Chapter 5

  For the trip to the city, Lilum chose her previous outfit, which she had worn to the university on the first day. But the coat was too heavy, the midday sun was already quite warm, and she limited herself to only dress, protecting her legs from the cool breeze with dark tights.

  After making a phone call from the dorm, now she was heading slowly to the parking lot in front of the university hall. Already going down the steps, she noticed someone off to the side.

  “Arthena?”

  She turned around, looking at the girl with surprise. Lilum suddenly felt a surge of awkwardness and hastily retreated.

  “I don’t... I promise it’s merely a coincidence.”

  A skeptical expression showed on Arthena’s face for a moment, but quickly disappeared.

  “I didn’t realize that you do in fact are stalking me,” she drawled humorously. “Despite all the convincing.”

  “I didn't!..” Lilum blushed, suppressing her irritation. “I was just going to drive to the city. While I have some free time.”

  “"Drive "?”

  “Of course.” She caught herself. “Not myself, of course, I... can't drive. Obviously. I called for a car.”

  Arthena measured her with her eyes.

  “Wouldn't it be easier to take the monorail?”

  Lilum laughed curtly. Then she noticed Arthena's gaze.

  “I... prefer an autocar,” Lilum answered as casually as possible.

  “Of course,” Arthena said politely. “Shopping? Our rooms are not that spacious.”

  “Not at all,” Lilum was indignant. “I just... wanted to find something suitable for the weekend days. And I was planning to get myself certain books, I'm sure I can find what I need.”

  “Why not use the library?”

  “I just...” Lily stammered, wanting not to explain what was bothering her, “I prefer not to study there unless it’s necessary...”

  “And share your things with the others?”

  Lilum caught Illios's slightly mocking glance and pressed her lips together.

  “I trying to be self-sufficient,” she answered coolly. “Well... Good day. I should be waiting for my car.”

  She had already turned away when Arthena said:

  “There is no need to avoid me, you know.”

  “I thought my company was no longer appropriate,” Lily answered evenly.

  “I never said anything like that...”

  “What was the point of that remark then?”

  It came out sharp, much sharper than Lilum would have liked it to be. Arthena turned to her.

  “What do you think?” she asked evenly. “Do you believe your own remark was appropriate?”

  “About what?”

  Arthena raised her eyebrows expressively. Lily went over their conversation in her head for the tenth time in the last couple of days. Then she looked at the girl with disbelief.

  “That's not what I said about the animatas, is it?”

  “So you do know that was a vulgar statement?”

  Lilum met the judgmental gaze without fear.

  “I merely noted that these...” she suppressed the "vulgar" epithet, “the animatas are nothing but trouble. I mean, every time something unpleasant happens, these furry...” she cut herself off, again, “they are there every time.”

  “Do you seriously believe that it's Gerda's fault? That those three assholes were harassing her?”

  Lilum was taken aback by the open denigration of people with whom one had to be on one’s guard. Arthena responded with a pointed look.

  “Feel free to not ignore my remark,” she said dispassionately. “We're both grown-up demmas, Diamas, we can handle a bit of a scandal. Don't you think so?”

  “Because of the furrballs?” she couldn't resist. “I don't think that's appropriate.”

  “In your opinion, animatas aren't people?”

  The direct question ricocheted off the Lilum's opinion with a crack like off the steel armor.

  “I suppose my opinion doesn't matter, does it? It's a question of legality. I never claimed to support the reconstruction of lay-conditioning.”

  When it came to politics, Lilum always felt that her position was ideal, and it was only growing stronger with time. All this pointless debate about “workers’ rights” was so tediously primitive, but society and politicians, nevertheless, has no desire to just calm down already, and someone was always demanding something, continuing all that hullabaloo. Everyone was trying to grab a bit of power – and welfare.

  Arthena, judging by her face, clearly considered Lilum’s position less than ideal.

  “You’re not one of the activists, are you?” Now Lily allowed herself a disappointed tone. “I suppose your haven never had those… ridiculous reforms.”

  “True,” girl said evenly. “In Ellisia, things never got to the point of slave trading. Not like in Azgart, at least.”

  “I… see.”

  It was the frontal blow. Confidence in her political savviness was wavering now, Lilum had no idea that Arthena would be so… primitive in her judgments. But trying to challenge Arthena Illios now would hardly be possible. She should simply retreat before she lost her face again, but…

  “Oh, Arthena. And Diamas is here too. Did you invite her, Arthy?”

  Fjora Avaren and Lin Zhao approached them from behind. As far as Lilum could reason from their plain attire, they were going to the city, perhaps on business. The broad-shouldered but short girl was happily clinging to her tall companion’s arm.

  “Arthy?” Lilum quietly muttered, amazed.

  Diamas glanced sideways. Arthena caught it instantly and simply shrugged with a grin.

  “Are you going to the city?” Lilum asked politely, trying to hide a mixture of disappointment and embarrassment.

  “Oh, yes, Arthena will show us all the interesting places.”

  “Actually, I thought we were going to look around Elysium together,” she corrected.

  “We were planning to go together, but Arthena agreed to go with us!”

