slot, splitting the air and robbing the Firmament of its glorious hues before quickly restoring them. Master Sanrevelle came to a pivoting stop as she finished her performance, her scabbard drawn to a pseudo salute. A beast threw itself at her vulnerable form, but this time, she didn¡¯t parry. Master Sanrevelle sprang into the air, arcing over the brute¡¯s hulking form like the crescent moon over a snow-capped mountain. She ascended past the rooftops, twisted mid-air, then aimed the gleaming scabbard at the horde below. Wisps of light sputtered from the slot, coating the dim air with the forgotten radiance of the faux moon. And then the world turned white. A thunderous, ear-splitting roar exploded from the relic as a gout of blinding radiance burst forth, washing the dark in its all-consuming, flashing fall. The beam crashed upon the beasts, silencing their cries with a godly shrill that echoed from the heavens. The ethereal expanse gasped, emitting a deafening shockwave that threatened to send Tan¨ª tumbling across the street. It came again and again; the beam swelling until it resembled an inverted goblet teeming with wisps of shimmering energy. Tan¨ª screamed, his mind racing through a list of prayers Danza had taught him. Sedd, Goem, Toem. The various Paths were nothing when compared to the almighty authority of a blood-stained relic. The light sputtered as it thinned, ejecting every ounce of divine radiance until it died. With it went the wind and the roars, restoring the world to its natural gloom. With nothing to keep her airborne, Master Sanrevelle twisted and landed with all the grace befitting a swan, but not on the road. That had been reduced to a crater. One that spanned from her end of the street to Tan¨ª¡¯s. A sweeping scan revealed nothing in his immediate vicinity. Not rubble, not the dim glow of houses, not even those beasts. Only ruined tranquility. Tan¨ª peered at the colorless haze that occupied the gloom, yet no matter how hard he looked, he could not pierce past the nauseating wall. Just glancing at it made him feel all sorts of wrong. Master Sanrevelle approached Tan¨ª, her strides short, even a little rushed. She kept her scowl, but with each motion, it diminished. Then, her mask of supreme calm shattered. She burst into motion, dropping her blood-stained relic as if it were nothing more than a mere twig. One moment she was deep in the crater, and then in the next, she knelt before him, heat rippling from her form. Tan¨ª blinked. Since when had she covered all that ground? Not even Danza was that skilled, and he¡¯d been a Juneac?o for over forty years! Tan¨ª attempted to rope the remembrance back into his mind, but before he could manage a good grasp on it, she drew him into a suffocating embrace. For a moment, they said nothing, the silence of the labyrinth washing over them. He liked the instructor¡¯s company, though not enough to want to hug her. She was a bit too scary for that. A slight tremor racked Tan¨ª¡¯s body. At first, he thought his leg was to blame, but then it came again. Like the first chill of Frostfall, and then a death-calling fever. That''s when he realized it wasn''t him, but her. Realizing it wasn¡¯t the best idea to push away someone so vulnerable, Tan¨ª returned her embrace, his nose brushing against her rock-hard shoulder. Master Sanrevelle squeezed him in return, her arms swelling with a hidden strength that didn''t quite match their appearance. They felt more like the sturdy trunks of a tree than the slender arms of a maiden. Tan¨ª briefly attempted to shake her off, though this only resulted in her crushing him. He only hoped she hadn¡¯t heard him squeak. ¡°Tan¨ª¡­¡± Master Sanrevelle sniffled. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°See me for remedial lessons starting next week. You¡¯re failing Art.¡± Chapter 29 ~ Okay, seriously, this is the last time Tan¨ª came out of his slumber with a deep groan. He really didn¡¯t want to wake up, but the noise from those two was impossible to ignore. Just a nonstop stream of sobs, rustling, and creaking, like someone was throwing themselves against a bed. ¡°I swear, it¡¯s too early for this¡­¡± Tan¨ª muttered to himself. ¡°It¡¯s near noon, D¡¯Histell.¡± Tan¨ª¡¯s eyes fluttered open. That musty clean smell, the droning of waves crashing in the distance, and the curtain rendered partially transparent with sunshine... He was in the nurse¡¯s office. Tan¨ª turned to the speaker and found Eleanor sitting at the table nearby, gaze set on the slot between the partitions. Her eyes were ringed with dark circles, and though her lids must¡¯ve weighed like anchors, her saffron-chambray pools remained alert. Fear alone must''ve kept them peeled. She was dressed in her regalia again (or at least a lookalike), and though she wore no weapon, her sword hand squeezed the air with a hammer grip. Loose, but not so much as to allow a blade to slip from her hold. ¡°Eleanor?¡± he murmured. She spared him no glance, her eyes trained on the gap for any hint of a disturbance. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°How long¡¯ve I been asleep?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been drifting in and out for the last two days,¡± Eleanor said. Tan¨ª shot up and immediately regretted it. ¡°T-Two days?¡± ¡°Yes, though I¡¯d advise you refrain from such sudden jolts. It''s best you not aggravate your leg while it¡¯s mending.¡± The pieces slowly assembled themselves in Tan¨ª¡¯s mind. After Eleanor had saved him from death¡¯s clutches, she had spirited him to the first floor. He tried riding on her back, but every time his leg bounced, it would launch him into another muscle-straining fit, his uniform being caked in sweat before long. She offered to hold him in her arms, though that only resulted in a similar discomfort. Each step stretched for two, and by the time they reached the winding stairwell that connected the floors, he wanted nothing more than to die. He couldn¡¯t recall much beyond that. Only Eleanor as she sat him down on a pile of rubble, grimaced, then, after a heated debate with herself, turned away. She...apologized to him? Then...then... The unmistakable blur of motion took him by surprise, and in that instant, the world went dark. ¡°Wait¡­¡± Tan¨ª finally realized. ¡°You knocked me out, didn¡¯t you?¡± Eleanor¡¯s lips dipped into a slight frown. ¡°I¡­ Given the circumstances, I only did what I thought appropriate.¡± ¡°By clubbing me?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve no regrets, Tan¨ª. I did not wish to prolong your suffering.¡± So, she avoided prolonging his suffering by adding to it? Frustrated as he wanted to be, he saw the logic in it. That, and if he were in her place, he would¡¯ve done the same thing. ¡°Well, at least there¡¯s no drain bamage.¡± Eleanor turned to him, creases marring her forehead. ¡°Ah¡­that joke didn¡¯t pass well, did it?¡± He grinned sheepishly. ¡°I¡¯d prefer you eschew such black comedy while you recover.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­sorry¡­¡± Tan¨ª averted his gaze from Eleanor¡¯s, his eyes landing on the table beside her. Sugary treats and fruit-flavored cans littered the surface. Two of them were open, though he imagined she had used the boost to help carry her through the grueling hours of the night. He couldn¡¯t read others well, they always seemed to be off in their own little worlds and thinking things that just proved all his assumptions wrong, but if someone had bothered to keep watch over him, even for a single night, then that had to mean they cared. Even if a little. Wanting to make her feel welcomed, he asked, ¡°You don¡¯t have anything better to spend your SG on, do you?¡± Eleanor frowned. ¡°I do not partake of sweets as often you as may think, Tan¨ª.¡± ¡°You sure? I dunno why, but you strike me as the sweet-tooth type.¡± ¡°I suppose I was during my youth, though that time¡¯s long since passed. Besides, burning those calories is more trouble than it¡¯s worth.¡± Tan¨ª opened his mouth, then hesitated. He wasn¡¯t sure if it was an appropriate question to ask, but she kinda looked the part, and he wondered if she had ever attended the Academy in the past. He knew that wasn''t the case for many instructors. Many were accomplished warriors, or at least in some position of power in the greater Juries. ¡°Eleanor?¡± he called. She inclined her head. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°How old are you?¡± ¡°Thirty-five.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re still not married?¡± A beet-red blush stained the Tyrian¡¯s cheek. ¡°I-It is completely inappropriate to inquire about a woman¡¯s private life, D¡¯Histell!¡± ¡°Oh, sorry. I didn¡¯t know that. Was just curious since you¡¯ve been here for years.¡± He gestured at the room. ¡°Yes, well. I¡¯ve little reason to stray from Hierrs¨¦ Isle. Doing so implies that something¡¯s gone awry. As for my academic responsibilities, they leave me with little time to pursue a¡­romantic endeavor. Not that I¡¯ve any desire to seek one out.¡± ¡°But doesn¡¯t that make you lonely?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Tan¨ª pressed his covers away. ¡°My mother used to say that when we got older, we got lonelier. Siblings leave, friends start families, and that one neighbor you used to say hi to every morning isn¡¯t there anymore. That¡¯s why people find hobbies: Cuz it gives them something to feel happy about.¡± Tan¨ª¡¯s gaze shifted to his blanket. ¡°Danza¡¯s old. Probably the oldest person I know, but he used to tell me how boring life was before I joined. Those were only three years, really, but¡­I dunno. Hearing it made me happy. Even a little special." A pensive shadow crossed Eleanor¡¯s features. There, deep within the depths of her ocean-colored eyes, he spotted a glint. One that bridged the connection between dejection and regret. It came to him, that instinct. Despite all he endured, it came to him. And so he asked, ¡°Master Sanrevelle?¡± She turned her shoulder to him, her voice a ghost of a murmur. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I dunno if anyone¡¯s ever told you this, but¡­I like being around you. I do.¡± ¡°¡­Truly?¡± ¡°Yeah, I think you¡¯re amazing.¡± Eleanor let out a light huff, the tension in her shoulders ready to snap. ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Seriously! You¡¯re...well, you''re a great teacher, you can wield a relic, and you¡¯re pretty. Probably even the prettiest teacher in school!¡± Tan¨ª exclaimed. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. ¡°Do you¡ªDo you truly mean that?¡± If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. ¡°Yeah! You just need to get more sleep in.¡± Eleanor shut her eyes before nodding to herself. It was nearly imperceptible, but he could see it. The slight curl of her lips. Tan¨ª smiled. It wasn¡¯t as perfect as Lavisa¡¯s, but the look was great in its own way. After the moment had passed, his mind wandered to his final memories of that Labyrinth dive. Namely, the sword. Tan¨ª inquired about D¡¯Arcy¡¯s Spine, and though Eleanor appeared reluctant to reveal its secret, she explained the various effects of the sword. A secret privy to the Lord and Shade of House Dragonfang. Because she wasn''t aligned with a House, she was under no obligation to keep the secret. Yes, she couldn''t go selling the information, but it seemed there was a special case to be made with students. At least, incapacitated ones. Or those the school thought incapacitated. Why she trusted him, he didn¡¯t know, but she seemed happy just to have someone to talk to. He''d ensure the secret wouldn''t leak. As for the specifics of the saber? Its blade favored a coating of vile poison that eroded anything it brushed, and it also possessed a phantom edge that could strike someone fifty yards away. She didn¡¯t elaborate on how these features functioned. In fact, her explanation gave him the distinct impression that she believed he already knew how said relics operated. The effects of the scabbard, however, were unparalleled. Not because of its make, but because it acted as a shield with a mind of its own. Somehow, it knew where an attack would land, so it took the most optimal path to meet it. With or without the user¡¯s knowing. She called it a deviation of precognition. He didn''t know what the word meant, but it sounded funny. ¡°And the blast?¡± Tan¨ª asked, shifting forward with a wiggle. ¡°What about that?¡± Eleanor cocked an amused brow. ¡°Are you referring to The Dragon¡¯s Breath? D¡¯Histell, that is but the Spine¡¯s most potent ability. A God-devouring wave of supreme destruction that eliminates all from this realm. Sentient or not.¡± ¡°It even sounds cool! And you can use it whenever you want?¡± ¡°No. As you will soon come to learn, there are various stages of Synthesis one can achieve. Partial being common among them. When an individual has achieved complete Synthesis, they¡¯re blessed with a boon of physical enhancement. Not to mention a complete unburdening of its Order. There is, however, one last stage beyond that.¡± Tan¨ª tilted his head as best he could while lying down. ¡°But it¡¯s already complete. What can be better than that?¡± ¡°Tell me, Tan¨ª: What do you do when you¡¯ve nothing more to learn?¡± ¡°I dunno. Just keep practicing. That¡¯s what Danza used to tell me.¡± ¡°And there¡¯s a reason for that.¡± She crossed her legs. ¡°You see, learning concerns more than reaching the end of a unit. It is about digesting the information and translating it into a palatable form. One that can lead to greater discoveries than initially intended. Aligning your mindset to its original wielder isn¡¯t what makes you great, it is how you redefine and build upon their ideas that sets you apart from them.¡± Tan¨ª choked as an oppressive wave of heat slammed into him. The space around Eleanor¡¯s hand collapsed, forming the first strokes of D¡¯Arcy¡¯s Spine. ¡°Though she was a master fencer, she did not intend to bathe her blade in the scarlet hues of the Juneac?o. It was only through her disciple¡¯s granddaughter that the weapon took on new life. Rather, it became an omen of what¡¯s to come should our hearts remain clouded.¡± ¡°And that is?¡± Tan¨ª asked, his tight throat itching. Eleanor dispelled the nascent conjuration with a wave. ¡°Destruction. This simple revelation led to an ascended state of Synthesis that not only recontextualized the weapon¡¯s identity but also its power.¡± ¡°Wait¡­can this happen to other relics?¡± ¡°Yes. One needs not overexcite themselves, however, as few ever reach partial Synthesis, and fewer reach complete. When¡ª¡± ¡°YOU." They whipped around to face nurse Ylissa. Hunched against the partition, she clutched her throat. Chest heaving for breath. ¡°I know it was you! How many times do I have to tell you: Stop summoning your relic in and around my office!¡± Her high-strung shrill rang in his ears. Eleanor gave a polite bow of her head. ¡°My apologies, nurse Ylissa.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want your bloody apologies, dragoncheeks! I want you to stop killing the students I¡¯m treating! Did you know that I almost DIED swallowing fish now?¡± Jaster poked his head out from the side. All grins. ¡°Hey Tan-Tan, finally awake?¡± The nurse groaned. ¡°And now you¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Tan?o?¡± Tan¨ª perked up as a third figure joined the fold. Her heart-stuttering mane of salmon-flax hanging above the Nimmian''s. Lavisa. ¡°Hey, kid, if you¡¯ve got a problem, wait by the door. I don¡¯t need¡ª" The nurse did a double take before jumping at the sight of the princess. ¡°O-Oh! Your highness! How may I¡ª¡± Lavisa lifted a prim hand. ¡°Water, please.¡± ¡°Y-Yes! Rig¡ª¡± ¡°And make it enough for everyone.¡± A choked, miserable whine escaped Ylissa¡¯s lips, but she bowed all the same. The office¡¯s peace¡ªor as much peace as an office could have¡ªreturned to Tan¨ª¡¯s cramped slice. He didn¡¯t enjoy the nearby sniffles, but at least the squeaking had stopped. Jaster and Lavisa squeezed through the divide, their expressions etched with concern. ¡°Still in one piece?¡± the Nimmian probed, stopping by the treats innocuously. Tan¨ª glanced at his foot. ¡°They tried taking one, but it didn¡¯t work out.¡± ¡°Probably didn¡¯t like the taste. You don¡¯t shower too good.¡± Tan¨ª and Jaster shared a chuckle. Neither Lavisa nor Eleanor offered a remark, though judging by their taut lips, they weren¡¯t fans. When Jaster had nothing more to share, the princess closed the distance, stopping shortly before his bed. ¡°Tan?o¡­ Are you well?¡± Lavisa inquired, her voice barely breaking past a whisper. ¡°You kidding? I¡¯m three for four! That¡¯s way better than what I expected to walk away with.¡± ¡°You mean crawl?¡± the Nimmian corrected. Tan¨ª bounced a lazy finger up and down. ¡°I¡¯d call it more of a hobble.¡± Lavisa shot the Nimmian a disapproving glare. A look he quickly understood as he backed away. His hands spread. When Lavisa turned back to Tan¨ª, she hesitated. Her eyes gradually drifted to the splint on his right leg. ¡°Tan?o, I¡ª¡± Her voice broke. She refused to meet his gaze, but try as she might, she could not hide her silvering eyes. In a brittle voice that reminded him of his mother speaking at his father¡¯s shrine, Lavisa continued. ¡°Forgive me. I¡¯ve failed. Not only as your senior but as heir to our nation. Although you may believe otherwise, a sovereign fights for the benefit of their subjects as much as they their ruler. I cannot sit idly by while others sacrifice themselves for me, yet you?¡± Lavisa hung her head remorsefully. ¡°You never once faltered. Not for us, not when I believed ?zar far gone. Hope was all you had, yet you made better use of it than I would with a blade.¡± Tan¨ª shrugged, his shoulders brushing the pillow. ¡°I just improvised.¡± ¡°Yet your improvisation saved a life. Few can claim that fortune.¡± ¡°Guess I¡¯m just lucky.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± Her voice cracked into a whine that cut him to the core. ¡°You are¡­ You bloody idiot.¡± Tan¨ª glanced at Jaster and Eleanor for support, but they swiftly averted their gazes, adopting a nonchalant attitude. Great. When he needed their aid most, they pretended everything was fine. Tan¨ª struggled to cobble together a proper response, and when his poor diplomatic skills eluded him, scrounged for a joke. Some of them were ones she¡¯d already heard, but she never seemed to mind when he recited them. She even laughed harder, if he was lucky. No, she deserved better than this. Tan¨ª sifted through his memories of the old woman reading from her book after supper. Great as they were, they failed to meet his demands. A few crude words could never reassure one such as her. So what would be enough? What could cheer her without feigning ignorance? ¡°Tan?o¡­¡± Lavisa¡¯s thinning voice broke through his barrier of thoughts. Tan¨ª¡¯s heart lurched, yet even then, he offered her his usual smile. Taxing as it was. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°I would be more than happy to provide you with a recommendation should you desire to transfer Houses. The courage you¡¯ve displayed has earned you the honor of being branded a Vlasalisk. Valtar would be proud.¡± There it was. The ticket he''d been hoping for; the change that''d lead to an easy life. One where everyone respected him, and he was feared simply for being a part of something so much greater than himself. His response came without a moment''s delay. Firm and ready. ¡°Nah, I¡¯m fine with my House.¡± Lavisa blinked, her lavender-sapphire eyes brimming with moisture. ¡°Come again?