After the better part of an hour passed, Elly finally relented from trying to crack the code and stepped away from the pedestal. The monotony of her task was eroding the last of her patience, and she needed a break to see something other than flashes of red light. Helbram had been with her the whole time, but despite his skill at keeping a steady stream of small talk, there was only so much that he could do.

  “I do have to hand it to Kali,” she said as they walked through the rooms on their way out, “She possesses a mental resilience of a different kind.”

  “Spite will make one do things many would find most unreasonable,” Helbram said. He was back to his usual casual demeanor, but he had been silent for a while since discussing Ophelia. A small bit of guilt scratched at Elly since she asked him about it, but he directed no ire her way and eventually carried on like nothing had happened.

  “You have a point there.” Elly chuckled to herself. “Gods’ know that my master is driven mostly by her spite for many things.”

  “I imagine most of that would be directed towards the ‘soft children’ of today that cannot do anything well?”

  “But of course, someone has to play the role of a nagging grandmother.”

  “It fits her like a glove.”

  The light of early afternoon greeted them upon their exit onto the deck of the airship. Though there was a constant chill present within the vessel, it was especially cold out today. Elly welcomed it for a while, letting winter’s bite across her onyx skin serve as a shock that kicked her mind from the lethargy she could feel building around it. Once she started to feel shivers, she summoned her robes back over her clothes and reveled in their newfound warmth.

  She spotted Jahora and Aria on the deck, seated on the floor near one of the sealed hatches. The girl had her eyes closed and her fingers crossed on her lap, a Circle glowing around her head. Specs of Aether swirled around it, shifting between the colors of green, pale blue, red, a deeper blue, and even purple. No spell was cast, but the speed at which Aria was able to Transpose the energies from one to the other had increased significantly since she had started a month ago. Jahora, ever watchful, had her purple irises glowing as she examined her student’s process. No doubt to provide any pointers, but also to see if Aria’s Shade was going to make an appearance.

  Any hints of the girl’s past life interfering with her current progress, whether to provide an unwanted boon or to hinder her, had not shown themselves since their time in Geldervale. All the progress that Aria made was of her own volition, and she was especially happy when they had told her that. Still, it always paid to be cautious, so while such a simple process as Transposition could be done on her own, both Elly and Jahora had elected to have at least one of them monitor her during her practice, and to use the time to teach her a bit of spellcraft. Normally, Snow and Shadow would be by her side, doing meditations of their own, but the wolves had accompanied Leaf out on his hunting trip earlier that day.

  Aria’s training appeared to be coming to an end, and the girl’s eyes opened once the Circle around her head faded. Her frosty blue irises glinted with excitement upon seeing Elly and Helbram, and she hopped up to her feet before running over.

  “Did you find anything interesting?” she asked.

  “Nothing new, no,” Elly admitted, “But I may be coming onto an idea.” She looked over to Jahora. “If you are free to help for the next week, that is.”

  Jahora tilted her head to the side. “Well, it’s not like I was going anywhere, but we may have to put some of Aria’s training on hold.”

  The prospect of that dulled some of the light in the girl’s eyes.

  “I shall instruct her on the sword during that time, then,” Helbram said, “I think it is time that she learns a few new flourishes, what say you?”

  Aria nodded vigorously, the light sparking back even brighter than before.

  Helbram snorted and ruffled her hair, but his brow furrowed before he turned to Elly. “We will have to use one of the rooms for training, to remain out of Xanchil’s sight. Will that be disruptive at all?”

  “You should be fine,” Elly said, “All of our attention will be on the deepest room.”

  “Perfect.” He guided Aria towards the stairs by her shoulder. “Let us get you properly equipped then, shall we?”

  The girl walked at his side, a hop in every step. The two were always close, all of them were close to Aria at this point, but Elly noticed Helbram’s hand linger on the girl’s shoulder. It wasn’t possessive, nor was it to control her in any way. It was a soft touch, one that almost seemed to be done to remind him what he was feeling was real. Elly had never seen him do that before. Had his talk about Ophelia brought up some other memory, some other impulse that brought that behavior out of him?

  “Everything alright?” Jahora asked.

  Elly shook her head. “Sorry, was just lost in thought for a moment.” She looked around. ‘’Did you see where Kali went?”

  Jahora pointed towards the back of the ship. “The… stern? Hells, ship directions are so bloody confusing. She did appear right miffed though, did something happen?”