  Fjora made a melodious hum, smiling at demma Illios. Girl laughed openly, without a drop of irony or falsehood.

  “But... you... It's a little strange, isn't it?”

  Everyone looked at Lily questioningly.

  “I mean...” she suppressed her embarrassment with an effort, “sounds like you were going on a date. You and demus Zhao?”

  A deathly silence fell over them, in which the hum of the city suddenly became clear and distinct.

  “Oh no! We weren't...” Fjora waved her hands. “It wasn't a date! I mean, not like a "date" date, we are not!..”

  Coming to her senses, she flinched away from Zhao, nervously jerking her hand from his elbow, and waved even more actively.

  “We are not together! That is, we are together, but not "together" together. We are just... together.”

  The girl blushed. Lilum watched the scene with slight bewilderment, Arthena limited herself to a short smile.

  “I would prefer to send her alone,” Lin remarked evenly, “but I'm afraid she will get lost again.”

  “I was not lost! I was just...” Avaren pouted like a child. “Caught in the moment, that's all.”

  “I could use an extra pair of eyes,” the guy finished dispassionately with a hint of humor.

  “Oh, I understand... Have you already called for a car?” Lilum really wanted to change the subject as quick as humanly possible.

  “I suppose we were going to get on the rails?” Arthena noted, looking at her companions.

  The strange feeling of uncertainty started to feel irritating. A taxi with black and white stripes appeared at the entrance to the parking lot. Lilum perked up.

  “Oh, here’s my…”

  She suddenly stopped short. Then she turned to the others:

  “You know, if you do not mind, we could all go together. I mean, I’ve already ordered a car. I’m sure we can… managed inside.”

  Fjora looked questioningly at her companions. Arthena’s face gave nothing away, expressing only polite interest. Lilum was already regretting her strange decision when she turned to Lin:

  “I think it’s not a bad idea. We were going to the mall you two mentioned anyway. Aren’t we?”

  “I don’t know,” Fjora spoke slowly. “Lin, can we afford a taxi in Elysium? I heard that it’s…”

  “I'm sure we can. Several people together will be cheaper...”

  Rosa, pressing her nose to the glass, watched as four young people climbed into the autocar and it driving away.

  “Hmmm... She's definitely up to something. I should have... Ouch-ouch...”

  Pulled away from vantage point by the ear, Rosa grappled with Gebbi's hand.

  “Get off me, I'm busy!”

  “Enough mucking about. I bet Arthena is already losing patience with your antics... Let's go!”

  Rosa waved her hand away, but Gibiska deftly grabbed her by the scruff of the neck like a kitten and pulled her along.

  “Leggo, you oaf!”

  A short battle of arms waving ended with a flick on the nose. Rosa pouted.

  “Let's go,” Gebbi repeated. “To the library. Show me your results for the algebra.”

  Rosa shielded the bag with her body.

  “Nooo!..”

  “And why I’m not surprised. You need to go over the materials at least once.”

  “Look who’s talking!”

  “Prff, you know how much I hate algebra,” nonchalantly said Gebbi and added seriously: “But I can't allow that we would get thrown out for delinquency. Father will skin us alive...”

  The library stood as a separate building slightly away from the southern wing of the university, on the other side of the small square with a fluffy flowerbed in the center. Modern architecture made the building look like some kind of geometric castle. With cubic towers, decorated by golden wings on the corners.

  Inside, a vast atrium occupied most of the building. Natural sunlight penetrated through narrow floor-to-ceiling windows covered by geometric patterns. In the center was a square counter occupied by a pair of librarians on duty. The shelves occupied the lower tier and most of the upper one. Despite the many students, the premises were surprisingly quiet, with a light background noise of rustling paper.

  Taking a couple of books from the shelves, the girls, wearing a funereal looks, started spot hunting for where to lay their doomed by sciences heads. Rosa looked around. And suddenly cracked into a smile.

  “Look, look!”

  She pointed somewhere in the far corner. Tallia didn’t show that she noticed their approach, although both felt the almost physical discontent radiating from the girl in the dark dress.

  The second on the list of entertainment for the sisters after pestering Arthy or Lilum was pestering Onyxson.

  “Hey, Tally, how did you do in algebra?”

  The sisters sat down on either side of the victim. She melancholically turned the page.

  “I don't see how this is concern of yours.”

  “Awww, it's okay if you got ‘poorly’,” said Rosa. “I'm no good either.”

  “That's not what I said.”

  Without looking, Tally slapped away Rosa's hand, which was reaching for her bag with sinister intentions.

  “I bet she got ‘perfect’,” said Gebbi.

  “That's impossible,” asserted Rosa. “No one gets ‘perfect’. Maybe one of the teachers.”

  “Arthena got ‘perfect’, I think,” said Gebbi.

  Rosa made a "Prrrf" with her lips and slumped down on the table.

  “Maybe that white sneak is trying to find out her secrets,” said Rosie. “Arthy is all so totally perfect.”

  “Does she know you call her that?” asked Tally.

  “Of course she does,” assured Rosa. “She asked me. Hey, can you pick locks?”

  Tally glanced up at her.

  "Where is that came from?"

  "Because then we'll break through Diamas's door and drag her dirty laundry into the light."