¡± ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ve gotten used to getting around. Plus, I really don¡¯t wanna memorize another layout." Tan¨ª traced a rough draft of the second floor as best he could. It was just a circle, but he liked the little slice he came from. Even if everyone else didn''t. "I think I¡¯m good with Fad¨¦nix. For the time being, that is." It was a partial truth. Tan¨ª enjoyed the few individuals he interacted with on the daily, but more than that, he had a soft spot for the den of misfits. That, and he couldn¡¯t imagine being treated any better no matter where he went. Best to remain as the garden grinder than a wannabe Juneac?o. ¡°Tan?o.¡± Before Tan¨ª had an opportunity to respond, Lavisa placed a delicate hand on his chest, the warmth spreading through his body like a soothing balm. The shadow fell, his pulse quickening as the pleasant moisture of her lips cooled his damp brow. Like a dream, she held the kiss for several breathtaking seconds. And in those several, ever-lasting, eternal moments of absolute bless, he wanted nothing more than to melt into a puddle. Lavisa drew away, but this time, she no longer bore that wistful expression. In its stead, she wore a grateful beam. One as radiant as all the vines in the world. ¡°When we come of age, I shall make room for you in my court. I swear upon this with all my honor.¡± Tan¨ª stared at her, his stomach reduced to a giddy tide of swirling pops. Just looking at her made him feel like he was going to burst, but the heat in his cheeks? That was the worst. He glanced at Jaster, who threw him an enthusiastic thumbs-up. Eleanor, noticing this, slapped his hands down, silently scolding the Nimmian. Tan¨ª, however, just nodded dumbly. ¡°I-I¡¯d be honored.¡± ¡°No, Tan?o. It is you who honors me.¡± Chapter 3 ~ Like Cinnamon Tan¨ª twiddled his thumbs as the endless lull of the ocean echoed in his ears. He¡¯d rather that over the nurse¡¯s yammering, though. That bloody woman complained just about everything. Be it transfusions or something as simple as a prescription. She¡¯d just grumble, mention something about hating her job, then make an offhanded comment about Eleanor. Distasteful as they were, her moniker of ¡°dragoncheeks¡± was rather amusing. From what little he picked up on, the two had attended Hierrs¨¦ during their youth. Eleanor, as expected, being a diligent, determined, and above all else, talented student. Much more than her peers if rumors were true. One relic was impressive, but the ability to Synthesize with two? As nightmarish as his time in the labyrinth had been, Tan¨ª almost wished he could go back in time and re-experience that devastating blast that shook the Firmament. The Dragon¡¯s Breath¡­ What a fitting name for an attack that seared away at reality. The more he thought about it, the more he wanted to know what it felt like to unleash that wave of primal destruction. Was it like being charged with all the godly energy in the Solanarium? Or maybe more like the shuddering jolts that came from holding a newly drawn phial of blood? Maybe I can ask her to do it again when we¡¯re free. That¡¯d be pretty cool. Tan¨ª glanced at the dark blue window. There would be time for that later, but as for now, he had greater matters to attend to. One of them being the terrible remedial lessons he would have to start soon. And he owed it all to his grades, that were somehow worse than his handwriting. Judging by Eleanor¡¯s estimates, however, it would only take a month to meet ¡°the Hierrs¨¦ standard.¡± Though he wanted to cling to his moodiness, his mind could not help but linger to that day. That kiss¡­ Good blood¡­it was the softest, warmest, sweetest thing he¡¯s ever experienced. Like sugar born to caress him when nothing else would suffice. Just thinking about it made him want to roll around in bed. Not that he did. That would only aggravate his leg. What Lavisa said following the act, however, still left him astonished. He, some no name commoner from Histell, had a reserved seat waiting for him at the royal court. Sure, it was only a promise, but Lavisa didn¡¯t seem the lying type. Maybe if he was lucky, then she wouldn¡¯t feel a need to marry. They could work together, laugh, and when they parted, she¡¯d flash him her tender, regal smile. That sounded like a perfect life to him. Selfish as it was. The distinctive shuffling of slippers drew Tan¨ª away from his fantasy. There, standing in the slot, was Canela. Her heavy-lidded, festive eyes aimed at him. ¡°Tan¨ª,¡± she crooned in a too smooth voice. ¡°Oh, hey. Did you need something?¡± ¡°I just wanted to talk.¡± Tan¨ª eyed her warily. ¡°You¡¯re not gonna kill me, are you?¡± Canela giggled. ¡°No, stupid. I¡¯m not gonna kill you. Not after what you¡¯ve done.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I¡¯m talking about my brother, you thin-blooded dolt. Are you truly so forgetful?¡± ¡°With all the times I¡¯ve banged my head? Probably.¡± Canela shook her head with a smile. ¡°Yeah, I heard about that nasty bump last month. You¡¯ve got a pretty hard head. What¡¯s it made out of?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s something called bone. Don¡¯t know. I¡¯ll have to check with the nurse on that,¡± jested Tan¨ª. ¡°Yeah, I wouldn¡¯t do that. She sounds like she¡¯s ready to crack some skulls.¡± ¡°She really doesn¡¯t like treating kids, does she?¡± An airy huff of amusement slipped past her lips. ¡°Students claim so, but she quite likes her job. Not that it was her first choice. She wanted to be a royal physician, but this is the second-best thing. Nice pay, good food, and free housing. Can¡¯t ask for more than that.¡± ¡°Wait, she wanted to be a royal physician? How¡¯d you¡ª¡± Tan¨ª stopped. ¡°Oh, wait, yeah. Connections.¡± ¡°Enough about broken dreams,¡± Canela said, entering the room. ¡°I came here to thank you for my brother¡¯s return. Were it not for you, then he¡¯d¡ª¡± her voice wavered with emotion. ¡°Well, he wouldn¡¯t be here. You¡¯ve done Fad¨¦nix a favor, Tan?o. Though more importantly, you¡¯ve done my family a service. The d¡¯Estrav?o¡¯s are in your debt.¡± Tan¨ª tapped his cheek. ¡°Debt? You don¡¯t owe me anything.¡± ¡°Pardon me?¡± ¡°We¡¯re Juneac?o. Preserving life is what we do. I don¡¯t want rewards, or treasures, or even land for doing what I wanna do. I just wanna know that everyone¡¯ll be alright. Just like I know he wants you to be alright.¡± Canela¡¯s lips parted in silent awe. To see the intelligent yet prickly treasurer of Fad¨¦nix appear so lost made something spark inside Tan¨ª¡¯s chest. Past all that crying and the tough exterior, she really could be normal. ¡°You¡¯re not messing with me, are you?¡± she whispered. Tan¨ª frowned. ¡°Last time I did, you nearly gutted me in the reading corner.¡± ¡°Yes, but I¡ª¡± She blinked and smiled abruptly. ¡°No. That¡¯s rather forward. Forgive me for thinking otherwise.¡± ¡°Apology accepted?¡± Silence ensued as neither knew what to say next. He¡¯s been around Canela countless times, but this was the first instance of them being truly alone. It felt¡­strange not having her brother there. If anything, they seemed to balance each other out when together. She was outspoken and loud, and he was a quiet, people pleaser. Well, awkward would be the better word for it. ?zar was too socially inept to get a friendly conversation going most times. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Then came the matter of their contrasting appearance. Canela bore the distinctive dark skin of the D¨¦qoish. Not a true ebony like the southerners, but a warm, almond color that complemented her unkempt, thick black hair (or was it styled). Her petite nose sat well on her round face, and though her eyes were a bit bright, they fit her well. As for ?zar, he was as light as a Coros Midlander could be. Perhaps even the Eastern Green, if that twangy, Nimmian-inspired accent was a tell. Being the only forested region in all of Corat?o, the place not only hosted the highest population density, but a mixed population of Nimmians and Coros. ?zar¡¯s strong nose was reminiscent of those islanders. It wasn¡¯t unsightly. His messy blonde hair and strong jawline certainly balanced it out. Now that he thought about it, they shared very little in common outside of their eye color. ¡°Canela?¡± Tan¨ª propped himself on his elbow. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Are you and ?zar really related, or do you just call him your brother cuz you have the same eyes?¡± Canela gave a slight inclination of her head. ¡°Huh? I thought our lack of relation obvious. We just happen to share the same surname, so I call him ¡®brother¡¯ as a joke.¡± The answer took Tan¨ª for a loop. ¡°Wait, really?¡± Canela snorted. ¡°God, you¡¯re gullible. If you must know, ?zar¡¯s my brother. My real brother. Or at least half.¡± ¡°Come again?¡± ¡°His father wasn¡¯t mine. We share the same mother, but his father wasn¡¯t mine.¡± ¡°So¡­are you an illegitimate child, or¡­?¡± Canela¡¯s shoulders tensed. ¡°As far as the kingdom of Corat?o is concerned, no. I¡¯m not. ?zar¡¯s father was our mother¡¯s squire long before he was born. You can already see why this is an issue.¡± Tan¨ª nodded. Juneac?o¡ªtasked to guard their young squires¡ªinstructed them in the ways of Preservation. It was one of, if not the oldest code among the Juneac?o. To not only fall in love with one¡¯s instructor but also desire a family with them, that was¡­ Well, odd couldn¡¯t even begin to describe it given the questionable age gap. ¡°What happened to him?¡± Tan¨ª asked, keeping his voice low. ¡°He died during a skirmish. Never once knowing she was with child.¡± Canela looked away. ¡°Or so my mother claims. She chanced upon my father not long after, and in her grief, embraced him. It was true love. Sure, she was grieving, but he made her feel special. Y¡¯know, in a way that a hormonal teenager couldn¡¯t. Anyhow, they married before my brother was born, and even when they discovered he wasn¡¯t of my father¡¯s blood, the man raised him as if he were his own.¡± A nostalgic smile touched Canela¡¯s lips. ¡°Despite being second born, I was legitimate. Not like my brother. It was only through my father¡¯s mercy that he was legitimized. He didn¡¯t have to do it, but he did.¡± Tan¨ª tapped the bed sheets thoughtfully. ¡°Doesn¡¯t that mean he robbed you of your inheritance?¡± ¡°Yes, I was.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t that make you¡­I dunno, upset?¡± Canela tossed a secretive glance at the divide. ¡°Not in the slightest. If anyone deserves it, it¡¯s ?zar. The guy¡¯s hopeless if you aren¡¯t holding his hand.¡± ¡°He can¡¯t be that bad.¡± ¡°Not that bad? Tan¨ª, he confused salt for sugar for the last nine years. Do you even know how crazy you look when blending a spoonful of that stuff into your nightsip?¡± Tan¨ª stared. ¡°Okay, maybe he does need it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell you what his problem is: Thinking. He¡¯s not dumb, he simply prefers physical activities to actually using that brain of his. It¡¯s why he spends all his time training and gardening. I would say I hate it, but¡­¡± A dreamy sigh possessed Canela as she cradled her face in her hands. ¡°I¡¯d rather bask in such a delightful sin. His strength, his scent¡­¡± Tan¨ª waited for her to deliver the joke, but when she wouldn¡¯t elaborate, he forced out an awkward laugh. ¡°Yeah, I guess so¡­¡± Once she recovered from her¡­fit, Canela unwrapped a treat from Tan¨ª¡¯s pile, then offered it to him with a drink. He accepted it with a nod, feeling thirsty despite all her talking. The nurse passed in the background, but before she could disappear from the frame, she spun and pointed. ¡°YOU.¡± Tan¨ª choked on the sugary treat. He hacked up the ball, convinced of Ylissa¡¯s intention to kill him. That is until she veered left, her eyes narrowed. ¡°How many times do I have to tell you: Stop getting up! What, do you want to be like Sierez and hobble everywhere? Because if that¡¯s your goal, you¡¯re getting there.¡± ¡°I¡ªI just want to see him,¡± came a brittle voice. ¡°You can see him when your legs aren¡¯t sixty percent stitches. Seriously, I¡¯d rather you not bleed all over the place again. Washing red off your sheets isn¡¯t exactly the easiest thing to do.¡± ¡°I-It¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°It most certainly is not. God, do you even hear yourself? You¡¯re like a stubborn old man.¡± Panic flashed in Canela¡¯s eyes. She whirled around with a spark of heat, her dark hair whipping behind her. Without saying goodbye, she raced out into the greater nurse¡¯s office, came to an abrupt stop, then bolted towards the source. ¡°?iz¨ª!¡± ¡°Can¨ª¡­¡± The nurse groaned. ¡°Oh, great. It¡¯s the weird one.¡± ¡°What¡¯re you doing out of bed, ?iz¨ª? You said you¡¯d stay in it for me, remember? That you¡¯d wait to talk to Tan¨ª,¡± Canela reminded him in a voice as brittle as Greentide ice. ¡°I just¡­I need to see him now. Before I¡ª¡± ¡°N-No! You promised, remember? That you¡¯d always stay with me no matter what. Remember that? Please, tell me you remember that¡­¡± A labored groaned, followed by the sound of something crashing against the partition made Tan¨ª jump. His first instinct was to check on them, but the moment he moved his foot, a sharp jab arrested him. God, had the swelling not gone down? A string of less than savory curses slipped from the nurse as she and Canela carried ?zar back to bed. ¡°There,¡± the nurse grunted, ¡°now get plenty of rest, water, and non-fatty foods. Also, try to hide your brotherly urges. They¡¯re rather unpleasant in broad daylight. And you! Don¡¯t even think about sleeping here tonight! I already warned you twice. I¡¯m not gonna say it again.¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°That wasn¡¯t a request, missy. That was an order. Now leave before I¡ª¡± Instead of uttering a defiant shout, a strangled sobbed crawled out of her throat. ¡°Please¡­please. I don¡¯t want him to die. I don¡¯t. Please¡­¡± For a while, there was naught but the tearful sobs of a girl who only wanted to keep her brother company. Finally, the nurse heaved a long sigh. ¡°He¡¯s not gonna die, alright? I already told you that.¡± Canela didn¡¯t care. She only sobbed, gasped, and begged (seemingly incoherently) to remain. Claiming that she would ¡°die too¡± without him. ¡°Look¡­if he really means that much, then you can stay. I just don¡¯t want you sleeping in the same bed again. Wanna know why? Cuz you¡¯d be hurting him,¡± Ylissa explained, her general irritation replaced with a tender edge Tan¨ª hadn¡¯t known her capable of. Canela sniffled. ¡°I never meant to; I swear¡­¡± ¡°Kid, please stop crying. I already told you he¡¯d be fine.¡± There was a brief pause before Ylissa continued reluctantly. ¡°Okay, fine. Just go through my closest. There should be a futon in there. You can use it.¡± ¡°R-Really?¡± ¡°Yeah, whatever. Just don¡¯t tell anyone. And make sure he¡¯s fed. He hardly ever eats when I bring him his meals.¡± Canela sniffed, and when she spoke, her voice was devoid of sorrow. In fact, the lively tone of her voice betrayed excitement. ¡°W-Wait! Maybe I can wear your uniform too! My brother says it would look good on me.¡± ¡°Okay, you¡¯re being weird now. Goodbye.¡± The nurse passed by his divide. She checked in on him, and once she gave him an estimated date of his release, bade him farewell. As she prepared to leave, Tan¨ª spoke. ¡°Lady Ylissa?¡± She yawned. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°You have a nice heart.¡± The nurse flashed him a grumpy glare, blindly snatched several of his treats, then ate them in front of him before storming out of the slot. Chapter 31 ~ Assignment Eleanor marched through Hierrs¨¦''s nigh vacant halls, catching snippets of idle gossip as she zipped by lounging Dragonfangs too lazy to make the journey to the mess hall. From rumors of Lavisa¡¯s participation in the upcoming tourney to the deadly encounter in the labyrinth. Despite the faculty''s best efforts to suppress the flow of information regarding the incident, word still got around. How she rared to give the wryrms a stern talking-to. They might''ve feigned ignorance, but she knew them responsible. She''d been a wyrm, too. Little eluded their notice. Including the silent affections of students who branded themselves subtle. A grimace crawled onto her lips. They knew everything. She loathed when they pretended not to know everything, especially now of all times. She''d gone through the painstaking effort to divert detection through the use of Toem. From the moment she had descried them in the labyrinth to the solution of blood she''d misted them in to to ward detection as they hauled the blonde back to the nurse''s office, no one¡ªnot even the divers currently present in the area¡ªcould''ve possibly learned of their presence. Much less remember if they so much as whiffed the mist. Accidents such as this weren''t completely uncommon. They had contingencies in place should they occur, but none had ever involved the king¡¯s daughter of all people. At best, he would forgive them for their oversight; at worst, he¡¯d withdraw royal funds. Funds¡­ Eleanor sneered. She hadn''t the constitution for mathematics, but she had a feeling losing such an important backer would have lasting consequences. Or at the very least, tarnish their reputation as the foremost Juneac?o institute in the Westerlans. ¡°Ellie, sweetie,¡± came a frail, level-headed voice. Eleanor paused mid-stride. Beside her stood Sierez, Hierrs¨¦''s Deputy Headmaster. The awfully sprite limper who wore a smile easily enough these days. ¡°Good afternoon, Master," she said, hand to her chest as she performed a curt bow. "To what do I owe the pleasure?¡± ¡°Certainly not your legs. You¡¯ve any idea how hard it is hobbling after you?¡± he asked. ¡°Forgive me, Master.¡± ¡°Apology accepted.¡± Sierez adjusted his cane so that he could stand comfortably. ¡°Now then, I''ve got a little interest to discuss with you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do my best to be of service.¡± ¡°Good, cuz this relates to the incident.¡± She cast a furtive glance either way, then, once she was certain the duplicitous Dragons were nowhere within earshot, she leaned close and whispered. ¡°Did you find it true?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t give names, but it was a first-year Dragonfang. I s¡¯pose that doesn¡¯t come as much of a surprise.¡± ¡°Hardly. They know too much for their own good.¡± Sierez rubbed his chin. ¡°I s¡¯pose that¡¯s true.¡± ¡°And that¡¯s what bothers me so. Dragonfang was home to the swift, not the deceitful! A House so keen that their wit was a match for a blade, yet they do naught but exchange words for gold.¡± Eleanor stifled a sigh, though her abject disappointment bled through with a vehement shake. ¡°Do you know what they do with it, Master? They grow fat. Weak. And it¡¯s all because they profit from discord. Imagine that: Those who promise to preserve peace, perpetuating chaos. Good blood, have you already forgotten about the old wyrms who stole that Fadenician skill book? The same one written by their founder. It is the only other treasure they claim, filled to the brim with the Lost Art, and yet Dragonfang claims possession of it? How do you justify such objectionable duplicity?¡± ¡°Ellie, there isn''t much good in airing out your frustration. Goes nowhere.