Katherine held her ground beside Professor Aionia for support.

“My father wishes for me to cease my studies at Aeternitas, and return with him to the family estate.”

Professor Aionia glanced at Katherine’s eyes and understood immediately all she needed to know.

“Is this true, Ar. Heriz?”

“Precise.”

“Dignified Archon, Katherine is one of the most exceptional Artens I’ve been blessed to instruct. Her studies here have been fruitful, her cognizance in Tahamastra unmatched by nearly any of her peers. Katherine’s presence and studious conduct alone inspires all the Fradihta to improve themselves; if she is to cease her studies, it would be a terrible loss for Aeternitas and for the future of our Republics. I ask that you allow her to stay.”

“Dr. Aionia Arcansale,” Alexander sighed, “the first to see that language could be impressed into light,” he continued, “when I heard that Katherine chose you to be her Tanaar, I was overjoyed; perhaps there is no better professor at Aeternitas to learn the foundations of industrial philosophies, whose discoveries underpin our success. I thank you for your contribution to our industrial efforts and your service to our Republics; we could not have found victory without you in our war against the Syndicate.”

Syndicate? Elwin pondered. Katherine braved herself for what her father would say next.

“But provided this, you know precisely of what dangers I speak, the risks that ever-lurk the great people of this Academy. Though it pains me that Katherine’s absence shall set Aeternitas behind, it cannot be the reason she must stay. She is my daughter, and her safety is of paramount importance to me. This is why I cannot give my permission.”

Against Archon Alexander Heriz’s conviction, there was a limit to diplomacy. There was a good chance Katherine could never see any of them again: she would lose them all, and though she’d said that she was planning to carry on her family legacy, that she would devote herself to her family’s empire, Elwin understood what she did not speak – rather, could not speak, under that steely exterior.

Without anyone to know, her soul was bleeding, just like his had been.

Professor Aionia could not convince the Archon alone; Katherine needed a bigger caliber, the largest caliber of them all.

And so Elwin deftly slid out through the crowd and raced up the spiral staircases to the seventh floor, breathless, sweating. He came to the great oaken doors and knocked as gently and as speedily as he could, and found himself surprised to the bone to have it swing open so suddenly; Headmaster Abraxas loomed over him like a colossus.

Yes, to save Katherine, Aeternitas needed its Headmaster.

Headmaster Abraxas looked upon Elwin with a piercing gaze, violet eyes radiant amidst the shadows of the wall.

“What seems to be the problem, Elwin?”

Elwin sputtered through his heavy breaths.

“It’s Archon Heriz. Alexander Heriz. He’s come – he’s come to take Katherine away!”

He knew at once the situation was dire if Elwin had raced to him.

Immediately the headmaster commanded his staff of wolfram-silver floating beside his cape into his hand, latching to his palm with a heavy clunk.

“You shall lead me to where they are. Hold onto this staff as your life depends on it, for we shall fly in place of foot.”

Elwin did as he was told, hugging the bottom shaft of the staff, and Headmaster Abraxas leapt over the marbled balustrades. The mass of air worth seven storeys of height rushed around Elwin as they fell and fell, in a sensation entirely new to him.

“MAIOR FORTIOR!”

Headmaster Abraxas’s Quan glowed a purple-red as it pulled the threads of air into a thousand gusts beneath them, breaking their momentum. His suit of violet and black billowed out with his cape, as they landed gently upon the marbled storey of the atrium, as if he’d done it a thousand times. Elwin was shaken out of his feet, but there was no time to think.

“Lead me to where they are. Make haste!”

* * *

It was like an immovable object met an unstoppable force.

“Sir,” Headmaster Abraxas spoke, the air reverberating around him with each spoken word, “Katherine has pledged herself as a rightful member of Aeternitas out of her own will, unforced and undaunted. A parent is forbidden to wrest away their child without their consent, which Katherine refuses to give. Must I make clear the rights afforded to her by the protection of Aeternitas?”

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“Mr. President, you speak as if you shall be responsible for her life and death, to which you are not. I understand that it is your duty to uphold the Academy, to ensure its continuing integrity by protecting your Artens from way of evil and from outside forces that seek to take it away. What would be of our Republics if every capable mahn and frhi withdrew from Aeternitas in the interest of their selfish safety? Crumbled to dust, I attest. But as of now, as it always has been, my daughter means more than the future of everything else I know, and I am prepared to face shame even in your witness so that Katherine can grow to see a safe tomorrow. You remember the Syndicate we fought, Mr. President, do you not?”

“I do.”

“And you remember also of what happened to my wife, to Katherine’s mother?”

“...I do.”

“Our Republics have enjoyed a period of unprecedented peace for the past sixteen years. But in the absence of your leadership, Mr. President, their forces have again begun to stir, horrific forces, which may once again plunge the Republics into disaster. Surely, you are aware of the dangers they pose to my daughter?”