  "I bet her laundry is so clean that you can wear it on your head," Gebbi said.

  Tally turned the page with a hint of irritation.

  "Don't you want to go be disgusting somewhere else?"

  "Naah, this is fine," Rosie said.

  Onyxson made a curt snort. Gebbi touched her elbow, making her move away.

  "Awww, admit it, you love us," she sang.

  "Exactly the opposite, yeah."

  "Come on, I know what you do when you don't like someone," Gibiska said.

  "And what do I do?"

  "You tell that someone flatly to shut up. Or you just walk away.”

  Tally glared at her.

  "Are you suggesting that I should leave? Or should I tell you to shut up?"

  Rosa snorted under her nose. Tally slapped her hand again.

  "I will know anyway," she threatened.

  "Over my dead body."

  “Hey, what are you reading?”

  “Don't paw at my book.”

  Rosa demandingly pressed at her, trying to read the title despite Tally's efforts to hide the information. Gibiska suddenly noticed something lying on the table.

  “Hey, what's this?”

  She picked up a folded, plump square of a newspaper.

  “Tally,” Rosa drawled reprovingly, “you're not secretly an old man wearing a young girl's skin, are you?”

  Onyxson looked up with rare for her surprised look on the face.

  “Did you hit your head or something?”

  “She reads too many of her stupid comic books,” Gebbi noted, opening the newspaper.

  “It’s not stupid at all, it is heights of imagination.

  “Comics are too homogeneous,” Tally answered flatly.

  “That's true... The newspaper is no better, is it. ‘Lemon juice – a deadly weapon against The Shadows?’” Gibiska read.

  Rosa reached for her.

  “Whaaat? You're right, this is dumber than a comic book, I can't believe it's on the front page...”

  “Now that’s sounds like a truth: ‘The heist of the century! An entire warehouse of lightcrystals has been stolen’”

  “What, like an entire building? This really is like a comic book.”

  “They seem to have taken the full cargo load out of the port... Hmm, that's weird.”

  Gibiska frowned, leafing through the paper.

  “Look, they wrote that this isn't the first time this month. The first time was almost when we were enrolling...”

  “What's going on here, corporate wars?”

  The sisters pored over the paper for a minute. Tally raised her eyes with a slight grin.

  “What's is it, you’re too secretly old men with a skin?”

  Rosa stuck the tongue out at her. Then let out a short, angry cry. Several people glanced admonishingly in their direction.

  “That’s that... Grrr!”

  Rosie yanked the paper towards herself, nearly tearing it in half.

  “Oi, easy!” Tally snapped at her.

  “It's that jerk!”

  Rosie pointed to the photo of a man wearing an expensive-looking light suit and a hat.

  “It was him and his minion who robbed me!”

  “‘Minion’, what?” Gebbi demanded. “Come on, Rosie, you’re turning into a comic book character.”

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “I'm not lying, it's definitely him!”

  She glared at the photo furiously, as if she was trying to kill him with staring on a distance. The advert nearby promised to develop supernatural powers unknown even to resonants.

  “Do you want to go to the police, since you recognized him?” Gebbi asked. “This guy seems to be a local crime lord. Hey, Tally, you read the papers, maybe you saw something?”

  Gebbi put the paper down and poked the photo with the finger. Tally put the book aside with a sigh. "Passion on the Sunset Sea," title was informing. Rosa giggled.

  "Augustus Forten," Tally said. "I've seen his name a couple of times. Actually, they mostly call him "Red."

  "Because of his hair?" Rosa clarified. "He has red hair..."

  The paper was all black and white. Tally shrugged.

  "The article said his real name is actually unknown. He's the leader of a gang somewhere in the port where they rob warehouses and extort people.”

  "Who was that wench?”

  Tally shrugged again.

  "Who knows. If he really is a crime lord, he should have a lot of soldiers.”

  "Not ‘minions’?”

  Gebbi smirked, Rosie tried to flick her on the nose, but couldn't reach across the table.

  “You could try the newspaper archive here in the library,” Tally said, picking up the book again.

  “Great idea, I'll gonna...”

  Gebbi grabbed her sister by the scruff of the neck at the last moment.

  “No way. Studying first.”

  “Awww, but I'm on the rampage of revenge...” the younger whined.

  “First, studying – then rampage.”

  Rosie started to dejectedly pull out her notes and books. The task hadn't made it too far.

  “Oh-hah, it was you...”

  Rosa raised her head.

  “Han! Hello.”

  Tanned animata approached their table. Today he was also wearing a jacket, frivolously open. The tie was untied and casually thrown around his neck. His dark eyes looked around at the girls.

  “Demma Gibiska.” He adjusted his imaginary hat

  She responded with a chuckle, making an artificial bow without getting up from her chair.

  “My salutations, demus,” she grinned. “You can just call me Gebbi.”

  “I try to be more polite with the locals,” the animata noted, and fearfully pressed his ears to his head. “I wouldn't want to incur the wrath from the rulers of Golden Wheel.”

  Haanash grabbed a chair nearby and settled down at their table

  “Don't pay attention to those freaks, damn gilded children...”