¡± "I understand that, Master. I do. It''s just that¡ª" "Dragonfang rightfully earned the honors of her Tome. You know that as well as I do; as they do, too. They played the game and lost. If either side cared enough, they''d wager another Bet, but that tome''s never served anyone. Even if it promises great power." He nodded to himself. "I take it you''ve been seduced to a gander?" She squared her jaw. "What wyrm hasn''t?" "Did you make sense of it?" That, her oaths did not permit her to answer. Assuming the shame too great to utter, Sierez continued. "Irregardless of the past, I''d not take simple gossip to heart." ¡°Simple gossip?" The words spilled from her lips, hollow. "This is not simple gossip, Master. These children thrive off of rumors. Leading to the neglect of their studies and bodies, yet when all is said and done, do you know what happens to them?¡± Sierez twisted his head. ¡°Can¡¯t say I do. I never hear much trouble coming from them.¡± ¡°That¡¯s just it: Nothing. They graduate as any other student does, but never with honors. Theirs is the bare minimum. Never exceeding nor lacking what is to be expected. They teeter on the edge of mediocrity, knowing they could live like kings and queens so long as they pretend to care. I shan¡¯t suffer that. I tried. Why can¡¯t they?¡± Eleanor fumed. ¡°Ellie.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Focus. We can discuss the fall of your ¡®great¡¯ House later.¡± A face-melting heat rushed to her cheeks. ¡°O-Oh, my apologies. I did not mean¡ª¡± ¡°As I was saying,¡± Sierez interjected calmly, ¡°our recent discovery came as a surprise. A boy from the Isle. Fine enough student, but just like Tan¨ª, he requires discipline.¡± Eleanor squirmed. For D¡¯Histell to be punished after what he¡¯d endured¡­ Yes, she''d chastised him for his rule-breaking ways, but she couldn¡¯t help it. She was angry¡ªno, furious that his good dead had nearly led to his death. No Juneac?o, no matter how true, deserved death. Much less a boy who''d yet to Awaken. During her brooding silence, Sierez flashed her a warm grin. ¡°You¡¯d rather he not suffer, do you?" Eleanor lowered her head, ashamed. ¡°No, Master¡­¡± ¡°Order has to be maintained, Ellie. He broke an important rule. One meant to keep the first- and second-years safe. If I let him off, then everyone would notice. Him getting hurt wouldn¡¯t scare them; it¡¯d embolden them.¡± ¡°I suppose that¡¯s true.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s any consolation, he only has to do some groundskeeping. Nothing strenuous, mind you. Wouldn¡¯t want him snapping his leg or banging his head against something.¡± Sierez suddenly frowned and mumbled to himself. ¡°He does do that a lot.¡± Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. ¡°Do you¡­¡± The clean white tiles of the school floor filled Eleanor¡¯s vision. ¡°Do you have someone assigned to oversee him?¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I came to talk to you.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°You see, this recent string of events has taught me one thing: That Tan¨ª boy is as prone to accidents as ice is to melting under the sun. Doesn¡¯t matter if he¡¯s alone or with company, he just stirs up trouble. The other instructors have taken notice. Safe to say, they don¡¯t like it. His slipping grades aren¡¯t helping either.¡± The methodical tap of a cane filled the pause. ¡°The kid doesn¡¯t have much going for him, but he deserves as much of a chance as any. You believe that too, right?¡± She¡¯s heard of him through his teachers. His constant tardiness, near-illegible printing, odd answers, and poor performance. Not to mention his hostile relationships. They believed him a miscreant with a flippant disregard for the values of the Juneac?o. She had thought the same, too, when she¡¯d first met him. Needlessly cold as she was. But that tender heart that melted the ice? His kindness, the way he smiled¡­ A blade could not replicate those effects, nor could the realm-mending touch of Sedd mimic its warmth. Divine as it was. Children wanted to be heard. They were loud, impatient, impulsive braggers with a pretentious streak who believed themselves special. All because they thought themselves the greatest thing to ever exist, but that was never the case. She was no different. Her instructors praised her for a presumed host of blessings, yet here she was all these years later. Stuck on that same island. A "talented," no-faced woman. Perhaps the heart couldn''t compensate for a lack of inherent talent, but a lack of talent was not indicative of one¡¯s potential. They only needed to try, and if some Seddless child could brave the depths and hold his own against a myriad of beasts that would¡¯ve torn a greater student to shreds, well¡­ Maybe there was still a chance. Slim as it was. Didn''t they deserve as much? ¡°Master,¡± Eleanor breathed a shaky whisper, ¡°I know not why he struggles. I speak to him every day, though I¡¯ve gleaned little beyond the surface. I¡¯ve taught, punished, and failed countless students like him over the years, so why? Why is this different? Why do I feel as I¡¯ve failed?¡± Sierez hunched forward, stroking the arch of his cane absentmindedly. Not once did he stir, setting himself to the stretch of hall beyond. Brooding, as he always did during their first days together. ¡°Just means you finally found the one that made you care.¡± Eleanor¡¯s throat tightened with heat, and when she failed to muster a response, he continued. ¡°Do you know why Juneac?o choose their squires? Cuz they aren¡¯t teachers. They teach, but not because they want to. We¡¯re just parents bringing others up because they don¡¯t know how the world works. Why what they¡¯ll do one day will be more important than anything else, even if they can''t see it. Keeps the blood fresh. You know what¡¯d happen if we didn¡¯t?¡± ¡°The Fall,¡± she said through the lump in her throat. ¡°Exactly,¡± Sierez said. ¡°We¡¯re preservers. Not law keepers, scholars, or even historians. We¡¯re the Stabilizers of the Firmament. The thing that keeps it together even as it unwinds beneath us. Just like it¡¯s been doing ever since the Desolator died. We don¡¯t bring life; we help it endure. That is why our codes are sacred.¡± His ministrations came to an end. ¡°You hesitate to teach, but is it because you¡¯re reluctant to put yourself before hopeful eyes or cuz you don''t see any other way?¡± The answer immediately came to Eleanor. ¡°Neither. I¡¯ve never cared for the students under my guidance. I only do what is expected of me.¡± ¡°Then you teach out of duty, not favor. You realize that our ways are sacred, and so you trust this institution to produce well-meaning Juneac?o, correct?¡± ¡°Of course, Master. I¡¯ve complete and utter faith that the students here¡ªno matter how callous¡ªwill be the ones to drive Vale?o to a new age of prosperity.¡± ¡°But you never cared for teaching. You did what you had to cuz you lost the faith of our king. Lunarkin you may be, children¡ªeven discarded squires¡ªknow better than to seek tutelage from a failed guardian. So, you did the next best thing and became a master to all.¡± Eleanor dipped her head, the weight of it pinning it in place. ¡°Ellie, when you don¡¯t care, you don¡¯t try. Every student¡¯s the same. Boy, girl, rich, poor. Nothing they do matters. They show up, they pass; they don¡¯t, they fail. When you¡¯ve no interest in the efforts of your students, you see them as pawns. Giving the customary experience you can barely tolerate.¡± Sierez tapped a finger against his cane, producing a clear loud clink. ¡°But Tan¨ª? He¡¯s different. Don¡¯t get me wrong, he¡¯s as terrible as they come, but the way you¡¯re feeling? That just means you care. And that¡¯s the hardest thing anyone can do. That goes doubly for you.¡± Icy dread arrested Eleanor¡¯s heart. Interacting with children, training¡­she used those as a means to pass the time. To give her life a sense of purpose, something that would drive away the plague of memories, but that simple-minded kid? The same boy who bumped his head to no end and almost made her want to break? The highlight of her stay? He illuminated the dreary expanse she feared to call her mind. And now, his expulsion drew new. The same person who granted her life meaning beyond the monotony of teaching, gone forever. She¡¯d return to her placid state as the academy¡¯s trophy. A Lunarkin with nothing to prove; a pigeon content with its gilded, poisoned feeder. A stifling surge of heat seized Eleanor¡¯s chest. Overwhelmed, she fell to one knee. Desperate. ¡°Master, please. I¡ªI don¡¯t know what to do. Tan¨ª is¡­I¡­ He¡¯s a student, yes? So how do I do it? How can I help him? You¡¯ve always told me that the steady path is one and true, but I don¡¯t know which one that is. Please, show me, Master. If only this once. Just¡­ Just show me, please.¡± ¡°Come, Ellie. Don¡¯t kneel in the middle of the hall. It¡¯s unbecoming of you.¡± She refused to budge and bowed her head. If this much couldn¡¯t convince him, she didn¡¯t know what would. ¡°Really, seeing you kneel is hurting my knees. Can you get up? You never even let me finish.¡± ¡°Master, I beg of you. If not as your squire, then as a Juneac?o. Ple¡ª¡± ¡°Enough. Just¡­enough. You¡¯ll be charged as his tutor, henceforth. Now stand before you draw Dragons,¡± Sierez ordered, a grouchy edge bleeding into his words. Eleanor whipped up to face him, her eyes wide. ¡°I beg your pardon?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t just have anyone help him. That Nimmian¡¯s a slacker, and I¡¯d rather not exacerbate His Majesty¡¯s ire by availing the boy Lavisa. Seeing as you¡¯re his only other friend that¡¯s actually reliable, I was gonna choose you.¡± ¡°F-Friend? I¡¯m not¡ª¡± ¡°Ellie, he¡¯s the only other person you¡¯ve uttered more than a single sentence to in the last ten years. In a willing conversation, no less. Have you even been listening to half the things Dragonfang has said?¡± Eleanor suppressed her disgust. ¡°No, but I¡¯d rather not.¡± ¡°Great. Then rise.¡± She slowly rose to her feet, a blur of motion at the side catching her attention. There, just around the corner, was a head peeking out. The violet cloth on their shoulder betrayed their allegiance. A Dragonfang. They withdrew into the hall a moment later. Great. First her pathetic plea, and now this? What agonizing rumors awaited her in the coming days? ¡°Here¡¯s your list of duties,¡± Sierez said, handing her a scroll of parchment. She unwound it as he continued to speak. ¡°You are to review his daily lessons, shorten them into a palatable format he can make sense of, walk him through his every question, aid in improving his calligraphy, and please, for the love of God, teach him how to read faster. No one should take ten minutes to read one page. No one.¡± Eleanor flattened a wrinkle on the list. ¡°Where would that leave me with my classes?¡± ¡°Build your schedule around it. You got free periods, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Well, yes, but I¡ª¡± ¡°Think it¡¯ll be very helpful? Why, yes. It is. Refresh the subject matters of math and literature. It might enrich your conversations with young D¡¯Histell.¡± Eleanor sighed as she rolled up the scroll. ¡°Very well. Thank you for the opportunity, Master. I appreciate it. Truly.¡± Sierez hobbled down the hall, a giddy kick in his step as he chuckled to himself. Suddenly, he came to an eerily smooth stop, one in defiance of his ancient war wound. That''s when he spoke in that measured, authoritative tone of his. ¡°Oh, and one more thing: You¡¯re in charge of this year¡¯s dive. Be a dear and see to her safety, will you?¡± Fuming, Eleanor crushed the scroll in her grip, silently cursing her old master as he fled with a giddy laugh. Decades later, and he still drowned her with work. Chapter 32 ~ Back into the Fray Tan¨ª slammed his head against the desk, hoping the smart of wood on bone would silence the woman¡¯s agonizing lecture. It didn¡¯t, so he went for a second. Then a third and fourth, until he entertained the prospect of rendering himself unconscious just to escape this lesson-turned-torture-session. He waited for her to stop and question him (as any ordinary human being would after fifteen minutes of uninterrupted talking), but when she continued to talk as if nothing was wrong, he took to DiY lobotomization. Again, and again, and again, until a flash of bright red colors coaxed a low moan from his throat. His physical distress, however, did little to mitigate her stream of perpetual verbiage. Wait. Good blood, he was actually learning something. He hadn''t even KNOWN what those words meant, but he supposed there was only so much mental lashing one can endure until it stuck. ¡°D¡¯Histell,¡± came the steady calm of Eleanor¡¯s eloquent voice, ¡°did you understand that?¡± Against his better judgement, he uttered a faint "yes." ¡°Good! Then we mustn''t delay! We¡¯ve over forty chapters to discuss!¡± Tan¨ª cocked his head back, then, satisfied, flew forward, hoping the lethal blow would send him sinking into that abyss devoid of cruelty. He''d no such luck, but the delightful rattle of his brain bouncing around left him distracted. Had a doppelg?nger taken her place? Because the Eleanor he knew wasn¡¯t so¡­animated. Maybe the beasts really did gobble me up. A latent, piercing heat blossomed from the center of his forehead. That, or this is a nightmare¡­ ¡°Sanrevelle,¡± he groaned into the table, ¡°can we stop now?¡± ¡°What? We¡¯ve only started an hour ago,¡± she said. ¡°Yeah, and if you keep going, I¡¯ll be here for the rest of the night.¡± ¡°Then it is a sacrifice I¡¯m willing to make!¡± Tan¨ª lifted his head high off the table, then hurtled down. Maybe this would be enough to send him to the nurse¡¯s office. Before he could strike the sturdy wood, Eleanor¡¯s gloved hand flashed before him, catching his head inches before impact. Her arm remained still as he furiously strained to smash himself against the unforgiving surface. It was like trying to move a wall. ¡°Please do refrain from voluntary bludgeoning, D¡¯Histell. I¡¯d rather you not suffer permanent brain damage,¡± she chided, chin raised with a quiet confidence. ¡°You know, I¡¯d rather risk that if it means not being here.¡± Her cool facade withered. ¡°What? But¡­I thought you enjoyed speaking to me.¡± ¡°I do. Just not when it¡¯s about school. You¡¯re really boring then.¡± ¡°Boring or not, you need to take your studies seriously. Now start noting down your thoughts.¡± Tan¨ª reluctantly straightened in his chair, grabbed his reedprinter, then pressed a simple phrase onto his parchment. Eleanor snatched the sheet with a speed born of lightning, her bright eyes running across the paper. Their initial joy darkened. ¡°Help me?¡± She lowered the paper, her eyes narrowed at him. ¡°D¡¯Histell, show some class.¡± ¡°We aren¡¯t even in class!¡± Tan¨ª threw his head back, grappling with a pout that wanted out. ¡°Can I leave now? I learned enough for one day.¡± ¡°We''ve only been here for three hours." "Exactly!" "Fine. Then tell me what year King Bastino founded Corat?o.¡± ¡°Pfft, that¡¯s easy." He folded his arms, nodding to himself. "Five-O-Two Post-Fall after the mire lurkers attacked his family!¡± Eleanor¡¯s eyes widened in sheer astonishment. ¡°Not only are you off by two-hundred years, but you¡¯ve mistaken actual events for a myth aged some two thousand years old.¡± ¡°What¡¯re you talking about? That¡¯s what¡­uh¡­¡± Tan¨ª snapped his fingers, the accumulated trauma submerging their identity in a haze. ¡°What¡¯s the history teacher¡¯s name again?¡± ¡°D¡¯Histell, the kingdom of Corat?o was founded in Seven-O-Six after King Bastino I rebelled against his local lord. Do you know why?¡± ¡°¡­Spoiled meat?¡± he said, grinning. Pinching the bridge of her nose, she vented an exasperated sigh. ¡°No. Their lord conscripted them into yet another war with Kastel. One which they wanted no part of.¡± ¡°Great! Can I go now?¡± Eleanor turned to her thick stack of tomes and read from her page. A stream of colorful ribbons protruded from the pages. Why did teachers have those, anyway? Were they afraid of losing their place, or were the hues the sole thing that kept them sane as they read through line after line of brain-frying prose? Tan¨ª debated slamming his head against the table once more, but if there was one thing he¡¯d learned, it was that Eleanor was fast. Unnaturally so. He didn¡¯t even smell her blood boiling when she moved. She occasionally glanced at him to see if he was following along, and out of the kindness of his heart, he listened. Not that screaming for help would do anything. That, and his creaking jaw couldn¡¯t withstand another mouthful of gloves. Why she carried a bottomless supply of them in her Blood-Loader, he couldn''t fathom. So, instead of subjecting himself to mindless torment, he blocked her out, his thoughts drifting to the Labryinth. ?zar¡¯s cryptic voice echoed from the depths. A relic. The relic. The one thing his House needed to even the playing field. Could its power overshadow that of D¡¯Arcy¡¯s Spine or Valtar¡¯s Vambraces? If Dragonfang¡¯s relic encapsulated death, then could Valtar¡¯s be life itself? And where would that leave Fad¨¦nix? How would it function? Dragons were harbingers of destruction. Kin directly descended from the Desolator. And serpents? The bones of the earth. But a bird? What significance did a feathered fowl hold? "Fire¡­ A true, severing fire. She''s calling¡ªcalling on oaths long forgotten. Don''t ignore her, she hasn''t the strength. His will...it lingers at her doorstep. And it''s waiting for you." The third year struggled to recount the closing line of his introduction. His ensuing fever guaranteed he remembered nothing, only that a fire waited. Eleanor¡¯s stern, saffron-chambray eyes came into view. Despite their blood-chilling effect, she was anything but scary. Lively was more like it. Had she passed the day well? The Tyrian¡¯s skin¡ªa pasty pale¡ªbore an uncanny resemblance to the reclusive nobles he¡¯d encountered during his travels. Did teachers not leave Hierrs¨¦¡¯s confines all that much? And her nose. Straight without being bulbous. It certainly fit her angular face well. Even her style of sitting exuded a quiet confidence rivaled only by Lavisa. Her posture was straight without appearing stiff. As for her regalia? That did little to conceal her toned physique. A snug military jacket of black with gold accents hugged her torso, and adorning her shoulder was an elegant gray cape pinned in place by a golden lunell. Tygenna¡¯s flower, an Iteration of the Agent herself. Its emerald core emulated the moon¡¯s radiance. Grazers claimed the emblem a Lunarkin¡¯s badge. Those blessed not with Sedd, but with Her very blood. They were an odd sort. A ¡°perfect Juneac?o¡± if there was ever one to exist. So why hadn¡¯t Tan¨ª encountered their kind on his travels? He''d seen Nimmians, Kastellians, Tyrians, merchants from the east, swarthy D¨¦qoish, but never the towering Lunarkin. Eleanor¡¯s legs, clad in black tights, revealed a rippling display of power that demanded respect. As difficult as it was to pry his gaze away from the sight, he realized that staring was impolite and so returned his attention to her regal face. Hers would make a noble profile upon a gleaming vine. He wasn''t even sure if he''d spend it. ¡°Eleanor,¡± he spoke. The Tyrian¡¯s lips dipped. ¡°Show proper respect, D¡¯Histell.¡± ¡°Right¡­master Sanrevelle, mind if I ask you something?¡± ¡°Ask away.¡± ¡°Your uniform¡­is that?¡± A twinkle of amusement shone in Eleanor¡¯s eyes. ¡°Is that to blame for your wandering eyes?¡± ¡°¡­Yeah. That¡¯s definitely why.¡± ¡°If you must know, this is my typical attire outside class. My wearing the Art uniform is only because I am required to. That, and it¡¯s bloody difficult to slip out of the sweaty thing. The regalia might be snug around the torso, but I prefer it over the damp suit. As it not only displays my service but honors my king.