  “Just a bit of frustration, is all,” Elly said, “Do you mind if I go and talk to her alone for a bit? I need to clear a few things up.”

  Her friend shrugged. “Fine by me, I was thinking I might take a look around inside myself.”

  “You’ll have a better time of it, but not by a lot. The lights are finally back on, but that’s all we could manage, I’m afraid.”

  “That’s much better than nothing. I’ll meet you both at the door.”

  Jahora walked into the superstructure, humming a tune to herself with such casualness that Elly could only smile at. Had she not seen the Mage tear apart hordes of beasts with her spells in the past, she’d be inclined to believe that her companion was just a bit too whimsical at times.

  She made her way past the superstructure and towards the stern, where she found Kali leaning against the railing. The scholar was looking into the horizon, gaze staring over the sea of trees that surrounded the airship. She never looked down, but Elly noted where she stood overlooked Logan’s camp. Kali heard the sounds of the Weaver’s boots knocking against the metal, and turned to face her. The bitterness that flashed through her before didn’t appear, and instead surprise overtook her.

  “Had to take a break,” Elly said, “After a while of it flashing in your eyes, all you tend to see is red.”

  “Right… you get good at timing your blinks with it, eventually, making the failures easier to tolerate.” She avoided looking into Elly’s eyes and scratched her shoulder. “Listen… I wish to apologize for earlier.”

  Elly didn’t say anything, and waited for her to continue.

  “I had applied to be Master Toulec’s apprentice multiple times,” Kali started, “Every year, even met her a few times, and she was always impressed with my knowledge, but all my applications were rejected. Right around adolescence, I heard that she took on an apprentice… one who wasn’t even a student at the University.”

  That stone in Elly’s gut returned, but she ignored its presence.

  “She wasn’t the only one I applied to be the apprentice of, but I do admit that she was the one I was hoping for the most. The others… rejected me as well.”

  “Why? With your knowledge, you would be a boon many a researcher.”

  “Because I didn’t know the right people,” Kali said, “Or because I didn’t have enough Marks to make sure my application got a thorough look…” She grinded her teeth. “It doesn’t feel good, being a constant second place, if even.”

  That, Elly understood completely.

  “You have come this far.” Elly motioned around her. “So I would say that your efforts have borne fruit.”

  “In spite of everything, yes, but I’m talking in circles now.” She bowed to Elly, which took her aback. “I’m sorry. I let my envy get the better of me and subjected you to an ire that you did not deserve.”

  “...just don’t do it again, understood?”

  Kali nodded, but kept bowing.

  Elly sighed and grabbed her shoulders to make her stand. “Now that we have that out of the way, I do have a question for you.”

  “What is it?”

  “This anger that you have towards Logan, what’s the cause?” She stepped back. “Normally, I wouldn’t press, but it has had a clear effect on you.”

  Kali cast a sidelong glance at the camp below, then walked away from it. “He abandoned me when I needed him most. When all my applications were rejected, I thought he would have been there to help me, but left me behind soon after.” She scoffed. “He would send money, of course, which I had to reluctantly accept to survive, but that was threadbare at most. Eventually, I did manage to secure scholarships of my own. They weren’t large ones, but they allowed me to stand on my own two feet. I let him know that when I sent back the last purse and paid him back in full.” She sighed. “He should have just been there… and now after I struggled so hard to get this contract, who do I find under the employment of my competitor? My own father, without a hint of guilt in his eyes.”

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  “Could he have known that you were going to be the other expedition?”

  “My name was quite clearly on the contract, and it was placed right next to Xanchils!” She pulled back and gathered herself. “Even if he didn’t know, why not just get someone else to take his place? Was the coin that good to stab his own daughter in the back like this?”

  Elly pressed her lips thin. Kali had a very good point there, but, like Helbram had mentioned, was that really Logan’s full story? Casting judgement too early was not going to get to the heart of the matter. Regardless, Kali’s anger at this situation would continue to be an issue if it wasn’t addressed in some way.

  “I understand your grievances,” Elly began, “But dwelling on them to this degree will not make navigating this ship any easier.”

  “I managed to get one lock open, didn’t I?” Kali defended.

  “Out of spite, and you missed so many other details as well,” Elly countered, “The tubes, the panel, the fact that the lights had not even been restored. Given your specialization in this knowledge, these are all factors that should have been taken care of first. Had we not been here yesterday, for instance, do you believe that you would have been able to handle all those Shells on your own?”