  “No, I meant the deputy director,” he shook his head. “Director King – we got off easy. Fidelis has such an acidic voice when she chews you out... And over, and over, and over these lecturing, and rules, and behavior...”

  Han exaggeratedly shuddered.

  "I haven't been this tired since my mother chewed me out for crushing my buggy."

  "It could have been worse," Gebbi noted. "Bellethor would have simply strangled you with his resonance."

  "I don't think Fidelis is any better," Rosa said. "Remember the first day? I think it was her resonance."

  "Well, so...," the guy intoned. "Name's Haanash. Just Han, to friends."

  There was a long pause. The sisters exchanged knowing glances. Han's tail made a short movement under the chair.

  "May I know yours, demma?" he drawled expressively.

  Tallia looked up at the stranger.

  "Perhaps."

  And she returned to the book. Guy raised his hands in surrender, disappointedly pressing his ears back. The girls giggled conspiratorially.

  “Come on, Taallyy...” Rosa intoned.

  She slapped her hand without looking.

  “Do you know him?” she asked.

  “Yeah, I told you what happened recently, remember?” Rosa said.

  “And don't pretend you didn't listen, we know you always know everything.”

  Tally gave Gibiska an unamused look.

  “Haanash came here from Sura.”

  “Not exactly,” he said. “I kind of represent Babel Academy...”

  “So you're not from the haven?” Rosa was surprised. “But then, you're from a fort? You do have forts, right?”

  “Quite likely, yes,” he assured with a slight delay.

  “I'm just not very good at geography,” Rosa admitted.

  “Or history,” Gebbi teased

  “Or algebra,” Tally added with no interest.

  Rosa hissed at them. Han laughed reservedly.

  “You are sisters, right? You are not from around here either, are you?

  “No, we are from Haiven.”

  “All three?” he asked innocently.

  “Nooo...” Rosa drawled in a conspiratorial tone. “We met Tally here. Where did you say you were from?”

  “I didn't?”

  She didn't even look up from her book.

  “Sooo...” Haanash was trying hard to look like he was just making a small talk. “Where you from? If it's not a secret?”

  He was doing a bad job. Tally silently looked up at the animata. Then she pointedly closed the book.

  “I suppose your algebra is progressing well enough without me.”

  To the Rosa’s disappointing noises Tallia gathered her things and left. Han looked after the girl, then pretended to press his ears back in shame.

  “A hard case. I didn't cross any lines, did I? Not yet?”

  “Hard to say,” Rosa said slowly. “Tallia doesn't like to talk about herself. She's from Malja, I think.”

  “Aww, that explains it all...” Han said, looking back at Rosie.

  “I told you...” Gebbi drawled, and, noticing Rosa's question, added: “She just leaves when she doesn't like someone.”

  Han let out a disappointed "Hmm." His ears involuntarily tensed a little, making his expression a little confused.

  “Didn't you just come over to say hello to me?” Rosa teased him.

  The guy put on an innocent expression.

  “Well, of course. It's not like I...”

  “Hey, hi guys.”

  They finally noticed Artorius approaching their table. The guy was absentmindedly clutching a couple of notebooks in his hands.

  “You don't happen to be... doing algebra?” he asked hopefully. “Like, for a retake? It's not like I'm saying someone failed here and they need a retake, I just... thought it might be algebra.”

  “It's that bad, huh?” Rosa patted the chair next to her.

  “Nooooo,” he drawled, sitting down next to her. “Not bad at all. Not that bad.”

  Under the questioning gaze, he hung his head.

  “Yeah, it's bad.” He noticed Han: “Oh... We haven't met. Artorius Camellon.”

  Animata shook the reaching hand.

  “Han.”

  “Hey, weren't you the one who punched Pavrelis the other day? Preston Pavrelis, the skinny prick with the slicked-back hair?..”

  Haanash adjusted his invisible hat again:

  “I know, I know, yeah. Guilty on all counts, dem.”

  “You're either really cool or really stupid,” Arthur sighed heavily and shook his head. “This freak has been a pain in the neck for many here, but his dad is some local senator.”

  “Like I said, guilty. Hey, I'll be on the same course with you guys. Is it really that hard?”

  “Oh, yeah!”

  Rosa and Arty answered in unison. Haanash lowered one ear skeptically and looked at Gibiska, who grinned.

  “Judge for yourself.”

  Demus Hurgan leafed through the notebook handed to him. Rosa informed by an indignant screeching that these were her notes, and not Gebbi's.

  “Hmm...” intoned the animata. “Doesn't look that hard.”

  “Really?” Arty leaned toward him hopefully. “Listen, man, help me out! I have no idea how to do it...”

  “Hmmm...” Han poked at one line: “Well, first of all, right here everything is wrong...”

  Rosa let out a sob, as if she’s been stabbed in the back by her best friend.

  “How could you? We were comrades in troublemaking!..”

  “But that’s true...”

  The gymnasium, where the trials took place on the first day, students of Shadowlore Academy were visiting with a “two days skip, go on the third day” pattern. Here, the students honed their skills in physical training. They repeatedly went through the athletic equipment, ran laps. Many began to grumble that this was not what they signed up for. The trio of riches was mainly listened to only by their own kind and their suck-ups. Those who, like Arthena or the sisters, knew what hunting for the shadow was, simply carried out the routine. And they often supplemented their training with voluntary visits to the gym in their free time.