¡± Tan¨ª nearly fell out of his chair. ¡°You used to be a royal guard?¡± Eleanor quickly averted her gaze from his. ¡°In another life, yes.¡± ¡°Why¡¯d you leave?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Oh. Are you on temporary leave or something?¡± The harsh squeaking of leather drew Tan¨ª¡¯s attention to Eleanor¡¯s fingers. They pressed into the tome¡¯s wrinkled surface, tearing open the countless imperfections that scored it. ¡°Shall we continue? I¡¯d rather not keep you till midnight!¡± she said with an edge of faux enthusiasm. ¡°I¡¯ve got a funny feeling that¡¯ll happen, anyways. I''m a little...dull," Tan¨ª mumbled. Once she concluded her Literature unit, Tan¨ª groaned and laid his head flat on the table. He was one of TWO people who carried House-altering information, and he was stuck listening to a woman who barely knew how to teach? Fate transpired against him. ¡°C-Can we talk about something else?¡± he asked, hoping to speed up the lesson. Eleanor gently closed the tome. ¡°I suppose a brief respite isn¡¯t uncalled for.¡± The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°Cool, then why¡¯d you quit your post as a royal guard?¡± ¡°D¡¯Histell¡­¡± ¡°What, did you hate the idea of killing people?¡± ¡°We¡¯re supposed to¡ª" ¡°Cuz if you did, I don¡¯t blame you. It¡¯s not right, y¡¯know. Even if it is for a king.¡± She sighed. ¡°This is hardly the time for¡ª¡± Propping an elbow on the table, Tan¨ª pillowed his cheek on his palm. ¡°Was it the training? Heard qualifications are tough, but you kinda look like you¡¯d fit in. Especially since you¡¯re so tall! Probably even the tallest person I¡¯ve ever seen!¡± He paused, considering. "You''re a little shy of all those D''Arcy lifesizers. She was a Lunarkin, too, I think." ¡°Tan?o.¡± ¡°Did something happen between you and the king? Or was it Lavisa? You must¡¯ve known them if she¡¯s only fifteen. Did you¡ª¡± A splintering crack resounded as her tome crashed into the desk, Eleanor''s hand flying behind it as she split the table in twain. Tan¨ª, caught at the crossroad of running for his life and begging for mercy, stared with wide-eyed alarm. So, he did the smart thing and stayed seated, his pulse running rampant. When nothing happened, he risked a glance at his tutor. She hung her head, her shoulders trembling something fierce. After a moment of silence, she snapped up and flashed him a too tight, plastic smile. ¡°Shall we go for a snack?¡± ? Tan¨ª munched on a chestnut as they traversed the depths of the school¡¯s halls. He didn¡¯t mind a walk, but was catching some fresh air all that wise when they still had four classes to tear through? He caught Eleanor glancing at him between bites, her lips hinting at a grin. Tan¨ª threw another chestnut back, savoring the spicy blend of cinnamon and sugar as they coated his tongue. The Nimmians were certainly brilliant for discovering the snack. Realizing she was still looking at him, Tan¨ª held out his bag to her. ¡°Want some?¡± Eleanor waved. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Most definitely.¡± Tan¨ª plucked a handful from his bag and rolled them into her upturned hand. He didn¡¯t care about pressing, so he took another bite from his slightly emptier bag. The sacrifice made the taste all the sweeter. Eleanor¡¯s lips dipped with disapproval, though she voiced no objection. Resigning herself, she plucked a piece and chewed on it. An audible crunch betrayed the silence. Finishing, Tan¨ª tossed his bag into the nearest disposal bin. He waited for the soft flap of the stainless container to strike his ears, but it never came. Only a low, giddy rustle emanated as the bag vanished into the liquid shadows. Pausing, he pressed the flap open. It was empty. ¡°Kinnakelar.¡± A frigid lance of dread pierced his heart. Tenderness born from absolute adoration dripped from the voice¡¯s summons, yet it was wrong. Fabricated. No. Not fabricated. An imitation of warmth. Like it was only trying to affect an inviting tone. ¡°It is you. The one there. It is you. I see it; I see you. Your deficient shells mask not Potential.¡± An inky twinkle shone from the bin¡¯s fissures. ¡°Do you see me? Our dream beyond a dream.¡± A throat-binding pause elapsed, and in a voice devoid of faux affection, it asked, ¡°How can you see me? How can you dream me? Dream¡­dream, dream, dream. This is not a dream. You¡¯re¡­real? Awake. Wrong. You¡¯re wrong. Changed. Different. Alive. Why is this shell still alive?¡± ¡°D¡¯Histell,¡± Eleanor¡¯s voice shattered the spell. Heat flushed Tan¨ª¡¯s body. He peered through the flap, found nothing, and in a fit, stuck his head inside the bin. Pushing until he squeezed his shoulders past, his hands brushing against gunky litter. ¡°D¡¯Histell!¡± The darkness gave birth to light as Eleanor yanked him out of the bin like a misbehaving puppy. ¡°Show some restraint! You need only request more and I¡¯d be happy to purchase you food.¡± Dazed, Tan¨ª blinked at her owlishly. ¡°Did you hear that?¡± ¡°If by hear you mean witness you scrounge through the trash like a starving pup, then yes. I ¡®heard¡¯ it.¡± ¡°No! The voice!¡± Eleanor¡¯s eyes darted from him to the disposal bin. When she could not descry the sinister presence, her lips thinned to a worried line. ¡°Are you in need of Ystalix¡¯s counsel, D¡¯Histell? She''s been meaning to discuss your...issues as of late.¡± He stared. ¡°I heard something.¡± ¡°And these audible hallucinations may derive from your traumatic experience in the Labyrinth. Your mind is not sound as you might believe. Do remember that.¡± Like she was one to talk. Voices, darkness, beasts¡­ Had the Desolator tainted him? And why here, of all places? Hierrs¨¦ was holy grounds. The literal work of an Agent. Not Tygenna, but still. A yawn suddenly escaped him, and his tired lids weighed upon his eyes like anchors. Poor sleep¡­good blood. What he would do for a single full night''s rest. ¡°Eleanor?¡± Tan¨ª called. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Are nightmares possible here?¡± The Tyrian¡¯s shoulders stiffened. ¡°I¡¯d not concern myself with that, D¡¯Histell." The rings under her eyes somehow darkened, and for the first time since he¡¯d met her, she appeared ready to topple over. ¡°Then they¡¯re not real, right?¡± ¡°Let us return to our studies, D¡¯Histell.¡± She stalked down the hall without waiting for his response. Fighting back another yawn, Tan¨ª followed her. A blacker-than-night presence lapped at the winding shadows of Hierrs¨¦¡¯s hall, nearing whilst simultaneously shrinking. Almost like his mind was making up the details of his false pursuer. ¡°Master Sanrevelle,¡± he began, already knowing the answer to his question, ¡°what¡¯re nightmares?¡± Without breaking her stride, she spoke, ¡°They are the accursed remnants of the Desolator¡¯s will. The darkness that gnaws at our hearts.¡± ¡°Because he wants to be alive again, right?¡± Eleanor huffed. ¡°Familiar, are we not?¡± ¡°Father always said that you had to think about good things to get rid of it. Y¡¯know, cuz the Desolator hates happiness.¡± His gaze drifted to the curling shadows. ¡°But why would something that hates happiness eat the container that holds all of it?¡± ¡°Technically speaking, our minds translate the sentiment we define as happiness. The heart simply regulates our oxygen supply.¡± Tan¨ª rolled his eyes. ¡°Alright, if it doesn¡¯t hold happiness, then why eat it?¡± Eleanor hummed, her hands clasped behind her back. Students cleared her path, only apologizing when they bumped into her. She never once scolded them. ¡°Perhaps he seeks to engorge himself with Sedd. What greater source could there be besides our hearts?¡± she said. Sedd and hearts. Somehow, that didn¡¯t make sense. His father believed them remnants, Danza and a bunch of Grazers claimed them ¡°the natural evil¡± of Vale?o, but his Art teacher? Yeah, maybe he needed to double-check everything someone claimed. The faint green glow of the moon washed over the hall, drawing Tan¨ª to the satellite hanging high in the sky, beyond the glass-thin barrier. Whispers did not accompany its station. Nor did visions strike him. He just stood there, ears straining for her sonorous voice. He glanced at Eleanor, and while she remained tall and strong, her eyes appeared distant. As if she were staring at something past the moon. A spark of faint light twinkled from the core of her pupil. A realm that should¡¯ve belonged to a black sphere was now occupied by a void of white. And its guest? An emerald sparkle. Tan¨ª stared, speechless. She was one of them, wasn¡¯t she? Descended from the blood of those who had partaken of Tygenna¡¯s essence all those millennia ago. A Lunarkin. ¡°Eleanor?¡± he called. The instructor¡¯s unwavering gaze remained locked on the moon. ¡°You there?¡± The void white-green light continued to twinkle, resonating with an unseen signal. ¡°Hey!¡± Eleanor flinched, the twinkle in her eyes diminished, but very much present. ¡°Did you say something?¡± she asked. ¡°Does¡­¡± He looked around. ¡°Does this always happen whenever you stare at it?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ I suppose it¡¯s something of a special connection.¡± After a moment of silence, the weight of a familiar question returned to his mind. ¡°Mind if I ask you a question, Sanrevelle?¡± Eleanor let out a heavy sigh. ¡°Use the proper titles, D¡¯Histell.¡± ¡°Just say yes or no. I¡¯m curious,¡± Tan¨ª pressed. ¡°Fine. You may.¡± ¡°I know it¡¯s been a while, but how did you find us in the labyrinth? I don¡¯t think we told anyone where we were going. Not even our Housemates.¡± Eleanor folded her arms. ¡°If you must know, I was doing my daily rounds when I caught wind of a trio¡¯s presence. Mind you, I make no effort to speak to divers, but seeing as I¡¯m one of the few instructors qualified to brave the labyrinth¡¯s depths, I eventually learned that they appeared suspiciously young for a band. One member in particular was the spitting image of our fair Lady.¡± Tan¨ª scratched the back of his head. ¡°Couldn¡¯t help but investigate, huh?¡± ¡°And it was a good thing I did. My swiftness not only led to the safety of the princess, but to the survival of two students.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­sorry about that. Didn¡¯t mean to make you overwork yourself.¡± ¡°Save your breath, D¡¯Histell. Your words are wasted on me. From now to the day I die, I shall never recognize them as worthy of my forgiveness.¡± Tan¨ª¡¯s heart sank into the pit of his stomach. ¡°Did I do something bad? I know I almost died, but¡ª¡± Eleanor¡¯s eyes narrowed to slits. It was enough to reduce him to silence. ¡°Do not treat your well-being as if it¡¯s a leaf caught on the wind, D¡¯Histell,¡± Eleanor chastised him. ¡°A Juneac?o must preserve life. The people, your king, mine, and yours. Ignoring the most basic of codes proves you are not only ignorant but a fool, and I¡¯d rather you never die a fool. Not while I remain with breath in my lungs. You shan¡¯t be brought low. Even If I must tear you from death¡¯s sweet embrace for the rest of my life, then I shall continue to do so.¡± She drew a fist to her side. ¡°You are capable of greater good than I¡¯ll ever be, and I¡¯ll be damned if I ever see you perish before I do.¡± Words completely eluded Tan¨ª. They were sincere, but why him? Didn¡¯t she realize he was just another student? That dozens would replace him in time. Tan¨ª wasn¡¯t the strongest or quickest. He couldn¡¯t even use Sedd, so why was she acting like he was the biggest thing since zesty f¨ª odala? ¡°So¡­where¡¯s the joke?¡± he asked with a sheepish grin. Eleanor scoffed. ¡°Do not test me, D¡¯Histell. I¡¯ve no patience for comedy, and this is hardly the place for it.¡± ¡°Right, right. Sorry. I didn¡¯t mean it.¡± ¡°Cease your pleas for forgiveness. You shan¡¯t find it with me.¡± And with that, she started for a nearby transmitter. Her boot clicks echoing in his ears. Great. Just when the afternoon couldn¡¯t get any worse, now he had to deal with an upset Art instructor. Tan¨ª struggled to keep pace with her long, proud strides as they made their way to the second floor. While Eleanor initially suggested they use her office, the putrid musk of sweat wasn¡¯t conducive to an academic environment. So, they settled on an empty corner of the Fadenician wing once used for a club. Not that there were any left following the lack of funding. ¡°Hey,¡± Tan¨ª whispered, ¡°is ?zar really banned from being House champion anywhere?¡± Eleanor slowed her strides, glancing at him from the corner of her eyes. ¡°Yes. Disappointing though it may be, rules are rules.¡± ¡°Do you think he¡¯s guilty?¡± ¡°Now why would I think that? I¡¯ve yet to meet a more capable youth in all my years.¡± ¡°Then you knew he wasn¡¯t cheating!¡± ¡°I suppose not.¡± ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you say anything?¡± The clicks of the Tyrian¡¯s heels drummed in his ears. ¡°Because the student body¡ªnot the faculty¡ªgoverns the position of champion. Even were I to file an appeal, my claim would be met with scrutiny.¡± She clasped her hands behind her back. ¡°This is tradition, D¡¯Histell. Though ?zar¡¯s fault lies in speculation, we cannot overrule a council-wide agreement.¡± Disquiet gnawed at Tan¨ª¡¯s gut. ¡°Then he¡¯s stuck like that.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± As much as he hated it, this was ?zar¡¯s fate. Unfair, yes. Unfortunate, yes, but he was still alive. That was something to be happy about. They returned to their room not long after, and as Eleanor explained a mathematical equation to him, Tan¨ª interrupted her with a question. ¡°Yes, D¡¯Histell?¡± ¡°Ele¡ª¡± He paused. Her name was nice, but it didn¡¯t fit. Nor did her surname. There was something else he wanted to refer to her by. Something more important. So, he settled on it after a brief debate. ¡°Master¡­ Yeah, Master. I just wanted to say thanks. You know, for everything.¡± Eleanor¡¯s eyes widened. She leaned back in her chair, the seat groaning until she toppled backwards, slamming the back of her head against the floor. The chair shattered beneath her weight, and though she wasn¡¯t heavy like a noble, her built physique certainly made up for the fat. Tan¨ª rushed to her side, one hand scrounging through his Blood-Loader. He doubted his blood¡¯s potency, but it never hurt to try, right? Dazed, Eleanor reached for his wrist. A sweeping glance at her uniform revealed an untouched set of clothes. Thinking about it, she almost looked¡­ Happy. ¡°Master! What¡¯s wrong? Are you hurt?¡± Eleanor flashed him the largest, goofiest grin he had ever seen. And then, in a voice drunk with syrup, she asked, ¡°C-Can you say that one more time, please?¡± Chapter 33 ~ Better Days Tan¨ª drew the soggy, wrinkled wrapper to his face. It was still warm. The subtle scent of tantalizing vanilla, the glob of chocolate oozing from the cavity on its side. That flakey, buttery surface baked to golden perfection, and the melted cream! One whose knobbly ridges resembled a glowing drake. This was it: A dragonpuff. The hottest treat on the island, all thanks to Dragonfang. How the auspicious House came to possess it was a mystery. Some attributed its creation to a merchant from Tyrem, D¡¯Arcy¡¯s old homeland. Others believed it a Harusten delicacy. He wasn''t sure how a bunch of blood-thirsty reedlanders concocted one of the tastiest treats known to man. Then again, they were a secretive bunch. Secrets¡­ Someway, somehow, word of their incident had reached the mainland. Lavisa¡¯s involvement served as the crowning jewel of the story, of course. People paid a pretty vine just to learn of the princess¡¯s fate. Or averted fate, that is. Despite knowing the suppression of mouth of word beyond his ability, the guilt gnawed at Tan¨ª all the same. Lavisa didn¡¯t blame him, though. No, she came to him with an apology. What for? Her future absence. Suffice it to say the king wasn¡¯t a fan of Tan¨ª. Somehow, that hurt a whole lot worse than he expected it to. Like suffering a light cold only for it to develop into a fever. The worst part following that exchange was when he¡¯d gone to their usual lunch spot. Her chair, that fitting seat she always sat so primly on, was empty. He spent the entire period searching for her, but to no avail. She sure had the marks of an unparalleled hide-and-seek champion. He bumped into her during Art, but they promptly switched partners. Well, it was more like Eleanor had taken to training Tan¨ª. Her boundless enthusiasm as a mentor was¡­jarring, to say the least. Whenever she got too rough during training, he¡¯d utter the magic word. As a result, she¡¯d either recoil, gasp, or allow a goofy smile to worm its way across her face. He had to admit, her googly eyes were awfully cute. It was no substitute for Lavisa''s, though. Returned to his dreary, mid-afternoon garden sweep, Tan¨ª heaved a heavy sigh. Alone again. ¡°Hey look, it¡¯s that diver wannabe,¡± came a snarky voice. ¡°You really think he¡¯s gonna eat that dragonpuff?¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t surprise me. I heard he hasn¡¯t washed in weeks. Probably rolls in garbage for all we know.¡± Their posh laughter made heat rush to Tan¨ª¡¯s cheeks. He quickly dispensed the treat into his thick leather sack, then continued his trek through the school garden. Trash picker in hand. The brand on his head was too valuable to wash off. They¡¯d understand, too, if they were in his position. And she¡¯d never do it again! Not unless he did something suicidally brave. His heart twinged at the thought. He didn¡¯t like it. She was so fun and sweet to hang around, but she called him a friend. And friends they were! Tan¨ª loved that idea. He just wanted something more. Tan¨ª skewered another scattered dragonpuff wrapper. There was still a bite inside¡­ A low, monstrous growl tore through his stomach. Several hours till moonfall. He¡¯d never survive¡­ Ignoring the gut-rending claw of hunger, he tossed a glance at a patch of daisies. Their pale, wilted tops starved for the sun¡¯s light. The sunflowers fared no better, but seeing the way they drooped like his mother¡ª He pushed the memory out of his mind. Sunflowers were tall and strong. Just like Eleanor. You¡¯d never see them fall. Wilt day by day, yes, but never fall. Then, come Sun¡¯s Peak, they''d perk up again. Good as new. She was nowhere near as jubilant, but good-natured? Definitely. She didn¡¯t show it, though one never needed to prove they were wholly good. Tan¨ª plucked another piece of trash from the floor. If only the faculty hadn''t abasconded with his introverted-freak-of-a-Juneac?o for a meeting while he was stuck with garbage duty. Her swordsmanship certainly made up for her abysmal teaching schools. Not that he was the least bit surprised, considering her credentials. Inducted into the Jury of Ila?el following her graduation at Hierrs¨¦, she not only served on the king¡¯s personal guard, but became something of a confidant to the man, all at the age of nineteen. Given the average (though accomplished) thirty-some years of the standard Ila?el initiate, her being there must¡¯ve turned heads. That, and she claimed the distinct honor of being Sierez¡¯s squire. A Grazer that had served the previous king in an age long past. Tan¨ª tossed the trash into his bag and spotted a pile of cans lying hidden beneath a bed of flowers. Great. They litter here, too. He begrudgingly swept them into the bag, his mind racing to brighter, or at least cleaner, pastures. Tan¨ª scooted around a Dragonfang tending to a bed of flowers. He found it odd that, out of all the Houses, the one famed for their craftiness possessed a weapon. Then again, bladework took skill. The wyrms were just a lazy bunch. He fought back a grin. Wyrms. What a silly term. Eleanor used it to describe the untested dragon¡¯s of the House. As for what a ¡°wyrm¡± was, she never explained. It was probably something similar to a drake. ¡°¡­Hey, come on!