  “I-” Kali took a deep breath. “No, no I wouldn’t have.”

  “I’m not saying to forgive your father, but if you truly wish to spite him, and Xanchil, then we will have to work together and focus. Are you with us?”

  The scholar bit her lip and drummed her hand against her thigh. “I am, what did you have in mind?”

  “It would be better to discuss this at the pedestal, we should meet up with Jahora there.” Elly turned to walk back.

  “...may I ask how you got Master Toulec to take you under her wing?” Kali asked. There was no venom to the question.

  Elly stopped, thinking back to when she first met Agatha. “It was at a bookstore in a remote village. There were rumors of a powerful Mage in town, and she looked the part. Out of impulse I asked her to teach me what she knew, and instead she asked me a question. What it was, I can’t quite remember at the moment, but it was quite complicated for a girl at the age of eleven. She made a promise that if I got it right, she would be my teacher.”

  “Of course, she never told me where she would be at any time of day, but I got quite adept at finding her regardless. Day after day I would get the question wrong and she would make me leave. Towards the end I was sure that she would have thrashed me with her staff due to my insistence, but everytime I answered I would judge her reactions, see if I could glean any hint towards the answer from them. That, combined with a rigorous amount of reading, eventually led me to the right answer.” Elly laughed. “Half right answer, I was missing a lot of context. Still, she relented in that moment and honored her promise, and thus was I allowed to learn from her. By some mercy, was I allowed to stay with her for some time.”

  “I see… she may have been looking for someone who didn’t give up,” Kali observed, “Someone who had the will to withstand constant rebukes.”

  “Perhaps,” Elly admitted, “But, truthfully, I knew what the alternative was if I did not become her student… and so it wasn’t a strong will that guided me at that time.”

  “What was it, then?”

  “A desperation to break free from shadows.”

  ***

  Aria adjusted the belt on her waist, making sure that the rapier hanging from it didn’t scratch the ground. The sword's thin blade was dulled across its length and to its tip. Helbram had yet to give into her requests for him to sharpen it, no matter how much the girl pouted. Instead, he had instructed her on the many other aspects of weapon maintenance. The result was a constant sheen to the thinned metal of the rapier’s swirling basket hilt, along with tight fittings for the pommel and wrappings of her handle, all by her hands. She even polished the blade, dull as it was, and the weapon held the same luster as when she was first handed it in Geldervale.

  She could see Helbram standing at the tent’s entrance, his arms crossed but a small smile on his face as he watched over her admiration for her weapon. Fully secure, she made for the tent’s flap, but the man held his hand out in front of her.”

  “What are the two rules?” He asked.

  She frowned. “You make me say them all the time.”

  “And you will say them many more times yet. Now, what are they?”

  “When I don’t have a reason to use the sword, I must keep it sheathed, and when I do draw it, always know where it’s pointing.”

  “Correct, and what remains true about any weapon?”

  She huffed. “That they’re extremely dangerous when wielded without responsibility."

  “Exactly.” Helbram ruffled her hair again. He smirked as he held the tent flap open. “Though it could be said with a gentler tone next time. You have clearly been spending too much time around Leaf.”

  She fixed her hair and walked out of the tent, barely containing the urge to sprint up the stairs to begin her practice. At this point, she knew when Helbram could tell what she was thinking, and when she was too excited, he always moved much slower than usual. To teach her patience, was what he told her when she pointed it out, but the smirk he held at that time suggested that he more just enjoyed teasing her. He and Elly were alike in that regard, though Jahora and Leaf weren’t shy about taking part in it as well.

  Rather than feed that impulse, Aria decided to fill the time with a question. “Am I just going to be doing the same as before?”

  “No, actually,” Helbram answered, “You have learned much of the basic movements, so I think sparring would be a much more productive use of time.”

  She spun around, excited, as she saw Helbram twirling a wooden sword in his hand. “Really?”

  “Yes, really. Though we will start slow at first, to make sure that all the basics are coming together.”

  She nodded along, but now her excitement was getting really hard to contain. When they were getting close to the stairs, she was about to sprint up them, but paused when he saw Helbram looking off into the distance. She followed his gaze and saw that Leaf had returned. Duren and two others from Logan’s crew trailed behind him, carrying the carcass of a boar on a spit. The sight of them brought cheers from the rest of the mercenaries, but those adulations faltered as none of the hunting party shared in their joy. Snow and Shadow, however, were in their own world when it came to that, and sprinted over to Aria. The cubs pawed at her legs, and with a giggle she knelt down to pet them. Her touch was enough to mollify them before they ended up on their backs to receive vigorous belly rubs.