  After a month of two-hour training sessions, however, it was time for lectures on the hunters’ craft.

  “The Hunters Doctrine.”

  Professor Dalah Teller paced in front of the uneven line of students.

  “Who can say what it is?”

  Many glanced sideways at Arthena. But she increasingly ignored the professors' questions and answered only when she was asked directly. Lilum raised her hand instead.

  “The Doctrine is an unofficial tradition of hunters that loosely regulates weapons and tactics.

  “Correct, but not quite.” The trainer nodded anyway. “It is a tradition of the Guild. All shadowslayers, outriders or keepers, know about the doctrine. Who knows why it arose?”

  Lilum raised her hand again. But Professor Teller shook his head and looked around at the students. Rosie hesitantly raised her hand.

  “Because hunters are working based on the shadows danger level?

  “Is that a question or an answer?” the trainer chuckled. “But it will do. What you wanted to say, Rubin, is that the shadows are a dangerous and sneaky enemy. They have no apparent goals, they simply attack people. They destroy what we have built, they ravage our holdings. And the shadows come in all sizes and shapes. You have already attended lectures on shadowlore and know the basic types. Or rather, you’d better be knowing this, otherwise Professor Fidelis will throw you all out if she’s given the freedom.”

  The students responded with a discordant murmur of agreement. The deputy director was painfully demanding, especially of the Academy’s students.

  “And, therefore, all shadowslayers must be correspondingly flexible, and respond quickly to emerging threats and changes in the situation. Anything can happen in a fight, and a hunt for a pack of animal-shadows can turn into a fight with hordes of crawling creeps in a riverbed knee-deep in icy water in a matter of minutes.”

  Many shuddered.

  “Who knows the basic tenets of the doctrine?”

  Lilum volunteered again.

  “A hunter must be able to fight both in close combat and at a distance.”

  “Again, not quite correct, Diamas.”

  Lilum's cheeks turned noticeably pink, but she kept silent.

  “She forgot something. Anyone?”

  Unexpectedly, Artorius raised his hand.

  “Um... according to the doctrine...” The guy collected his thoughts for a second. “Yes. According to the doctrine, you need to have the ability to fight in close combat and at a distance.”

  Lilum snorted subtly.

  “I just said...”

  “And you need to have ways to fight both one strong opponent and multiple small ones. Less... strong.”

  Arthur awkwardly fell silent. But Professor Teller was satisfied.

  “Not bad, Camellon. Correct. Three types of attack: a quick attack to drive the creature away from you, and a powerful blow capable of finishing off or at least crippling large monsters. Which often have natural armor, like shields or extra limbs. And finally, the most important thing – working at a distance. Why is this so important?”

  The students were staying silent in puzzlement.

  “Because when a mob of shadowbeasts is charging right at you, it is preferable that as few as possible actually got to you, demi. That's all.”

  At the end of a short lecture, coach gave command to take the training weapons. The stands were in use for a long time now, and even here students had separated into groups already. The sisters during the first days settled down on one side, next to Tally and Arthur. Today, Haanash also joined them.

  “Oh, do I spy another twin blade?”

  Tally glanced at him, but said nothing, and silently put the second sword away. Han didn’t look like he took offence, and chose himself a pair of curved blades of medium length. Rosa looked at his tail, puzzled, it twitched its tip weirdly.

  “Tally usually trains with a long blade,” Gebbi remarked. “Although you know the twin technique it seems. Will we ever see your style?”

  “Maybe.”

  “I train with a scythe!” Rosa bragged.

  Han checked out her stuff.

  “But it's a halberd...”

  “They don't have a scythe,” Rosa hung her head. “And I can't use a combat weapon, otherwise I'll slice up half the class...”

  “You wear a scythe?” said the guy, astonished.

  “It's hard to believe, isn't it?” Gebbi grinned. “She's such a shorty.”

  Rosa hissed at her menacingly. Gibiska herself had gotten hold of a pair of rough gantlets somewhere in the arsenal, probably from old armor, and was now wearing them for training.

  “Wow, you literally fight with your fists?” Han was amazed. “We mostly use curved blades where I from.”

  He demonstratively twirled a light strip of steel.

  “If they don't blow your head off with a shot from under a bush,” came from the side.

  Frank Marcell, another guy who entered the University with Han, was from Hallis, was talented, and was quite popular among the demmas. Personally he was almost indifferent to this, and only the fashionable styling of his steel-gray hair, and the consistently chivalrous treatment of girls betrayed that this image was carefully maintained.

  "This is yet another slamming of my homeland," pleased Haanash explained. And he said to Marcell: "Well, and in Hallis you’re gorging on the water worms! Oh yeah, worms, and jellyfishes!"

  One of the large havens, Hallis stood on an extensive network of canals in a beautiful bay on the shore of the Sea of ????Stars and was famous for its exotic cuisine. Rosa made a disgusted noise. Frank shrugged unfazed and twirled his spear, poking it downwards.