¡± Tan¨ª perked up. That raspy playfulness¡­ Canela. He crept beside an assembly of short conifers, each no less symmetrical than the last. Careful not to reveal himself, he peeked around the corner. There she was: The treasure of Fad¨¦nix pulling on her brother¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Canela, I already said no,¡± ?zar grumbled, tired eyes to the sky. Canela tugged on his arm again. ¡°But what if they run out!¡± ¡°They won¡¯t run out; they literally do this every year.¡± ¡°Yeah, but they¡¯re good!¡± ?zar sucked in a long breath. He didn''t stop, either. He just kept going and going until Tan¨ª was afraid he''d blow up. Finally, the exasperated breath ended. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be saving up for Fad¨¦nix? The tourney¡¯s right around the corner.¡± Canela scoffed. ¡°So? Nothing¡¯ll happen. I say we go cheap and not fund the game. If someone wants to participate, then they can get a loan from their parents.¡± ¡°Canela, you can¡¯t be serious.¡± ¡°Look. If I finance this round, then we¡¯ll be at a net loss. That means fewer cans, angrier Housemates, and the Shadow? They¡¯ll nag me till I¡¯m dead. I¡¯ll pour our funds into another project, but the tourney? That¡¯s a lost cause.¡± ¡°So, you don¡¯t care about the others? Is that it? Is that why you just want to keep everything to yourself?¡± Tan¨ª had a sinking feeling their discussion was a serious one. To which she immediately responded to his question with a pout. ¡°Can we just get a dragonpuff or not?¡± ?zar¡¯s festive eyes narrowed with cold contempt. Almost as if she had suggested they toss their housemates into a howling blizzard. He forced a slow, long blink, and upon its fall, released a sharp sigh. ¡°Fine. You¡¯re only getting one though, got it? And you better burn that trash off. It¡¯ll make you as fat as a dragon. And no, I won¡¯t love you even then.¡± Canela erupted with glee; her eyes flickering like burning grass. Before her brother could react, she hooked an arm around his and dragged him off to the academy¡¯s entrance. Neither noticed him as they passed. Tan¨ª¡¯s gaze lingered on ?zar. Try as he might, the third-year couldn¡¯t mask the slight discomfort his wounds inflicted. Canela flashed her brother a tender smile, and when he failed to draw away from her, received the nuzzling end of her head. Her thick, dark strands tickling his shoulders. Clingy. As they disappeared, a stray thought crossed Tan¨ª¡¯s mind: Were ?zar¡¯s injuries to blame for his notion? He¡¯d not once mentioned the relic since their release. That, and their fabulous sentence spent in the nurse¡¯s office had produced little more than small talk. Not that he was any good at it. Most exchanges left Tan¨ª feeling like he was throttling a stray for a yes or no. After he had picked up the trash, he dumped his bag inside the school and picked up a new one. Shortly after a minor break (where he probably spent a bit too much time spearing an invisible cavalry charge with his poker), he made his way past the school¡¯s back doors. There, sprawling across the north side of the island, lay the near-mythical athletic fields. Composed of a well-tended, almost too clean-looking arena that hosted a track, a field for jousting and horseback riding, a sizable dueling ring, and several towering bleachers, the academy¡¯s backyard did not hurt for space. And the island beyond? That expansive chunk of land just faded into the fog. Just how many villages lay beyond their tiny haven? Despite the athletic field¡¯s size, only one section bustled with activity: The dueling ring. Countless first- and fourth-years sparred with one another, mimicking the motions of their lead instructor. An above-average tall student with some stubble on their chin. Was that a fifth-year? He thought them sectioned off into their own corner of the school. The ones mimicking the fifth-year sounded off after every swing, fueling their next blow even as their arms trembled. What was the difference between this and Art class? They went through a rigorous series of deft swipes and flourishes, warding off a surge of invisible marauders. Just how effective would these motions be when put to the test? People didn¡¯t just waddle at their opponent one at a time, especially a Juneac?o. No, they rushed them from all sides. Besides, their technique lacked Eleanor¡¯s ferocity and finesse. And, for once, he saw the irony of what his history teacher had said. Like most in the Westerlans save Tyrians, people traced their lineage to the Sea Peoples. Those that had raided and displaced the original populace. The techniques once used to stave them off used by their descendants. ¡°Oi, Tan-Tan, how¡ª¡± The voice stopped and sniffed audibly. ¡°Ah, gross! C¡¯mon, man! That¡¯s gross! You still haven¡¯t washed?¡± Tan¨ª turned to his side, shooting Jaster a sharp glare. ¡°Since when were you my mother?¡± Jaster pinched his nose. ¡°Tan¨ª, you smell like a dead fish that¡¯s been marinating in manure.¡± ¡°I think that smells great.¡± ¡°Did you bash your skull against something again?¡± Tan¨ª stabbed another discarded wrapper, struggled to slide it off with a dismissive gesture, and when it wouldn¡¯t budge, kicked it off with his foot. ¡°You mind being noisy elsewhere? People are tryna work.¡± ¡°Well, I want you to take a bath, but that¡¯s probably never gonna happen. So why don¡¯t we settle for a nice rinse?¡± Jaster suggested with a winning smile. ¡°No thanks, I¡¯m good.¡± ¡°Tan¨ª, you smell worse than the trash.¡± ¡°So?¡± ¡°You¡¯re supposed to clean it, not become it.¡± Tan¨ª gave a sagely wag of his poker. "Can¡¯t clean something you don¡¯t understand." Jaster made a face. ¡°Seriously, man. You need a bath. Thick as we are, you need to clean up your act. The Joint isn¡¯t a substitute privy.¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t...¡± ¡°And I know how much you love sitting next to Innes, so don¡¯t fret. I¡¯ll give you two some extra privacy. My old spot was getting boring, anyways.¡± Tempted as Tan¨ª was to whack the Nimmian with his pole, he restrained himself. ¡°I can¡¯t just shower.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all in the wrist! You just turn the nozzle and let the water hit you,¡± Jaster said, stirring a finger through the air as if to guide him through an instruction manual. ¡°No, I mean¡­it¡¯s there.¡± The Nimmian cocked a brow. ¡°What is?¡± Tan¨ª glanced over his shoulder. Nothing and no one to overhear him. Maybe it wouldn¡¯t hurt. ¡°You know¡­she did it there.¡± ¡°Are you talking about that Tuna? Cuz I¡¯ve been hearing a lot of weird stuff about you two. Is it something you need to talk about?¡± ¡°I¡¯m talking about Lavisa, you thin-blooded dolt!¡± Jaster lit up. ¡°Oooh! You mean the kiss thing? Is that what¡¯s got you so worked?¡± Tan¨ª swatted him on the head with the pole, earning a yelp. ¡°Can you be any louder?¡± Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. ¡°Moonrays, calm down,¡± the Nimmian hissed. Once he rubbed away the last of his ache, he flashed Tan¨ª a sly grin. ¡°Wait a minute¡­you have a thing for her?¡± ¡°¡­No.¡± ¡°You do! You do! Wow, I never knew that. I mean, you always stared at her a lot when she wasn¡¯t looking, but even then¡­you were always a little vacant up in there.¡± ¡°Please shut up.¡± ¡°No, no.¡± He spread his hands. ¡°I get it. She¡¯s pretty. Probably one of the prettiest girls in Hierrs¨¦. It¡¯s too bad she¡¯s a princess. Your chances are fried." Tan¨ª¡¯s heart sank. ¡°Yeah¡­ I guess you¡¯re right.¡± ¡°But you know who you have a shot with?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s someone you know pretty well¡­¡± The trash picker rose like the inexorable sun as he aimed its sharp end at the Nimmian. ¡°How badly to you want to keep your legs?¡± Jaster snickered. ¡°Don¡¯t need to take it so seriously. But yeah. Is that why you haven¡¯t washed up?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Tan¨ª murmured, ¡°it just feels special, I guess. Getting rid of it would be like insulting her.¡± ¡°I think you stinking is doing most of that.¡± ¡°Ha ha.¡± ¡°Seriously. Preserving it is noble, but you still got the memory, yeah? Doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s gone forever. Besides, you don¡¯t want Lavisa catching a whiff once the storm blows over.¡± ¡°Blows over?¡± Tan¨ª drew the poker to a rest. ¡°What¡¯re you talkin¡¯ about?¡± ¡°Oh, right. Word is her father got royally pissed. Nearly withdrew Lavisa from the academy. She convinced him to stay, though only on the grounds she not collude with people like us,¡± Jaster explained. ¡°Like us? We aren¡¯t that bad, are we?¡± ¡°Nah, we¡¯re good people. A few bumps on the head don¡¯t really count for much.¡± ¡°We are so totally good people.¡± Jaster flipped a hand at the sky. ¡°That¡¯s probably why you haven¡¯t seen her around. She¡¯s sticking to her word, which is weird. She doesn¡¯t like being obedient.¡± ¡°Lavisa? Not obedient? Why?¡± Tan¨ª asked. The Nimmian shrugged. ¡°Bloody mystery as bright as the moon. Her father''s irritable? She¡¯s rebellious¡­ Couldn¡¯t give you an answer even if I tried. Don''t care to; not my life. Just take it easy and clean up what you can. Because you missed a spot there¡±¡ªhe pointed to a pile of cans hidden in a clump of grass¡ª¡°and over there.¡± Tan¨ª grumbled and shoveled them into his bag before returning to Jaster. The cool wind caressed the streaks of sweat marring Tan¨ª''s forehead. That was the worst part about middle Redtide: going in and out of a well-insulated building left him more warm than cold, like it was his mother loading him up with coats in Greentide. ¡°What brings you here, anyways? Thought you weren¡¯t in a club.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not. Did get in a bit of trouble, though,¡± Jaster said. ¡°Wait...you¡¯re the guy who¡¯s been dodging me all week?¡± ¡°Sorry about that. Got caught up napping, but hey. I¡¯m here now.¡± Jaster threw him a supportive thumbs up, and as Tan¨ª grappled with the tempting choice to cave his head in, the Nimmian gave a rhythmic, grooving shake of his thumbs. Tan¨ª sighed. ¡°Guess that¡¯s better than nothing¡­ How¡¯d you get stuck doing this?¡± ¡°Ah. Sierez and the Tuna got angry at me after I said something. Nothing big.¡± Tan¨ª didn¡¯t bother pressing. If anything, they probably got fed up with him constantly sleeping during class. Then again, they were probably the only people who can realistically get their claws on him. He was bloody good at evading his own House. None of them had ever seen him outside of class. Most didn''t even know where he bunked. No one knew what his family''s heraldry was, either, though if Tan¨ª had to guess, he purposefully kept it hidden. Mostly to avoid detection. They swept through the fields until they came upon the dueling ring. A blonde head stood out in the crowd: Innes. He spoke to a small group of other first-years. Several of them were his lackeys, though others were children Tan¨ª shared a class with. As much as Tan¨ª didn¡¯t want to clean up around them, he had a duty to keep, and he¡¯d rather not waste any more of his precious time standing around. He slinked around the group, keeping his back to them as he went to work. Thankfully, there was a startling lack of garbage around the pit. As the conversation crescendoed, so did the quickening of his pulse. He clung to calm, endeavoring to return to Jaster''s side. That or visit Eleanor before he called it a day. The instructor always seemed to glow whenever he greeted her. When the trash no longer made itself apparent, Tan¨ª scanned the field. The arena was clear except for the wrapper near Innes¡¯s feet. Great. He could always leave it to Jaster, but considering the Nimmian hadn¡¯t moved a muscle since they¡¯d spoken, Tan¨ª had a sneaking suspicion it''d remain there. Lying to Sierez was another option, but he didn¡¯t like that. The man was Eleanor¡¯s master. That would be like him lying to his grandfather. Setting his jaw, Tan¨ª inched towards the clueless prince, sweaty palms wringing the pole. Innes gesticulated, describing how he¡¯d disarmed this opponent or came close to besting that. When defeated, he stressed his opponents¡¯ age and House. Because, of course, only a Vlasalisk could best a Vlasalisk in a matched fight. Tan¨ª mitigated the rustle of his footfalls by placing his weight on his toes. Arriving at his destination, he reached for the wrapper with his pole. Success. He tossed the paper into the bag, the tight hammering in his chest ebbing to a steady drum. With a mental sigh, he whipped around and started towards Jaster. Or that was his original plan until he miscalculated the distance. Tan¨ª came to a twisting stop as the pole cracked over something sturdy, jerking him to the side. Gravity came calling, but before it could draw him to the withering grass, he tugged on the burdensome trash. After his boots scraped the floor for purchase, he turned to see what the pole had caught on. There was one issue, though: Innes was missing. None of the prince¡¯s lackeys spared Tan¨ª a glance, their attention drawn to something on the sandy floor. Curious, Tan¨ª traced their gaze along the invisible arrow. The sight made his blood run cold. The prince groaned as he pushed himself onto his trembling hands and knees. For a chilling, Cycle-thinning moment, he knelt. His eyes dazed. Tan¨ª retreated, disturbing the glistening grass with a crunching rustle. Inness whipped up to face him, his eyes ablaze with fury. ¡°You,¡± he barked. Tan¨ª dashed for the school¡¯s entrance, the wind whipping in his ears. He didn''t make it more than six feet before a supreme pressure caught him by the scruff, silencing his momentum. ¡°Do you think it wise to attack royalty?¡± Innes hissed, drawing Tan¨ª by his uniform. ¡°Attack is a strong word¡ª¡± ¡°DO YOU?" Tan¨ª withered. ¡°N-No! Of course not!¡± ¡°Then why, pray tell, was I lying on the floor?¡± Tan¨ª glanced at Jaster for support but found him standing at the school''s back entrance. Waving no less. What a friend. When Tan¨ª didn¡¯t respond, Innes shook him. His grip a steel lock. Tan¨ª thrashed, but all that did was stretch the fabric. ¡°If you¡¯ve no use for your tongue, what say I pluck it from your mouth? You can be the mute Juneac?o. The one that can¡¯t even use Sedd,¡± Innes said, smirking. His lackeys snickered. ¡°I kinda need it to eat, so if you wouldn¡¯t mind¡­can I just keep it?¡± Tan¨ª asked nervously.. ¡°You¡¯re right. The punishment doesn¡¯t fit the crime. How about I lop your hands? They seem to service garbage, anyway. Your role shouldn¡¯t be terribly difficult to replace.¡± The grating squeals of a pelican flock broke overhead, and their shrill tune brought a genuine smile to his face. "See? You''ve already your own kind here. Mindless pests who can eat what you can grab. I only wished you were more efficient with your work." Tan¨ª''s response slipped before he could parse it. ¡°Look, I¡¯m sorry if I hit you, but I don¡¯t think you really have enough authority to issue that. We¡¯re not really in Corat?o.¡± Innes scoffed. ¡°I needn¡¯t be on the mainland to warrant punishments. I am a prince. That alone grants me authority.¡± ¡°But aren¡¯t you fifth in line? You¡¯d have to go through four people before you¡¯re actually considered the heir, right? We''ve got a whole process to follow,¡± Tan¨ª said, his fear replaced by general curiosity. Innes shoved him backwards, and despite Tan¨ª¡¯s stumbling, he remained upright. If barely. A sword clattered at his feet a moment later. A wooden waster the club so fondly abused their imaginary opponents with. ¡°Pick it up,¡± Innes ordered, the words snapping with emphasis. Clear, loud, yet soft enough for the wind to ride over. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because I challenge you to a duel.¡± ¡°No thanks, I don¡¯t have any SG to spend.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll pay. One duel, Juneac?o regulations.¡± A series of murmurs erupted from the small crowd. Icy dread coiled in Tan¨ª¡¯s gut. ¡°Uh¡­what exactly does that mean?¡± ¡°It permits us the use of Sedd, as well as vital blows,¡± Innes answered. ¡°Vital blows? You mean the orange regions in Art?¡± ¡°Oh, so the land-sowing farmer can learn. How charming.¡± Fury didn''t stoke Tan¨ª¡¯s heart. He expected it to, but it never came. A great tide of annoyance was washing in its stead. The sleepless nights hadn¡¯t served him well, and regardless of what ¡°nightmares¡± were, he hadn¡¯t suffered them. Only a desolate void deprived of thought. The lapse between the waking world and dreams. ¡°Whatever. I don¡¯t have time for this.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Tan¨ª turned and started for the school, stick and sack in hand. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m not doing this today. Go and play your mind games with someone who actually cares. I¡¯m done.¡± Tan¨ª jerked forward as something held him in place. He didn¡¯t even have to look to know that it was Innes¡¯s hand. ¡°Who granted you permission to leave?¡± ¡°Let go.¡± Innes pulled him back, but this time, Tan¨ª couldn¡¯t come to a full stop. Air evacuated his lungs as the solid sand embraced him, his hair running thick with the coarse grains. Though they scraped his exposed skin, he was otherwise fine. Irritated, but fine. The sack and stick, scattered. Tan¨ª propped himself up on his elbows, glaring at the approaching prince. Innes hurled the sword with a blinding flick, reducing the practice blade to a brown blur. It whipped past Tan¨ª¡¯s head with a sharp hiss and landed with a thunk, sand spitting. ¡°So you¡¯re a fry then? Fleeing at the slightest sign of danger,¡± Innes mocked. ¡°A Juneac?o¡¯s duty isn¡¯t to fight. It¡¯s to preserve,¡± Tan¨ª spat. ¡°Did you already forget our peace was forged through battle, or are you so idealistic that you truly believe we can get by without raising our blades?¡± ¡°If the founders couldn¡¯t avoid it, then what makes you think I can? I¡¯m not stupid, Innes. Maybe I am to you, but I can promise I know I¡¯ll have to fight. Maybe in a year, maybe next month, but not today. I get to choose if I fight, and I get to decide if something is beyond me. I¡¯m not gonna agree with you just because you¡¯re a prince or Lavisa¡¯s cousin or anything else. You¡¯re a Juneac?o, just like me. That means we¡¯re comrades,¡± Tan¨ª said, clinging to every word. It was true¡ªhe knew it was true. Danza had assured him of that with every leg of their journey. Even when they were barely tolerated in monasteries, even when the local lord or lady dismissed them partway through their work to replace them with a novice Juror. One who''d steal all the glory for themselves while never even doing half the work they did; one who''d bring honor to the lands and its people. Not like them. Not like the people who didn''t have a warm bed to return to every night. A harsh laugh sputtered from the prince¡¯s lips. ¡°Comrades? Us? I¡¯d rather smell worse than you look before I ever admit such nonsense. You¡¯re just a little fish who jumped into a pond that was too big for him. Why would I ever ally myself with someone who can¡¯t even fight? You¡¯re useless. Just like the rest of your House. I hope they were kind enough to tell you that.