To that query the headmaster did not reply; he stood his ground, muted, facing the Archon in the eyes. Elwin and everyone around were curious to know what the Syndicate was and what sort of danger it posed; Alexander knew that against such an argument, in nightmare of the terrifying war they fought a score ago, Headmaster Abraxas could not conscionably insist that Katherine stay at Aeternitas. He had prepared for this; he had even snared the headmaster.

“Mr. President, we once fought together against the Syndicate for a common cause. We were ready to live and die for each other. If you are still my friend, if you care for Katherine, you’d let her return with me to the estate, and cease her studies here.”

“No, father, this isn’t the right way to go about it. As you say, home tutoring and site visits may equip me with the means necessary to run our empire. But there is something that will never find its equal if I am forced to return home.”

“And what is that, Katherine?”

“My friends.”

The crowd broke into a murmur.

“Explain.”

“Right now, your generation runs the Republics. But come the time, it is we, my friends and I, who shall have to run the future of this country. To work with them, to lead them, I must know them – and I have been cultivating friendships since my arrival.”

Elwin heard fully the minute cracks of her voice, growing by the second. She was desperate; he wondered whether the Archon could hear it also.

“Have they pledged to protect and fight for your safety? Can you call them your family, your compagnia?” Alexander queried, resolute as ever.

Katherine swallowed painfully, her throat dry.

“...Yes.”

“Very well then. Provided you say that,” Alexander answered her, “I shall issue a challenge. If your friends are as loyal as they say, if your friends have decided to share their joys and sufferings with you, to see you happy, then they shall overcome this challenge, and you may stay. If not, you must return with me.”

Katherine took a heavy breath, mustering every ounce of will not to betray the horror upon her face.

“...What is to be this challenge?”

And to that question Archon Alexander Heriz let out a tempestuous roar that rang across the lawns and shook the trees.

“URSUS!”

An entirety of color drained from Katherine’s face.

The ground began to quake, and the sea of Artens nearly tripped over itself to let someone – something – through, an image that struck terror into the hearts of everyone who saw him.

A hulking man, clad in the finest battle-armor, towering above even the headmaster and Professor William himself, marched into the middle of the clearing upon the quadrangle. Every footstep he took shook the earth beneath his boots, and from his arms as thick as tree trunks, a heat as from a fire radiated silently, steam rising from sweat. On his head was a thick, menacing helmet of glimmering metal, sewn on the top with what appeared to be bear-hide, a bear’s head. Piercing blue eyes shone through the shadow cast by this antiquated helmet, and every Arten feared to meet it. Only Headmaster Abraxas and Professor Aionia, the only faculty present, could behold the champion unfazed.

“No...” Katherine trailed off, brimming with despair.

The hulking champion knelt once in front of the Archon, and stood up again.

“What is to be my mission?”

Alexander turned to the crowd and declared aloud.

“This is Ursus, my Chief Sentinel. He has protected Katherine and I for a decade, now part of the Heriz family.”

He spoke now, turning to his daughter.

“The rules are straightforward. Your friends, however many, may brawl against my champion. They may fight together against him, but they may only fight once. Whichever party concedes defeat first, shall lose.”

“Father, you cannot – you cannot do this!”

“Cannot? It is you who have announced aloud that your friends are your compagnia. Now you and your friends must prove your word. Know this, Katherine. When one utters a word, they must be prepared to uphold it till death.”

“...But... I am...”

“If Ursus concedes to your friends, then you may stay and continue your studies at Aeternitas. If your friends concede to Ursus, then you must come with me. Is that clear?”

Ursus approached Katherine and pleaded with her.

“Please, Miss Katherine, let us return to the estate with your father. I do not wish to hurt your friends – they are part of you.”

There was no one she knew – no Fradihta – who could fight and win against Ursus. She did not want to endanger her friends in futile resistance. But if she did not... if she did not accept the challenge, she would have no choice but to leave behind the world she knew, to be imprisoned forever. Elwin felt her heart seize like strings drawn too tight.

She whimpered with a shaky voice. “I am... I’m sorry, Ursus. But I cannot. I cannot.”

Ursus turned away, disheartened.

Alexander turned to the crowd once more.

“Now then, is there anyone courageous enough to challenge my Sentinel, to vouch for Katherine, my daughter?”

Ursus took a step towards the crowd, the furs of his bear-hide and cape flapping heavily in the wind, and every Arten took a step back. All was silent – Professor Aionia was attempting to speak, but she could make no objection against a challenge to which Katherine also agreed. It was in Katherine’s hands now, and the fates of those who chose to fight for her.

“Is there NO ONE?” Archon Alexander Heriz interrogated the crowd, expecting better of Aeternitas. Still no one spoke or raised their hand. Katherine was distraught. She’d spoken so confidently that she had friends, but now in the moment of truth –

“I do.”

A single voice shattered the silence, and its holder stepped forward into the clearing to face Ursus.

It was Mirai.