  "And we catch them in the river with sharp sticks." He smiled dazzlingly.

  "You carry a harpoon, right?" Rosa asked.

  “When I’m allowed,” he said.

  The trainer walked between the students, checking their readiness.

  “When you are finished, split into pairs!”

  When he noticed the sisters' gaze, the Professor made a sign at them.

  “Except for you four. Freeones, come to me.”

  Leaving the stands, the girls approached Teller. Lilum pointedly turned away from Rosa. Rosa made a face. Then she noticed that someone else had approached.

  “Arthena?” Lilum asked in surprise.

  She shook her head in surprise, answering silent question.

  “Today we will practice with positions according to the doctrine,” Professor Teller said. “I know that you are better trained than the others. You are required to determine – on your own – which of you is better handling which type of combat. While I work with the others, you will split into pairs according to your characteristics. Is that clear?”

  “Ummm... no?”

  “Then I advise you to get your brains in, Rubin,” coach remarked weightily. “This is not an exam, but today I will take notes. Illios,” he pointed at Arthena, “you will take the role of the Shadow.”

  “You are not planning a full-fledged sparring, are you?” she said in surprise. “I mean...”

  “What, up to first blood?” The Professor chuckled. “Don't talk nonsense.”

  “But then anyone could...”

  “Enough of you standing around, Illios. I plan to bring you all to peak form by the end of the semester. That includes you too.”

  When coach walked away, Rosa looked questioningly at Arthena.

  “To first blood?”

  “Something like a duel for hunters,” Gebbi pointed. “But I think they do it... well, with resonance and all that. I'm also interested.”

  "I assume," Lilum said with aplomb, "that Arthena's role is to serve as our instructor today. The role of the Shadow is usually taken on by an experienced mentor. Isn't that right?"

  Arthena just nodded with a slight annoyance on her face.

  “Oh, come on, Arrthyy,” said Rosa. “You really are the most talented.”

  “I don’t like being singled out,” Illios answered irritably and bluntly.

  “I don’t think you’re being singled out, Arthena,” said Rosa. “You’re just the best at studying, that’s all…”

  “You both have no idea who she is, do you?”

  The sisters turned to Lilum.

  “Well, enlighten us then,” Gebbi said, annoyed.

  Lilum had already opened her mouth when Arthena suddenly interrupted in a firm tone:

  “I think we should get busy with the breakdown. My role is predetermined, it seems… But you will have to decide for yourselves.”

  The quartet of Freeones exchanged suspicious glances.

  The first five minutes of bickering revealed nothing unexpected. All four hunters were completely confident that they were capable of anything, with or without resonance. Illios with a sour expression observed the debate as it rapidly went nowhere.

  “I admit that I am glad to have the opportunity to train with you, Arthena,” Lilum said with a hint of self-importance.

  At the moment, the sisters were trying to pressure Tally into acknowledge her own merits, which gave Diamas a short respite.

  “I don't think that you need my help,” Arthena said absentmindedly, looking somewhere to the side.

  Artorius listened attentively to the trainer and nodded with a tense look. Nearby, Haanash was adeptly waving his sword. He said something and made a sharp swing, Arthur recoiled from the iron whistling past his ear. Teller harshly barked at them, now causing both to flinch away.

  Lilum threw a suspicious glance at Arthena.

  “Then let me train with Arthena myself!” Rosa suddenly butted in. “Since we both carry a spear, I think...”

  “Do you think you can match someone who has trained for years?” Lilum couldn't help herself.

  “I bet I can handle a spear better than you can handle your toothpick.”

  “Don't try to provoke me, I'm above that.”

  Lilum was as red as Rosa was.

  “Since you all think you can take any position,” Illios said dryly, “I believe I'll have to put an end to this. Both of you – come on.”

  “I agree,” Tally said. “At least we'll get started.”

  Lilum gasped in horror. The prospect of being paired with Rosa devastated her.

  “But, Arthena, this is!.. I'll never... This is simply unacceptable!..”

  “I'll get with Tally,” Gibiska interrupted. “I will take on the close combat, since you, Tally, like to stay away.”

  Onyxson simply nodded. Overwhelmed by the majority of votes, Lilum made a displeased huff. They spent another minute arguing disorderly, but coach, having heard them out, approved the groups.

  “Work in pairs. When hunting, you have to change on the fly, but... we'll have time for that later.

  Soon the hall was filled with the clanking of steel and short cries. Professor Teller walked between the groups, giving out instructions and shouting at those who were lagging behind. The Freeones and their "Shadow" were left aside from the main group, in the far corner.

  “Try to stay out of the way.”

  Lily couldn't hold back the terminally boiling over irritation.

  “Grrrr... Prissy!” Rosie shot out.

  “What are you?..”

  And then Arthena suddenly appeared next to them, her spear crashed into the floor between them, causing both let out startled cries.

  “Come on already!” Illios exclaimed, without hiding her anger.

  The huntresses jumped up, repelling the onslaught of “the Shadow"...

  A lunge, a blow, a dash, the wide swing. The first pair couldn't hold out for even half a minute. After a couple of blow exchanges, Arthena simply distributed a subtle jab to the body for each, causing both to yelp. The pairs changed.