¡± The coarse grains bit Tan¨ª¡¯s fingers as they sank into the sand, a breath-thinning heat filling his chest. It burned, and the longer it stewed, the more he wanted to vent it out. To unleash it on everything that had fueled it, just so that it knew his wrath, too. That he could also be cruel. Yet he still managed a shaky response. ¡°Fry or not, we¡¯re still a part of the same school. So live with that." Innes tsked. ¡°Live with that? My reality is anything I wish it to be, but you?" A look of pity flashed across his face. "I can¡¯t say the same. What¡¯s a fatherless peasant supposed to do other than pray to be more? Oh! Did you think your master anointing you his squire would change your life? It didn¡¯t, did it? Do you know why?¡± He leaned forward. ¡°Because he¡¯s just like you: A failure. A Seddless, dead-end, hopeless runt that will rot in obscurity.¡± The next few moments became a blur as thought evacuated him. Sand pelted the prince¡¯s face, the coarse grains slipping into the cracks of his eyes, and as he wiped away¡ªblind to the world¡ªTan¨ª scrambled to his feet and smashed his shoulder into his chest, instantly winding him. The background became a nauseating blur of gray as they rolled in the sand. Tan¨ª raked and pulled on something¡ªa vest, maybe? He didn¡¯t care to check, he already hated it. And every thought screamed at him to tear it. So he did. Smashing and pulling until his arms were throbbing and tired but too stubborn to stop. A collection of disembodied voices chanted with each tug. Pain blossomed at his hips as a stinging vector of hate stabbed into him. Those voices never cheered for him. He cursed and spat, his face hot and ears hammering, but they never charged for him. They just wanted their future lord to claim victory. To put this undeserving, unfit, time-waster-of-a-peasant in his place just so that he could prove to everyone that he didn''t belong. That he never did. Tan¨ª didn¡¯t care, though. He just slammed his throbbing fists against Innes¡¯s unyielding form. Ignoring the pain as much as he delivered it. Sometimes, he struck the trunk, other times, he missed and scattered small sprays of sand. Innes¡¯s relentless blows numbed his arms, but Tan¨ª continued to strike. Using the blistering pain to bolster his efforts. The fuel for his fire. Exhaustion loomed, but he never stopped. He just twisted, jerked, and tried to pin him down, his lungs burning for air. But he couldn¡¯t stop to breathe. He had to end this¡ªteach the prince that he was wrong. That he didn¡¯t need their saving, nor fortune, nor comradery. He was fine enough on his own. Just like he''d always been with Danza. Tan¨ª grunted, arms trembling as the prince thrashed. He tried to get a bash in but missed, and the imbalance was enough to do him in. Innes tossed him off, the familiar grind of sand scraping Tan¨ª¡¯s cheeks. He fought back a hiss, hand flying to his raw cheek as he watched the prince reach for something out of sight. Tan¨ª staggered to his feet, his stiff limbs screaming for rest. But before he could launch himself at the noble, the wooden blur of a waster whistled towards his face. And it filled his vision. For a split second, he sensed the heat. Sedd. He wouldn''t dodge this¡ªcouldn''t dodge this. It was the obvious gap between them, and yet, for a single moment, he almost thought he could close it. He awaited its slumber-rendering sting. His heart caught in his throat, but the dark never flared. Something flashed, and the coppery scent of burning blood filled his nostrils. When his eyes adjusted, he glimpsed a gloved hand seizing the once arcing waster, its blistering touch trivial to the silken digits. Heart racing, Tan¨ª¡¯s eyes traveled up his savior¡¯s black sleeve. It was regal, adorned with all the finery one expected when in the service of royalty. Tight, but not so much as to cause discomfort. Although their broad shoulder threatened to eliminate his view of them, he could still make out her noble mien. Eleanor. His hopeless tutor. Before Innes could profess his innocence, she closed her fist, snapping the blade in two. The prince¡¯s confidence evaporated as she towered over him with a single step, her eyes narrowed into furious slits that left the prince quailing. ¡°Unproductive violence is strictly prohibited on academy grounds, Corat?o.¡± ¡°But he¡ª¡± ¡°Do not waste your breath with lies. I¡¯ve witnessed what¡¯s transpired. Nothing you can tell me shall absolve you of your guilt nor my judgment.¡± She stepped closer to him. ¡°Do I make myself clear?¡± Innes laughed, glancing at his group for support, but when they slinked away, he shrank. ¡°Y-Yes. Of course, master Sanrevelle.¡± ¡°Good. Then you¡¯re not to participate in club activities for the remainder of the month,¡± Eleanor declared firmly. ¡°What! You can¡¯t¡ª¡± ¡°If you are to break this sentence, then not only will I extend your punishment, but I will also cease funding all fencing activities.¡± Innes straightened. ¡°I understand! Truly.¡± ¡°No, you do not. A Juneac?o¡¯s blade is not an answer, it is their last resort in an avenue of failures. You chose the path of ignorance, and as such, you¡¯ve learned nothing. You not only tarnish the legacy of our forerunners¡ªthose who fought and bled for hearts greater than ours¡ªbut have proven a poor example of what it means to be a Juneac?o. Your master, your father, and the kingdom of Corat?o would be ashamed of you. And I will not stomach living shame.¡± Eleanor about-faced. ¡°Now leave, and if you remain when I turn, I will not only report your behavior to the Headmaster, but your father.¡± Innes bolted for the academy¡¯s entrance, tripping thrice in the process and landing flat on his face each time. Tan¨ª wasn¡¯t certain if what he had watched was real, but he would always treasure this moment. The prince¡¯s entourage quickly dispersed, convinced they would receive a similar punishment. Tan¨ª enjoyed watching them run like chickens, too. Even if they acted like they ruled the world, they were still children before the instructor. A shadow crossed his sight, drawing him to its side. Eleanor dusted him off, inspected his uniform for tears, then did something he hadn¡¯t expected: She tousled his hair with a small, awkward smile, the grains scattering free. ¡°My Master oft did this when I was younger. He claimed it soothed all worries.¡± Tan¨ª returned her smile. ¡°I guess it helps a bit. Thanks, Master.¡± Eleanor teetered, but she held fast. Ceasing her ministrations, she gestured for him to follow her back inside. Waiting at the door was Jaster. Had he called for her? ¡°D¡¯Histell,¡± Eleanor called. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve extended your assignment by two weeks as punishment for fighting on academy grounds.¡± Chapter 34 ~ Eternity ¡°D¡¯Histell, would you care to explain what Eternity is?¡± asked master Ayra, ruler in hand. She was a Tyrian of middling height with a more pleasant demeanor than Eleanor. More serene. More practiced. None of that complemented the large scar tagged up and around her ugly cheek. Leaning into his pillowing palm, he muttered, ¡°The time it takes to get out of here?¡± The class laughed. For once, he didn¡¯t feel like a dunce. How refreshing. Ayra¡¯s lips quirked into a plastic smile. Rather than suffering his dull supplies, she broke into a swift stride, her Tyrian silver tresses bouncing with every step. Arriving at his desk, she spoke in a firm, venomous whisper that betrayed her placid emerald-blue gaze. ¡°Need I remind you that this is Introduction to Sedd, D¡¯Histell?¡± ¡°Nah, the tome¡¯s already heavy enough to do that part.¡± She squeezed the ruler¡ªa blade in the guise of a classroom implement, really. Thin, unassuming, and judging by the subtle ornamentation that shone silver in the light, bloody expensive. The kind of thing a spoiled, bored noble with too much money would buy. More so itching for use than its alleged ¡°decorational¡± status. It was mostly a rumor, but why else would she wave it around in front of kids she disliked? Teachers had a right to defend themselves here. What with Sedd being an active presence. Well, it would be a problem were it not for the inset pearls littered throughout the structure. Most of which were hidden. He wondered why She liked draining Sedd. ¡°Eternity,¡± master Ayra announced as she sauntered back to her desk, the flat of the ruler slapping against her palm, ¡°is the prime component of a Cycle. The blocks which dress the Firmament¡¯s foundation.¡± ¡°So¡­everything?¡± Tan¨ª guessed aloud. ¡°No. Think the Firmament as the heavens and earth that encapsulate our immediate reality. Undoubtedly crucial, yet theirs is not the singular reason for our being. Eternity¡ªthat which leaked from beyond¡ªis the residual will of our Lord. The one that thinks yet cannot act.¡± ¡°God?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Master Ayra smacked the board with the flat of her ruler. A diagram of the Architect¡¯s genius¡ªsix concentric circles drawn in a broken link with an elevated core¡ªadorned the chalkboard. Each was labeled with a name, save two. ¡°Beyond the Bend, the barrier that confines all five facets, is where God¡¯s will resides. That which fuels thought and life. Their incognizance, however, oft results in profuse swellings. Answer me this, D¡¯Histell: What think you of these swellings?¡± Tan¨ª cast a backwards glance at Innes. The prince, who had been staring at him up to that point, promptly averted his gaze. Brow furrowed. Assured that no humiliating jab awaited him, Tan¨ª answered. ¡°¡­Eternity?¡± Master Ayra gave a slight, almost unamused inclination of her head. She smacked the board once more, the resounding thwack of wood making Tan¨ª jump in his seat. Eternity was¡­ God, what was it? The Gaoler, Architect, and Desolator all claimed that title to some extent. He understood the reasoning for the Gaoler¡¯s epithet, though. The Desolator was everything. Dusk, dawn. Nightmares, the haunter that swarmed the skies. Even uttering his name aloud invited misfortune. To be the Solanarium¡¯s wrongs¡­ ¡°The swelling¡¯s¡­birth. Or God¡¯s crude Potential? Something that can exist here without dying. Because¡­?¡± Danza¡¯s phantom voice struck him like a blunt waster over the head. ¡°Because everything made as an afterthought expires. Never destined for an Iteration.¡± ¡°Acceptable.¡± Master Ayra flourished her ruler with a looping twist. ¡°Scholars believe swellings are intrinsically linked to the turning of an eon. What brings about these anomalies, we know naught, and yet they breathe anchors onto Eternity¡¯s front. One such example is our destined Iteration. One influenced by Tygenna¡¯s charity. Though we Juneac?o oft overlook our genesis, it is thanks to our connection with the Slumbering Maiden that we can wield Sedd. And in our ability to wield it, turn the limitless cistern that revives us.¡± She paused for effect. ¡°Think of Eternity as God¡¯s refined Potential. Something that can exist in a dual state. Those refined, such as ourselves, Tygenna, and Sedd, persist perpetually. And it is in the tide of these swellings that the Solanarium is reborn anew. Not through Iterations which occur at the end of our lives, but a fresh start. A new Cycle.¡± A student raised their hand. ¡°Yes, de Rod?o?¡± ¡°I know Iterations are one, but what are the others?¡± ¡°Excellent question! Though Iterations are irrefutable evidence of these swellings, scholars theorize that the Fall, the Labyrinth, as well as the vanishing of Aistenstat happen to betray certain hall marks. The vanishing of memories as is customary among Iterations, the geometrical enormity of impossible structures, and the complete erasure of what once was.¡± ¡°But how does that explain the Gaoler and the Desolator?¡± Master Ayra stiffened. She glanced out the window, and when darkness refused to show, her shoulders eased. ¡°The Desolator,¡± she said, whispering the name with deliberate emphasis, ¡°is Eternity incarnate. A shadow entirely composed of God¡¯s wrath. His swelling predates ours. One can even suggest they came into being along with our realm. As is known with the Agent Tygenna and Her lesser known siblings.¡± ¡°So¡­he¡¯s not evil?¡± ¡°Do not be mistaken, de Rod?o. Wrath is an odious specter that haunts all, yet wrath is not our primary driving force. We can deny it¡ªas oft we fall prey to it¡ªbut a beast forged from it acts without reason and, therefore, cannot distinguish between hate and justice.¡± The flat of her ruler clapped against her palm, yet she didn¡¯t wince. The chalky, calloused layered absorbed the impact. ¡°As for the Gaoler, their relation to Eternity is more¡­metaphorical. Being of the first generation of Juneac?o, his task was to safeguard the Desolator¡¯s still beating heart.¡± Tan¨ª yawned. ¡°Then why is he still alive?¡± Master Ayra¡¯s emerald-blue eyes flickered to him. Brow pinched, she released a thin, if somewhat exasperated, sigh. ¡°It is a parable, D¡¯Histell. The Desolator is well dead. His story illustrates the themes of duty, responsibility, and the will to not fall to the blinding visor of hate. Did you not learn this in Literature?¡± Tan¨ª had, in fact, learned it in literature. Or rather, re-learned it after Eleanor smacked him on the head with the tome. Suddenly, he realized something. ¡°Wait¡­if things have Eternity, and only those things can Iterate, then doesn¡¯t that mean the Desolator can be reborn, too?¡± Hushed whispers erupted throughout the classroom. Master Ayra, whose deathly glare now rivaled that of Eleanor¡¯s, ordered their silence with an icy hiss. A nerve-biting silence ensued as she advanced towards Tan¨ª¡¯s desk with short, furious strides. ¡°D¡¯Histell.¡± She pressed the tip of her ruler on his desk. ¡°Do you have any sense?¡± Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. He turned to his neighbors for help, but they just looked away. ¡°Uh¡­yes? I was just ask¡ª¡± The piercing thwack of wood on metal exploded in his ears. ¡°Never¡±¡ªshe slapped the ruler on his desk again¡ª¡°dare utter those words again.¡± ¡°But I was just¡ª¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Her deafening shout drowned out her ruler¡¯s clubbing. ¡°I will not tolerate your fearmongering whilst in a room of learning, much less my own.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not tryna scare anyone! Really.¡± ¡°Your ¡®innocence¡¯ does not elude me, D¡¯Histell. You¡¯ve duped that dimwitted, musclebound dullard, but not I. She may tolerate your brash outbursts, stench, and even looks, but here we are Juneac?o. Not simpletons in the guise of warriors.¡± Tan¨ª shot up in his chair, a flame bursting in his breast. ¡°Don¡¯t say that about her! She¡¯s probably done more than just smack a bunch of things with some stupid piece of wood! Things not even all your money could get you out of! And I know I¡¯d hate working somewhere where all anyone did was complain about others just because they¡¯re different. Including students. Like, I¡¯m sor¡ªry I can¡¯t walk around all prissy like you.¡± A suffocating silence filled the classroom. It was then, as his heart cooled, that Tan¨ª realized his grave mistake. Master Ayra, like every instructor in the school, was an acclaimed Juneac?o. A warrior with over a decade''s worth of live combat experience and connections that¡¯d make his head spin. He was a simple squire that hadn¡¯t even Awakened. The ruler whipped through the air, its abused tip pointed at the door. ¡°Out of my class.¡± ¡°I¡¯m¡ª¡± ¡°Now!¡± ? The sting of a harpsichord resonated from the wavering light, matching Tan¨ª¡¯s pace as he stomped through the hall. He ignored the shadows lurking in his peripheral, kicked at the silvery demons that dared cross his path (often receiving a shock in the process), and when he had nothing left to vent his frustrations on, he stuffed his hands in his uniform¡¯s pockets. That¡¯s when he spotted a stray can on the floor. Its contents emptied. Racing towards it, Tan¨ª punted the stray item and watched as it ricocheted off a door, a window, and then off someone¡¯s head, knocking them out cold. He sped by, fingers scraping against the walls of his sticky, dragonpuff-stained pockets. So stupid. That¡¯s all anyone was. Just thick, learned people that acted like they knew better because it¡¯s what was expected. Well, that didn¡¯t make them kinder or any more charitable than her. Just thin-blooded dolts who knew how to count and swing a sword. ¡°Oi, Tan-Tan, what¡¯s got you so grumpy?¡± Drawing a thin, long breath that quelled the heat and tightness of his chest, he turned to Jaster and muttered, ¡°Nothing.¡± ¡°Right red for nothing.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not red. Just angry everyone¡¯s so stupid.¡± ¡°Low scores again? C¡¯mon, Tan-Tan. I already told you: If you¡¯re going to ignore everything else, at least study for the tests.¡± Tan¨ª huffed. ¡°I wish it was a test.¡± ¡°Ah. Teachers. Tryna learn something new?¡± ¡°Just Eternity.¡± The Nimmian¡¯s brow furrowed. Probably thinking of a nap, most like. It was late in the day. After a contemplative silence, he snapped his fingers. ¡°I got it.¡± ? The frosty gasp of a windborne Agent whipped Tan¨ª¡¯s capes into a frenzy, their silky edges slapping him without remorse. A chill seeped through the cracks of his uniform, the unforgiving bite nibbling his skin. Moonrays, he should¡¯ve snagged a cloak before coming here. The place was drearier than New Nimmin. Did that have something to do with being on the ocean? A dim expanse of lifeless clouds arched over the western horizon of the Short Sea. Not a ray of light pierced the gloomy veil. Yet the work of another nameless Agent. Perhaps one who had seen the Vanishing of the West. Tan¨ª scanned the superficially still ocean, curious if a ship from the Vanished West would ever break over it. They never did. Jaster approached the jutting cliff and, arriving at the edge, cast a striking finger towards the horizon. ¡°There!¡± Tan¨ª came to a wary stop, sticking as close to the main island as possible. He didn¡¯t want the edge to give out and send them plummeting hundreds of feet below. ¡°What is?¡± ¡°Eternity.¡± ¡°You mean the ocean?¡± ¡°No.¡± He thrust his finger again. ¡°There!¡± Tan¨ª peered. Again, he saw only gray ocean. ¡°I just see water. You talking about the sky?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°Then what are you talking about?¡± Jaster turned to meet his gaze, back facing the edge of the world. He never once flailed for balance. Then again, why would a Nimmian born on a mountainous island hurt for balance? This was as near the plummet into the abyss as they could get. Nothing laid beyond anymore. Just a terrible dip into nothingness. Or so sailors said. ¡°When I was little, I used to ask my father the same thing. He¡¯d take me out to our cliff and point over the ocean. Told me, ¡®Then and there¡¯s the single answer you need.¡¯¡± Tan¨ª inclined his head. ¡°Is Nimmian Eternity different than Coros?¡± ¡°No. Eternity¡¯s the same no matter where you go. Sailors¡¯ll tell you the same. They¡¯ve known Harusten¡¯s who¡¯d point to the west even after they held a knife to their throats. Don¡¯t know why, though.¡± Master Ayra¡¯s lecture echoed in his mind. Eternity was the swelling of God¡¯s will. A burst of permanent creation. One whose fragile form will Iterate for all time. But the expanse of night was endless. Greater than the storms that rolled in from the west. And thus, Eternity transcended time and space. Or something like that. Just where did that leave Tygenna and the Desolator? And Cycles? Were they inexorably tied to Eternity simply because they were fragments of God? Or could they be different? Maybe even more and less. ¡°Jaster?¡± Tan¨ª murmured. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Thinking hurts my brain.