  “Take it on over to our camp,” Leaf said, “I’ll do the cleanin’.”

  “We can take care of that,” Duren said, “You’re the one who bagged the beast.”

  “An’ I’ll be the one to clean it, I don’t need any waste goin’ on under my watch.” The hunter jabbed his chin at Xanchil’s tent. “Besides, you’ll be needin’ to tell your boss about what we found, anyhow.”

  Duren relented and directed the men carrying the spit to set it near the campfire. After a brief handshake, Logan’s men returned to their side of the ship and vanished into their employer’s tent. The entire time, Helbram’s posture shifted to one of slouched shoulders, and he stared blankly at the ground, avoiding eye contact with any of the mercenaries. She still wasn’t sure why he was being like that whenever someone from Xanchil’s camp was around, but she didn’t question it. Truth be told, the befuddled expression he held almost made her laugh on more than a few occasions.

  When the mercenaries were out of sight, his eyes sharpened and he turned to Leaf. The hunter motioned towards their tent with his head. Only when they were all under its cover did Helbram’s eyes sharpen and his posture straighten.

  “I am assuming that you found something dangerous?” Helbram asked.

  Leaf relayed what he saw in the woods, and the warrior clicked his teeth at the mention of a manticore.

  “That is not good…” Helbram said, “But it was asleep. Perhaps it won’t cause us too much trouble in the dead of winter.”

  “Were it a bear, maybe,” Leaf said, “but this beast doesn’t hibernate. It’ll be on a constant hunt for food, even if it'll have less energy than usual. Its territory is far away, yes, but there’s no tellin’ how far it’ll go to look for somethin’. If it stumbled onto our camp…”

  “Then we will be in for quite the headache.” Helbram tapped his chin. “What do you think should be done? Shall we try to slay it before it becomes a problem, or try something else?”

  “Ugly as it is, a manticore is just a beast. Feels wrong to put it down just because we feel threatened. Containin’ it would be the best option.”

  “Which will involve spellcraft of some kind, no doubt. Thankfully, we are not in short supply of casters…”

  “I’d really only need Jahora. What I’m thinking would only take about a day to set up.”

  “I see… we’ll talk it over later tonight, then.”

  Leaf’s ears perked up and he turned towards the tent’s entrance. Without any warning, Xanchil pushed into the tent and brushed aside its flap on the way in. His hands were crossed behind him and his back was stiff. Given the zechanil’s size, he couldn’t quite look down on anyone except Aria and the cubs, but his head was tilted up enough that it was clear that he was trying to do so with Leaf.

  Helbram resumed his oafish posture and stepped back, but Aria noted that Xanchil looked at him with narrowed eyes and an air of clear disgust. Whatever the man had done to the Starborne merchant, she had no idea, but it clearly left a sour taste in the zechanil’s… mouth? He did have a mouth, right?

  “We have been informed of the foul beast in the forest,” Xanchil said, “We would have it eliminated as soon as possible, but the captain of our men suggested that we speak with you.”

  Leaf raised an eyebrow. “It’s a good thing that you did. You have any idea how vicious a manticore can be? Tryin’ to attack it now would jus’ be too risky.”

  “So, do you have a plan?”

  “I do.”

  Xanchil’s brow twitched. “Would you care to share what that may be?”

  Leaf crossed his arms. “Why?”

  The merchant closed his eyes. His arms twitched, but no further betrayal of any emotion slipped from his composure. When he opened his blank eyes, his voice was more controlled. “You are seeking to trade information, aren’t you?

  The hunter nodded.

  Xanchil turned around. “Then follow us.”

  Author's Note: There isn't a whole lot to say about this chapter, honestly.

  Just trying to stick to the standards I've been trying to hit in the past, and that includes making Kali feel somewhat reasonable, even if she really isn't. I didn't want her to feel like a caricature, but I'm also not super used to writing an abrasive personality for the long haul, so I hope its not coming off as too grating.

  Also, I am feel a bit under the weather atm and I'm pretty sure its gonna turn into a cold. There may be a chapter next week, but if I fall ill that probably won't be the case, just a heads up.

  Till next update, have yourselves a wonderful time! ^_^

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