  Gebby and Tally managed not much better. Gibiska's onslaught seemed to be a good support for Tally’s measured approach, whom was looking for an opening, but in a weird way always turned out to be a direct obstacle to her attack. Tally jumped back wearily when Gebby fell right at her feet with a scream.

  “I just slipped!” she assured hastily.

  “And I helped her,” Arthy noted maliciously. “One more time?”

  “It is fine, I will avenge your death, my sister!” Rosa cried out. “Come on, princess!”

  “How dare you!.. Grrghh!..”

  ...and even an hour later things were still not going so well. With a short cry, Lilum jumped back. Arthena stretched out in a long lunge above the floor like a string and Lilum screamed again, losing her sword in the block.

  “Gotcha!”

  Rosa cracked Arthena's spear on the shaft, knocking it out of...

  The spear bounced off the floor in a soft grip, and like a spring returned to the attack position, never leaving the hand of its owner. A combination of short lunges bypassed the awkward block, Rosa felt something slide along her leg. Arthena turned sharply, and the opponent plopped down on the floor with a shriek.

  “Aiee... give up.”

  Rosa dropped her hands tiredly and caught her breath.

  “Eat me, Shadow, I can't defeat you...”

  Arthena measured the girl with her eyes, then lightly poked her with a spear.

  “Nom.”

  “Arghhh...”

  Rosa portrayed dying on stage. Lilum had already steadied her breath enough to snort indignantly.

  “You are terribly good,” Gebbi remarked from the side. “We didn’t get kicked around like that since the last training session with father.”

  “You’re...” Arthena stopped herself.

  “Well, that time during the trial is technically counts...” Gebbi added, and looked questioningly at Arthena: “What that?”

  “Are you from a family of hunters?” she asked cautiously. “It's just that you're very good too. All of you,” she added, looking at Lilum with a sly smile.

  “She's not that good...” Rosa muttered, getting to her feet.

  “Well, I’ve never...” Lily hissed.

  “Both of you shut up,” Tally authoritatively cut off another squabble. “I’m sick of you. Both of you.”

  The last was addressed to Rosa. The huntresses pouted.

  “Told ya,” Gebbi pointed out, then turned to Arthena: “We've been training since we were kids.”

  “Our father is a weapons master at the academy in Haiven,” Rosa butted in. “I don't think he knows much about anything except hunting.”

  “Come on, he's almost mastered fried eggs,” Gebbi declared.

  The sisters exchanged mean laughs.

  “But nah, Dad is okay at running the house,” Gibiska noted.

  “Or he could starve to death,” Rosie stated, then turned to Arthena: “So you're a Hunter too? I mean, I doubt anyone from the outside would be as well trained.”

  “Maybe she's hunting crazy, just like you?” Gebbi teased.

  “Oh yeah? Well, and you... you are...” Rosa hesitated and finished confidently: “Well, and you're just a sheep.”

  Gibiska shook off her golden ponytail.

  “I suppose I am.”

  Rosa stuck her tongue out at her, then turned to Arthena with an expectant look on her face. In response, Illios suddenly put on a surprisingly fake smile, causing the girl to catch herself.

  “S... sorry. You don't have to talk if you don't want to,” Rosa said.

  “No, Rosie... I just...”

  Arthena hesitated, apparently struggling with herself. Then she exhaled, as if about to step into the water.

  “My father... is Protector-General of Ellisia,” Arthena said slowly.

  There was a silence, knowing for Lilum, ignorant for the sisters.

  “What do you mean? It’s like the Head Hunter?” Gebbi said.

  “He's something like Bellethor, only in Ellisia?” Rosa clarified.

  “No. He's the head of the Outriders,” Arthena explained evenly.

  Lilum stayed silent, waiting for the continuation. The sisters did not live up to expectations, exchanging puzzled glances. Diamas sighed briefly.

  “She's an aristocrat, from the oldest family of hunters and outriders of Ellisia!”

  The sisters let out an impressed sigh. Lilum responded to Arthena's displeased look with an irritated snort and muttered:

  “I don't understand why this is such a big secret.”

  “I think you do understand, Diamas,” Arthena said no less irritated, “unless your father did send you here by force.”

  “What in the...?” Lily breathed out. “Why is that? I'm sorry if I offended you in any way, but I think you should be proud...”

  “Oh, do be silent!”

  Lilum stopped short. There was no anger in Illios's voice, but there was a strange, aching annoyance, sadness even.

  "Of course I'm proud," Arthena said. "I've always been proud that my ancestors, my father, were defending our people, our city. Even when my grandfather was against participating in the war, and we... Well, our family is not the only influential one in the haven. But we were always... loved."

  She sighed.

  "When my resonance awoken, it was... As if everyone was simply expecting that. In my class at the academy nobody had even had a thought that I could not be the best of them all. Everyone kept repeating that my resonance would be the strongest..."

  She opened her palm, and between her fingers blue charges briefly flashed.

  "And that's exactly what happened?" Gebbi asked carefully.

  "Exactly what. And no one was even surprised. Everyone just... continued to expect the best."

  Arthena pressed her lips in a line.