¡± Jaster threw his head back, laughing. ¡°Yeah, thinking¡¯s stupid. It¡¯s in our nature to overcomplicate things, methinks. Helps pass the time.¡± ¡°Then what¡¯s it mean? Y¡¯know¡­¡± Tan¨ª spun a finger. ¡°Eternity.¡± ¡°That?¡± The Nimmian cast a thumb at the sky. ¡°Just possibilities. Food, quests, discovery¡­ Eternity¡¯s everything we hope it¡¯ll be. Even when we don¡¯t know what it¡¯ll be, or when it¡¯ll be.¡± A phantom pain resonated from Tan¨ª¡¯s temple. Cradling his head in one hand, he groaned. ¡°I¡¯m just not gonna ask questions anymore¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it.¡± The distant crash of the ocean drew Tan¨ª¡¯s gaze to the frothing depths. Eternity¡­ ¡°What does that say about the Desolator? Is he really evil?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. But he¡¯s dead, so best we don¡¯t go poking bears.¡± Tan¨ª folded his arms as a shiver arced down his spine. God, he really was dumb for going without his cloak. He sneezed, wiped his nose, then sneezed again. And yet¡­his legs itched to return to Hierrs¨¦. Not for warmth, but because they desired to be there again. Or rather, belonged in there now. Casting the idea from his mind, he returned to the subject. More specifically, Iterations. ¡°Jaster?¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Do you¡ª¡± his voice fell to a shy whisper. ¡°Do you think this is our first Cycle together?¡± It wasn¡¯t a forbidden question, technically. People were allowed to explore their past. Things, from what most holymen claimed, rarely deviated. And when they did, it was in the most innocuous of manners. A change that never amounted to much. That¡¯s why every Cycle was identical, and yet¡­ In his heart of hearts, he wanted to hear something meaningful. Something that¡¯d defy the Cycles. An inane ¡°Yeah, but this feels like our first¡± or even a ¡°Maybe. Does it matter?¡± The Nimmian stroked his chin, a ghostly gasp tousling his hair. He never once shivered. He was probably used to the cold, probably used to everything because of the easy life he lived. Maybe he didn¡¯t care about the answer, maybe he didn¡¯t want to waste his time thinking, either. A third whipping wind howled. Forlorn, freezing. Jaster started for Hierrs¨¦, his ambling gait undisturbed by the chill. Easy as always. He only stopped to jab Tan¨ª in the side, grinning. ¡°Just gonna stand there? Buncha food waiting with your name on it.¡± Chapter 35 ~ A Juneac?os鈥檚 Oath ¡°Again!¡± ¡°Wait¡ª¡± A deathly whistle silenced Tan¨ª¡¯s plea, so he instinctively raised his trembling sword and blocked. His arms bulged beneath the weight of her swift sword stroke, summoning one thousand fires that lanced through his weary muscles. Eleanor slipped past his guard with a scrape of her waster, striking him upon his wrist and winning the exchange. She withdrew her blade with a sweeping flourish, her lips dipping with the slightest of disapproval. ¡°Why did you block?¡± she asked. ¡°Cuz you were going to hit me?¡± Tan¨ª said in between pants. ¡°No. It is one thing to block, but doing so while idle? You offer no flow of retaliation. Your assailant will take advantage of that.¡± ¡°What¡­? But if I don¡¯t block, then I¡¯ll get hit.¡± A twist of her wrist, a blur of motion. Something flashed beside Tan¨ª¡¯s head. Eleanor¡¯s sword. Good blood, how come she moved so far? He¡¯d practiced for years, too, yet all she did was give the slightest twitch of her arm, and now permanent brain damage hovered but a hair''s breadth away? ¡°Tell me, D¡¯Histell: What could you have done to avoid this smart?¡± Eleanor asked, her authoritative tone devoid of any previous warmth. ¡°Block it.¡± ¡°Meet it.¡± He did as she commanded, pressing his sword against its side. ¡°A block is but one of three steps in a dance you¡¯ve no tempo to. One can simply sweep it aside like so.¡± She pressed the edge of her blade against his and, with a flick of her wrist, knocked his waster aside. ¡°Travel down its length.¡± She did so. ¡°Or simply feint. Now, what could you have done to avoid this fate?¡± Tan¨ª glanced at the door leading into the greater Art room. The occasional yelp of a student as they failed to guard struck the air like a startling chord. Was Lavisa faring better? No, of course she was. ¡°D¡¯Histell, focus!¡± Eleanor ordered, startling him. ¡°Er, right¡­ Well, I guess I could¡¯ve pushed back?¡± ¡°No. You do not simply respond without knowing where to flow; doing so only invites a counterattack. When guarding, one must not only keep in mind where best to meet but also where to redirect. How does one do this, you might ask? Through refined technique and proper footwork. Abstaining from the latter not only limits your defenses but eliminates your ability to counterattack effectively. You become static, predictable.¡± Eleanor drew her sword through the air, crossing blades with an invisible opponent. ¡°Shifting, however, alters your course. Yielding cuts whose angles defy the stiffness of a static guard.¡± She adjusted her weight to her right foot, leaned to the side, and delivered a deceptively low slash. ¡°Meeting a blade isn¡¯t about brute force. Otherwise, we¡¯d all be wielding clubs. You must remain active and aware. Prepared to meet their stroke with a brush of your own. These are weapons of leverage, not strength. Now, again!¡± The tireless instructor flashed forward in a ripple-less streak of black, waster aimed at his skull. Tan¨ª readied himself. His body, however, was beyond exhausted from the hour of endless training. Try as he might, he could not get his jelly-filled arms to respond. Colors flashed as a searing pain bled from his temple. It throbbed like all aches did, but with the constant abuse he suffered, he didn¡¯t bother groaning about it. The matted floors cushioned his landing, leaving him with just enough oxygen to recuperate. Actively breathing, on the other hand, became somewhat trying as the thick red haze dispelled all thought. Pockets formed in the blood-soaked field, revealing Eleanor¡¯s distinguishable¡ªthough panic-stricken¡ªfeatures. She hovered over him, lips racing with soundless words. God, she hit harder than the brick wall did. Eleanor raised his head off the floor and tenderly stroked his stricken temple, briefly reigniting the pain. ¡°¡­Are you okay?¡± she asked, her voice finally piercing through the deafening shrill in his ears. The words came to Tan¨ª, though his lips uttered them far slower than he¡¯d like to admit. ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m good. Just give me a minute.¡± Eleanor doted over him; his desired privacy denied. Try as he might, his attention couldn¡¯t help but linger on her calloused hands. Despite her occupation, she possessed all the nobility and grace of a Lady. A stark contrast to the rough, scarred palms that effortlessly wielded a saber. What kind of life would she have led if she didn¡¯t possess Tygenna¡¯s blood? After Tan¨ª had ample time to recover, he sat up, jerked halfway through, then laid flat on the floor again. ¡°Master,¡± Tan¨ª said. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Can you please let me go? I gotta train.¡± ¡°And risk overexerting you? I wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± Tan¨ª¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°Master. You do this every day.¡± Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Eleanor¡¯s pale cheeks burned red. ¡°I most certainly do not!¡± Tan¨ª stared at the ceiling, resigned to his fate. Ever since she had taken him under her wing, it had been the same thing day in and day out. She¡¯d work him like a horse until he could barely feel his arms and then slip up and smash him on the side of the head. He¡¯d be fine with it, too, if she admitted to her wrongs, but no. The woman just deflected until he relented. Tan¨ª wasn¡¯t certain what he found more impressive: Her inability to internalize blame or her physical endurance. Nothing they did tired her. He could go on the offensive for as long as he wished, and she¡¯d simply brush aside his attacks or step out of the way. Sweat never marred her features. Was her limitless stamina a result of her Lunarkin origins? ¡°Master?¡± Tan¨ª called. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Why¡¯re you always so rough with me? I get you don¡¯t like me, but still.¡± Eleanor¡¯s thin brows knit with concern. The cold contempt of her saffron-chambray pools fostering a tender glow. ¡°How ever did you come to that conclusion?¡± ¡°You¡¯re always frowning or yelling at me, but now? It¡¯s like all you want to do is work me to the bone.¡± Tan¨ª traced the senseless light flickering from the ceiling. A sun yet not. How tiresome. ¡°You can just say you hate me. Not like it¡¯ll make a difference.¡± ¡°And for what reason would I have to detest you?¡± ¡°Lots, I guess. My other teachers don¡¯t like me. Think I¡¯m dumb or disruptive. I don¡¯t really get it, but they¡¯re not wrong, either. Learning¡¯s just not my thing.¡± Eleanor ceased her ministrations and guided him to his knees. For a Cycle-thinning second, her brooding silence hung like a cloud, her lips drawn taut. Finally, she shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ve no ill will towards you, Tan¨ª. Quite the opposite. You may be far from a gifted student, but your heart is in the right place, and I think that the greatest strength any Juneac?o¡ªnay¡ªany person can possess. It is Tygenna¡¯s power made manifest. A gift so pure it is as incorruptible as it is bright. And you, above all else, have proven yourself worthy of wielding it.¡± Tan¨ª tilted his head. ¡°I don¡¯t feel like that¡¯s true¡­ There¡¯re other Juneac?o a lot better than me. Probably even with bigger hearts or whatever. Like the founders, or maybe even the Headmaster. Whoever they are.¡± ¡°Perhaps¡­but exhibiting such a strength is no easy feat. Believe me, kindness is not without its challenges, and oft times, it would be simpler to forego blind sacrifice. Most Juneac?o go all their lives struggling with right and wrong, pursuing their needs above the many. Even the mightiest were not without this fault.¡± Eleanor paused as a wistful smile graced her lips. ¡°Yes, even the mightiest fell prey to their base desires. Their hearts as shriveled as a rotten vasavendue¡­¡± ¡°Master?¡± Eleanor¡¯s lips tightened. ¡°Might has nothing to do with a Juneac?o¡¯s strength, Tan¨ª. Remember that. You can wield as many relics as you please, but this will not resolve the world¡¯s issues. Death will remain, and with it, failure. Violence begets violence. I wish it weren¡¯t so, and I wish this a sermon to impart a fragment of my values, but it is not. I¡¯ve not much to cling to. That is why we must wield a blade as wisely as we are to enact our judgment. Because once it falls, it is difficult to stop.¡± Tan¨ª rubbed his head. ¡°You aren¡¯t kidding¡­¡± A scattering blush painted her cheeks. ¡°Y-Yes, well. Training is necessary, and pain is but a crucial aspect of growth. As my squire¡ª¡± ¡°I thought you were just my teacher?¡± Tan¨ª asked, confused. ¡°Then why were you quick to call me Master?¡± As Tan¨ª prepared to explain, the miserable, dejected glint in her eyes beset him, shutting off his brain. God, how stupid did he have to be? Anyone would be lucky to have someone half as amazing and cool as her, and here he was saying he didn¡¯t want her help? After all she did for him? ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean it like that. I was just¡­¡± Tan¨ª leaned away from her. ¡°Y¡¯know, it¡¯s hard to believe you¡¯d choose me. I¡¯m not really special. People like ?zar, or maybe Lavisa, yeah. But me? I¡¯m the type of person you keep around just to laugh at. That¡¯s not really special.¡± Eleanor¡¯s eyes softened. ¡°I¡¯d love to laugh, if you could spare me the time.¡± He blinked. Though it took some time to get his mind running again, he flashed her his best (sheepish) smile. ¡°Well¡­if you¡¯re sure about it, yeah. I¡¯d like you to be my Master. I¡¯d like that a lot.¡± Eleanor bowed her head. ¡°You honor me, Tan?o. Truly. As Tygenna is my witness, I vow to not only uphold the values of my forerunners but to protect and guide you in this life. As you are one day destined to do for another.¡± She reached forward, tapping once over his heart. ¡°May the Lord grant you sanctuary in his dreams, shielding you from the Desolator¡¯s malice.¡± She tapped again, a lighter, tender touch. One that delivered a spike of gentle heat through his veins. ¡°And may the Slumbering Maiden afford me strength during your plights. Wherever and whenever they might occur.¡± Drawing away, reached into her Blood-Loader and produced a phial of her essence. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Tan¨ª breathed. ¡°My gift to you.¡± ¡°For what?¡± ¡°For granting me a blessing greater than my blood. It is tradition for Masters to bestow their squires with a token. You may consider it a promise. Why? Has your Master never give you as much?¡± I remember him giving me a dumb horse. ¡°Ye¡ªeah. He did.¡± Smiling, she dipped her head. ¡°I beg of you, take it.¡± She extended the phial towards him. The crimson brilliance sloshed, but its hue shone with a sickly gleam. The light within¡­it twinkled a radiant green. Just like the moon. ¡°You may believe it modest, but His Majesty drew this phial upon my induction into the royal guard. That was sixteen years ago.¡± Tan¨ª¡¯s eyes fluttered in complete disbelief. ¡°Wait¡­you mean?¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s been enriched.¡± ¡°But sixteen years¡­ Sixteen years.¡± He just stared, hoping the words would finally click. They never did. ¡°Y-You won¡¯t have it back. And you just wanna give it to me?¡± Eleanor transferred the phial into his palm, but she didn¡¯t retreat. Her hand clasped over his, reassuring. Tan¨ª wordlessly accepted the gift. Something this amazing was being carelessly gifted to him. Blood this rich could go for entire fortunes! Not only that, but it was from a Lunarkin of all people. He could afford lands, titles! Everything he needed to prove that he¡¯d been here. That he had lived. Yet even then, the fantasy left a sour taste in his mouth. This felt precious, too precious. The warmth, the hopeful twinkle that accompanied the slight swishes. Tygenna given form. She believed in him. She didn¡¯t have to, but she believed in him. Was that good enough for her? For anyone. ¡°What about you?¡± Tan¨ª whispered, despite his astonishment. ¡°What do you want?¡± Eleanor inclined her head. ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a lot¡­ Don¡¯t you want something back?¡± ¡°Child, I can never repay you for the gifts you¡¯ve granted me.¡± ¡°Gifts? What were the others?¡± Eleanor gently closed his fist around the phial. ¡°Shall we away? I¡¯ve yet to introduce you to my childhood rigors. Sierez never was one for patience.¡± Chapter 36 ~ Chase the Flame Tan¨ª scrambled around the corner, blood pounding in his ears. His starved lungs heaved for breath, raking in gasp after gasp as he thundered down the hall. Tempted though he was to swallow a full draft being breathless was preferable to being caught breathless. The too tall hueless hall thinned into white blurs, occasionally broken by the flickering brilliance of a portrait here, and the zipping silver of a demon there. No recessed alcoves though. The relentless crash of boots rolled in a like hailstorm from behind, muffling the pleasant plucking of a renuw emanating from the ceiling. That¡¯s when he glimpsed it. A crevice. Tan¨ª squeezed into the nook barely large enough to hold a child, and when his shoulder brushed against the dark corner, the shadows of five ominous wyrms crossed. ¡°Where¡¯s that bloody bird!¡± ¡°Came in and around here!¡± ¡°Oh, right. Halls bloody bland as is, yet he¡¯s nowhere?¡± ¡°Could¡¯ve sworn I saw him turn¡­¡± Tan¨ª¡¯s lungs screamed for relief as he held what meager breath remained. The first voice¡ªa short, fair-skinned girl with a burr¡ªstopped before the entrance of the nook. Her livid expression set on the main hall. ¡°Thought and saw, did you? Next time try nabbing the fool when he¡¯s in the Den.¡± A tanned boy with a weak chin joined her, his lips twisted into a frown. ¡°Nab him for reading? Sure. You want me to beat him when he breathes while I¡¯m at it?¡± ¡°Beat him? No. Thrash him till he¡¯s broken? Can¡¯t say that for true. I¡¯d rather our loremaster not interrogated either way.¡± ¡°In my defense, he wore our cape rather well.¡± The girl¡¯s lips curled into a snarl. ¡°It was a piece of parchment adhered to his cape! Sketched horribly, might I add.¡± A third Dragonfang girl with a well-coiffed hairstyle walked beside them, an excessive, unperturbed primness to her stride. Some daughter of a powerful lord or lady, no doubt. ¡°I don¡¯t know. That dragon drawing was pretty good.¡± The first girl¡ªthe leader¡ªstared at her incredulously. ¡°Are you mad? The thing looked like an obese hippo pushing one out than a twin-headed dragon!¡± ¡°So¡­what do you want us to do?¡± A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°Find him, idiots! FIND HIM.¡± The Dragonfang heiress brought a delicate finger to her chin. After tapping it for several measured seconds, she shook her head. ¡°You¡¯re acting like he stole something.¡± ¡°Then let me be transparent.¡± The leader walked between them, a thin, plastic smile stretching from ear to ear. In a voice so painfully sweet it almost hurt, she said, ¡°House lore is produced for pledged students. Not outside, not adjacent. These secrets have circulated for hundreds of years. Things no one except us and the founders know. And now a bloody fowl has them bumping around in his head. And do you know why?¡± The boy raised a finger. ¡°Is it because¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s because you blundering, incompetent wyrms do nothing but idle when you¡¯re supposed to guard the supply! How difficult can your job be when all you do is sit in a corner all day?¡± ¡°Sitting is rather tiresome,¡± said the heiress nonchalantly. She immediately stiffened as the leader glared at her. ¡°I-I mean, yes. Apologies. We didn¡¯t mean to grow lax.¡± ¡°Then find him! Now.¡± The two underlings bolted down the main hall, with the leader following shortly after, shaking her head the entire time. Their footsteps faded, restoring the renuw¡¯s unremitting tune. Its verve resonated in Tan¨ª¡¯s makeshift cell, a veritable pounding guard. Relief instantly washed over him. Maybe it was¡ªin fact¡ªokay to breathe. So, he bent forward and gasped. Hand on the wall as he drank gulp after gulp of sweet air. ¡°Bloody fast for a bunch of layabouts¡­¡± Reaching into his pocket, his fingers brushed against the crumpled lump of parchment. Perfect. The loremaster¡ªa rather dodgy fourth-year Dragonfang who somehow still fit in his pants¡ªhad promised him secrets. All for the small price of one hundred SG. A rather egregious rate, but one step closer to the truth was better than nothing. Tan¨ª sidled out of the nook, wincing as the otherworldly light of Hierrs¨¦ greeted him. Inspecting his uniform for tears and finding none, he started for the nearest Transmitter. A nap didn¡¯t sound horrible right about now. Sure, he¡¯d have to skip the rest of his classes, but sacrifices had to be made. Unfurling the crumpled lump of parchment, Tan¨ª prepared himself for the juicy, forbidden knowledge tucked away in the dusty shelves of the Dragonfang vault. Relics, founders, or maybe a lost treasure? Good blood, it could be anything! And there, upon the abused parchment, read one word: ¡°Stupid.