  “I am grateful for everything I’ve got from my family, from my schoolmates, but...”

  There was a silence. Demma Illios smiled sourly.

  “I suppose I am simply afraid of not living up to the expectations.”

  Rosa rushed up to her, giving her a big hug.

  “You will always live up to my expectations, Arthena!”

  Girl laughed and hugged her back.

  “You really are a sweet thing, Rosie...”

  “I apologize if I touched on a sore subject,” Lilum drawled. “I did not mean to...”

  “Oh, do drop these social mating dances,” Rosa rumbled irritably.

  Lilum was taken aback for a moment before her cheeks turned pink and she opened her mouth.

  “Just tell us why would you want to be a huntress,” Rosie interrupted defiantly.

  “Isn't it obvious?” Diamas lifted her chin. “It's a prestigious job for the best. It's only natural for me to take such a position. And the Elysium Academy is the best in the world.”

  “Why would you go halfway around the world instead of enrolling in the academy in Azgart?” Gebbi asked suspiciously. “You would get there all the special treatment you want...”

  “I don’t want any special treatment!” Lily flared up. “And as I said, the University of Elysium is the best in the world.”

  She caught scrutinizing gaze from Arthena, who didn't say anything however. Diamas turned away, embarrassed.

  “Tally, Tally!..”

  “No. Keep bothering me, and I'll put itching powder into your bed.”

  Gebbi burst out laughing at the sight of Rosa's face. Arthena limited herself to a short smile, then adeptly adjusted grip on the weapon in hands.

  “Let us continue, we still have plenty of time left...”

  At the end of the day, the girls left the gymnasium together. Tally abandoned their company with an indifferent farewell, to which Rosa replied, "Awww, she likes us." Lilum tried to hide her irritation. Of course, she would have preferred to be left with Arthena alone, but she had to endure the extra company.

  “Did you make your own weapons?” Arthena said. “You really are talented, Rosa.”

  “More like annoying,” muttered Gebbi. “I had to teach her everything, otherwise she would have badger me dead with her questions. Or just crippled herself.”

  “Well, you’re our tinker,” Rosa was indignant. “She loves tinkering with junk. Father was thinking of sending her to engineering college in Haiven.”

  “Yes, he was so surprised when I got mad,” Gibiska grinned. “He thought I didn't mind, although I always said that I wanted to be a hunter.”

  “So you both made your own weapons?” Lilum clarified in a strange, even tone.

  “Not exactly,” said Rosa. “But Gebbi made her own gloves. She made her own motorcycle too, she was even planning to ride it to Elysium! Dad made her take the train, but she still dragged her jalopy on. Had to buy a place in the freight car.”

  “Better this than trudging through the wilderness like a lunatic.”

  Rosa dodged the friendly bear hug grapple.

  “What were you thinking, you loghead!” Gibiska chided.

  “Well, it turned out for the best,” her sister answered adamantly.

  Lilum stared at them for a moment as if she was seeing both for the first time. Then she quickly looked away.

  “Only because Dad was too lazy to go to Elysium to twist our ears off,” muttered Gebbi. “You know how he’s always... Especially when you flip another of your antics.”

  “Why don’t you just say that he loves me more,” Rosa added caustically.

  “Of course he loves you more. Just look how hard he tried to keep you.”

  “You know it's the other way around!”

  Rosa waved her hands indignantly. With a laugh Gebbi tried to ruffle her hair, but the girl batted her away angrily.

  “In the modern world people more and more often say that machines will soon take on the role of the protectors of man,” said Arthena. “I think it's very... romantic of you to continue the family business.”

  “Many families of hunters trace their lineage. Even in Haiven, there are families of hunters from the Age of Havens,” Gibiska noted. “And hunters... I mean, I don't know about Ellisia, but such craft doesn't attract whole crowds there.”

  “They say that the family of Ellisia's protectors traces their lineage back to the Age of Darkness,” Lilum noted casually.

  Arthena looked so deliberately calm that it was clear that topic irritated her.

  "Our family is indeed very old. I wouldn't insist on such extravagant details, though."

  "That can't be right," Rosa said indignantly. "The Age of Darkness was like a thousand years ago."

  "More than two, actually," Gebbi noted. "You were listening in history class, right?"

  "Of course," Rosa waved her hand dismissively, in the tone that made it clear that if one were listening, one only doing half-job. "And how would you know that?"

  "The school curriculum?" Gebbi said with a hint of superiority.

  Rosa did a feigned pout.

  "Still, the havens have changed hundreds of times," she drawled. "Who can trace their lineage back to prehistoric times? Like some medieval kings who claimed to be descended from gods or something like that. “

  “The rulers of Babel still do that, I believe,” Gebbi butted in. “I read in a magazine about their new queen...”

  “My family has proof of its involvement in the founding of Azgart,” Lilum pointed dryly. “If you don't believe this, that's your problem.”

  “Oooh?” Rosa drawled. “You really are some kind of princess. Princess of Lilies!”

  Arthena and Gibiska unconvincingly suppressed laughter. The garthian turned a soft scarlet all over her face.

  “Don't you dare...” Lilum said in a terrible voice. “Don't you dare call me that!”