¡± Tan¨ª¡¯s smug smile twitched into a broken frown as he slowly read the word over. He turned the page, found nothing, discriminated the paper-thin edges as if the clue would somehow be scrawled upon them, and read the front all over again. One hundred SG for this? He took the edge of the parchment into his other hand, pulled once, stopped before it could tear, and unleashed a growl he hadn¡¯t known he¡¯d been holding in. Like destroying it will change anything. So stupid¡­ Nearly dying, and all for a piece of paper that just called him stupid? No, maybe he deserved it. After all, why would a Dragonfang even entertain a Fadenician? He probably just wanted free SG out of him, and the worst part? Tan¨ª believed him. Paying his full price without complaint. Uncertain of who to blame, he cast it on everyone, including himself. At least they¡¯d all share some fault. Back to the hunt for clues he went. Her relic, if it existed to any capacity, had to be known about by someone at the very least. If not a wyrm, then a teacher, or a Vlasalisk, or maybe¡­ Chapter 37 ~ Stirring Tan¨ª¡¯s short, eventful life should¡¯ve prepared him for just about anything. He had traveled the coastal expanse of the kingdom as a Grazer, explored endless, ravenous forests that devoured the distant brush in liquid shadow, and brushed against the fabled Dagger of Vale?o. It was the one place that never failed to unease Danza. The nights there were¡­different. A dark so absolute that no light could pierce its drape save the roiling glow of his phialed blood. People there rambled about a voice. One so soft that it spoke to you in your dreams. Tan¨ª never heard it, just as Tan¨ª didn¡¯t believe the ghost story surrounding the Eastern Green¡¯s malicious forest. Not that his jesting ever dissuaded the man from performing the proper sancraments. The man still made him cling to his most prized possession. Said it ¡°repelled the touch of the brush.¡± Paranoid bunch. Beastless and bandit-ridden as his travels have been, none of that prepared him for the ungodly, pervasive stench hanging in the instructor¡¯s office. Good blood, how did it smell worse than the main training room? ¡°Master¡­¡± ¡°Once more, D¡¯Histell.¡± ¡°Master, please¡­my arm¡­ I think it¡¯s gonna pop off.¡± ¡°Once. More. D¡¯Histell.¡± An arcing blur flanked Tan¨ª, prompting his aching arms to adopt a guard. Or they would¡¯ve if he could muster any strength to do so. His vision flashed red, and with it, the familiar searing of something crashing against his skull. Tan¨ª stumbled back, his jelly-filled legs wobbling as they threatened to give out, but in the end, he stood tall. Buckling, really, but tall. Somehow. Folding after a simple blow like that was, as Eleanor lovingly critiqued with that austere front of hers, inexcusable. A moment of weakness only resulted in death. He had to be clever, faster than the god-blessed Lunarkin saluting him. Once Eleanor¡¯s office cooled to its blues and whites, Tan¨ª sliced forward with a quick thrust of his blade. Form impeccable, wrist snapping with the practiced ease of a thousand lessons. The Tyrian, unphased by his ferocity, parried the blow with a deft flick. In that split second, she retaliated, blade crashing like a soundless thunderbolt. The bite never came. Eleanor gently graced his shoulder with the waster¡¯s edge, still as a branch on a windless day, but he saw it move. Each image coalescing into a single wooden blade. Not an afterimage. ¡°You¡ªYou aren¡¯t using Sedd, right?¡± Tan¨ª squeaked. Eleanor drew her sword back with a rigid flourish. That¡¯s when it came to him: she carved the pyramid favored by the royal guard after a live exhibition. ¡°As I¡¯ve stated before: No. I am not.¡± ¡°Then how¡¯re you moving so fast?¡± ¡°Practice makes perfect, D¡¯Histell.¡± ¡°¡­Do you even realize what you¡¯re saying? Actually, do you even realize how fast you move most of the time? It¡¯s like you already lived the moment, and the world¡¯s trying ot catch up!¡± ¡°What else is training for, if not to overcome our deficiencies?¡± Tan¨ª stared at her. ¡°Master, you¡¯re almost seven feet tall. No amount of training¡¯s ever gonna make up for that.¡± An amused smile touched Eleanor¡¯s lips. She paced, the flat of her waster tapping against her sturdy thigh. ¡°While our physical limitations may hinder us, one shouldn¡¯t resign themselves to disappointment. Answer me this, D¡¯Histell: What is one to do when they cannot accomplish a task through practical means?¡± ¡°Find a shortcut.¡± ¡°Ah, but rarely do shortcuts ever exist. We might believe them to be wholly good, perhaps even revolutionary, so why do they remain obscure?¡± Tan¨ª rapped his ankle with the tip of his blade. Danza believed the hard way was the only good way. Shortcuts weren¡¯t entirely realistic, but why was that? ¡°Maybe they only work for some people?¡± he assumed, voice distant with thought. ¡°No, D¡¯Histell. They work only for those who¡¯ve dedicated themselves to a craft. Those with decades, even a lifetime¡¯s worth of experience. It is through one¡¯s intimate knowledge of a subject that they can bend the rules. That is what separates the competent from the great: the ability to understand why something works the way it does and how, in altering the formula, we ascend,¡± Eleanor explained. Tan¨ª¡¯s heart fluttered. Her matter-of-fact explanation, the underlying confidence of her firm tone, and the effortless ease with which she brandished a saber? Grazers and Preservers prided themselves on competent swordsmanship, but her? She needed not demonstrate to prove her ability. Not when the unyielding spirit of fencing spoke through her. ¡°Master?¡± Tan¨ª called, his voice low and filled with awe. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°You¡¯re beyond cool.¡± Eleanor¡¯s stoic fa?ade shattered, her once narrowed eyes widening into saucers. She glanced either way, her lips continuously parting for a response but erring from production. Finally, she gave up. Her regal features quicksilver. ¡°Yes, well¡­ I¡ªI¡¯m honored.¡± Pausing, she gave a rough shake of her head, her pale blonde strands whipping in front of her face. ¡°Enough of that. We must proceed with our lesson.¡± He nodded and followed through. She quizzed him over the Western stances and, though she had yet to delve into the unit with the rest of the class, discussed the Eastern schools. Those¡ªas Tan¨ª learned¡ªencompassed the styles that inspired D¡¯Arcian fencing. One thing he found more fascinating than the style was the history behind Harusto itself. A sort of island nation drowned in reeds, not unlike New Nimmin, but more temperate. How anyone ever found their way back home when the reeds were taller than men was beyond him. D¡¯Arcy¡¯s decade-long stay in the kingdom, as well as the odd trade agreement between New Nimmian and that eastern land, proved the only reliable sources of the nation. Knee-deep blood flooded the land, turning the tall stalks a crimson hue. If people weren¡¯t fighting, wandering swordsmen took up apprentices with a fervor matched only by their thirst for battle. Despite being something of a shut-in, Eleanor owned dozens of paintings hung at the back of her office. Each portrayed a sweeping vista with a tall, wooden shrine and things called ¡°keystone graves.¡± There were also trees with peculiar pink leaves that looked tasty enough to eat and fire mountains with snow-capped tops. All these discoveries tickled Tan¨ª¡¯s brain in the right way. A place so unlike Corat?o¡­ What were the people really like? And the clime? Were there really wandering swordsman roaming the land capable of slaying dragons, even splitting a mountain in twain? As Eleanor finished her breathless lecture and Tan¨ª returned to the moment, he raised a trembling hand. ¡°Yes, D¡¯Histell?¡± ¡°When do we learn about using Sedd?¡± he questioned. Eleanor frowned. ¡°That would be master Ayra¡¯s duty, not mine.¡± ¡°But you said we¡¯d be applying Sedd to our routine, right?¡± ¡°Yes¡ª¡± ¡°And you said we¡¯d be doing it in a few months, right? So why aren¡¯t we focusing on that?¡± Eleanor sighed. ¡°D¡¯Histell¡­¡± ¡°What? You¡¯re the Art teacher. Shouldn¡¯t you be teaching what they¡¯re paying you for?¡± Tan¨ª pressed. ¡°I¡¯m trying to make it easier for you to understand.¡± ¡°But you said there weren¡¯t shortcuts, so why bother making it easier?¡± ¡°Shortcuts are not my primary concern, D¡¯Histell. My issue lies with your¡­how should I put this?¡± Eleanor pursed her lips, blade whipping pensively against her palm. When the soft smack of wood on skin finally ceased, she murmured, ¡°Inability to express your Sedd.¡± Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Right. The only thing he ever wanted since he left Histell was beyond his grasp. Preserver he may be, his Mother¡¯s blessing had yet to stir. Maybe there was a reason why. Maybe she didn¡¯t consider him worthy enough. Ashamed, he looked away. ¡°¡­Are you angry?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°That I can¡¯t use it like everyone else. I¡¯ve been trying to for years, trust me, but no matter what I do, I¡¯m just stuck like this.¡± He gestured to himself. ¡°Being with a squire that hasn¡¯t even Awakened isn¡¯t ideal. I know it isn¡¯t. You don¡¯t have to lie. Masters probably work their butts off just trying to Awaken their students, but Danza¡­ I dunno. Maybe that¡¯s why he left me here. He probably just gave up like everyone else did.¡± Eleanor knelt with a swiftness that belied her stature and, gingerly taking his arms in her hands, whispered, ¡°If I were to choose a squire based on Sedd alone, I¡¯d have done so long ago. Sedd isn¡¯t what makes a Juneac?o a Juneac?o. I¡¯ve told you this countless times before, and if I must, then I will endeavor to do so.¡± ¡°Then why bother going through all of this?¡± ¡°Because you¡¯ve taught me something I never thought I¡¯d learn. A gift greater than the blood of the founders. I could never hate you for that, and if your master was half as kind as your stories make him out to be, then neither did he.¡± She gently squeezed his arms, just like his mother would whenever she wanted to emphasize her point. ¡°You needn¡¯t fear your inability, Tan¨ª. It is but an obstalce. One you are destined to circumvent.¡± ¡°¡­How do you know that?¡± Tan¨ª asked. ¡°Because you¡¯ve yet to yield. Not then, and certainly not now. You¡¯re better than that. Most squires after a year end their apprenticeship because they could not Awaken. Either through their own volition or their master¡¯s shame, yet here you remain. Why?¡± Tan¨ª conjured several lies to defend himself with, yet he could utter none of them. Even the vile, venomous ones the other squires whispered behind his back were there. To be here, to just meander, hoping something good would come of his efforts¡­that wasn¡¯t why he tried. So why couldn¡¯t he remember the actual reason? Wasn¡¯t that why he had begged Danza to take him along? Stories often detailed the heroic nobility of the Juneac?o. That they were chivalrous do-gooders that defied evil in all its forms, so why had every squire shunned him? Why had the Preservers passed him without ever so much as acknowledging his existence? That he, just like every Grazer, just wanted to be like them. His late father always said that he wanted to be like them. That it was the highest calling in life, and maybe a small part of Tan¨ª wanted to believe that the man was his inspiration. But he didn¡¯t want to fight because the old stories were exciting. He didn¡¯t want to work just because it made him ¡°better¡± than everyone else. That was shallow. And not knowing what he wanted, or who he was, left him with a chill that coiled in his guts. Realizing he couldn¡¯t respond, Eleanor continued. ¡°Greater Juneac?o than us have failed at lesser tasks, Tan¨ª. Remember that. It is through your will, and yours alone, that an Awakening will come to be. Not mine, not the founders'', and certainly not Tygenna''s. You, just like everyone else, possess the potential to be more. Claiming otherwise is naught but a complete fallacy.¡± She eased her grip, yet her tender gaze never left his. ¡°That is why I shan¡¯t relent. Your Awakening will come, and if I must, then I shall fuel it myself. I swear this upon my mother¡¯s honor.¡± Despite the dark thoughts, despite his want to stay rooted in that gloom, a grin wormed its way onto Tan¨ª¡¯s lips. ¡°Y¡¯know, you sound a lot like Danza when you speak like that. Just fancier.¡± Eleanor returned the smile. ¡°I suppose a true education has its perks.¡± She broke away from him a moment later, her eyes resting on a shelf across from him. They appeared a little misty, but that might have been his smell more than anything. He still hadn¡¯t showered despite Jaster¡¯s objections. Maybe tonight he could get a light rinse in. No one deserved that sort of stenchful agony. ¡°Master,¡± Tan¨ª said. She glanced at him from the corner of her eyes. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°How was Hierrs¨¦ for you?¡± ¡°Adequate. I never struggled with any of my courses, though Literature and Mathematics were unpleasant. Why?¡± ¡°Did you ever struggle with Sedd?¡± Eleanor shook her head. ¡°I can¡¯t say that I did. Sedd¡­came naturally to me. Though I suppose that¡¯s on account of my blood.¡± ¡°Lunarkin, right?¡± Tan¨ª asked, dropping all pretenses. Eleanor tensed. ¡°¡­Yes.¡± ¡°Do you not like being one?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say that, I¡¯m just¡­¡± Her lips thinned into a line. ¡°Are you not bothered by the fact?¡± ¡°Not really. You never really seemed¡­¡± Tan¨ª debated on how to best word his response but ultimately threw caution to the wind. ¡°Normal. Not weird! Just different, y¡¯know?¡± ¡°I suppose it¡¯s not common to come across one such as I.¡± ¡°Because you¡¯re almost seven feet tall and built like a wall?¡± ¡°Why, yes I¡ª Did you just call me WIDE?¡± Tan¨ª tapped his chin. ¡°Maybe? A little? You¡¯re not really¡­skinny. Even in the art uniform.¡± He tilted his head. ¡°Actually, you look kinda bulky when you¡¯re wearing your regalia.¡± A low rumble emanated from the towering instructor. ¡°D-D¡¯Histell.¡± ¡°It¡¯s kinda weird since you dance around real good when you¡¯re fighting. It¡¯s like¡­I dunno. You¡¯re so elegant for someone so powerful.¡± ¡°Cease your ramblings this instant.¡± ¡°Like, are all Lunarkin born like this, or are you just¡ª¡± A blur of motion followed by the unholy radiation of heat erupted from the top of Tan¨ª¡¯s head. He desperately clawed at the open wound, a soundless howl touching his lips as blood rushed to the bump. ¡°Do you learn nothing, D¡¯Histell?¡± Eleanor growled, the thick cords in her neck bulging. ¡°God, was that you?¡± ¡°Indeed, and if you¡¯re thick enough to recap the subject, then I¡¯ll clout you in the ear.¡± ¡°I was just asking a question!¡± ¡°How is insulting a woman¡¯s beauty appropriate?¡± The throbbing ebbed with each second until (thankfully) only a faint sting occasionally bothered him. Not that it left him any happier. How she could hit harder than a full powered sword swing, he didn¡¯t know. Tan¨ª righted himself and instantly averted his eyes from Eleanor¡¯s as soon as he discovered she was glaring at him. It was just like when they first met. ¡°Now, are you through with your questions? We¡¯ve a lesson to finish,¡± she said. ¡°Well¡­I¡¯d be lying if I didn¡¯t have more,¡± he admitted. She heaved a heavy sigh. ¡°I will not answer them.¡± ¡°You said something about being chosen? That¡¯s what leads to Awakenings, right? The moment Tygenna claims you.¡± The dark rings under Eleanor¡¯s eyes grew pronounced as she shot him a tired stare. She relinquished her grip on the waster, allowing it to clatter at her feet. ¡°Yes. What of it?¡± ¡°How do you know when she chooses you?¡± ¡°She appears before you in the guise of that which you hold dearest.¡± ¡°When you¡¯re dreaming, right?¡± Tan¨ª pressed. ¡°Yes¡­¡± Eleanor cocked a brow. ¡°Has she presented herself to you?¡± Now that was going to be difficult to explain. Tan¨ª recounted his dreams to the best of his ability, earning reactions from Eleanor that bordered from pure bewilderment to outright confusion. The latter being received when he mentioned the ¡°pulse¡± of the world. She passed it off as a noise in his waking world worming its way into his dreams. ¡°One moment, D¡¯Histell,¡± Eleanor said, raising a hand. ¡°Did you claim Tygenna in the guise of her highness?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ What about it?¡± Tan¨ª asked, trying to act cool. ¡°Dreams do not lie, D¡¯Histell. Would you care to illuminate?¡± ¡°I could¡­ I could¡­but we¡¯ve got more pressing matters to discuss. Like why haven¡¯t I Awakened? I¡¯ve seen her twice, but I¡¯m still like this.¡± Eleanor cupped her chin. ¡°I know not, nor have I ever heard of Tygenna visiting more than once. Yours is a strange coincidence, D¡¯Histell. Perhaps the history instructor can prove to be of aid.¡± Tan¨ª stiffened. ¡°Oh, no thanks. I think I¡¯m good. I¡¯ll just think it over a little. Thanks for helping.¡± His gaze drifted to the door, and when he was sure no one was eavesdropping, leaned in and whispered, ¡°Tygenna¡­ She called me her blood. What does that mean?¡± ¡°Is that not obvious? She considers you her child, as she does all Juneac?o. And so, that only confirms my suspicion.¡± ¡°And what¡¯s that?¡± Eleanor marched across the room until she stood opposite of her desk. ¡°What drives you, Tan¨ª? Is it the thrill of your ascension? Or perhaps the songs they¡¯ll sing of your glory? Do you find the prospect of teaching others as captivating as the rising sun, or do you dread to think about what could come if you remain idle? Lives are lost every moment. Even now, one could be suffering without your notice.¡± Tan¨ª squirmed. Corat?o¡¯s peace encompassed every county, no matter where he and Danza went. Village after town, each city hosting a grand feast or parade to celebrate some holiday. Killings were rare. Fighting, sure, but taking another life? Every Juneac?o they came across, no matter how cruel, refrained from said act. And he? The one who dreamt of a Prism too perfect to exist, a sky that only glared at them with all the hate of the Solanarium? What could someone who only dreamt of the same thing ever want? If slumber served to remind them of past Wishes, of forgotten glory, then was there anything left for him? Was this all he¡¯d amount to? If his mind could wander beyond the pounding rain of the Prism, beyond the glow of the Tower, beyond the slippery wet grass that threatened to devour him, if he could see more than HER face, then would this all mean so much more? Could it be so much more? Or was this all he wanted? ¡°Tan¨ª,¡± Eleanor called, her eloquent voice breaking past the wall of thoughts. ¡°What do you fight for?¡± Tan¨ª defaulted to what he so often told Danza. ¡°The safety of Corat?o.¡± ¡°No. What do you fight for? What do you dread losing? Peace will come and go. Any true Juneac?o knows this. That is why we cling to our hearts, our desires. They are what drive us when the world loses all meaning. Take me, for example. I thought myself beyond saving, yet it is through your kindness that my life was granted new meaning. Your faith not only restored my strength but made it twofold.¡± Eleanor bowed her head. ¡°And for that, I am eternally grateful.¡± Tan¨ª tilted his head. He wasn¡¯t aware that he made that much of an impact. Being nice wasn¡¯t even that hard. Anyone could do it. Why would him being nice affect her any differently? ¡°Do you understand, D¡¯Histell?¡± ¡°I think so. Before coming here, I just traveled with Danza because being a Juneac?o was the greatest thing I could ever think of doing. Saving people and being famous are just bonuses, y¡¯know? But that¡¯s not why I did any of this,¡± he said. ¡°Then why, pray tell, are you here?¡± ¡°¡­I don¡¯t know.¡±