. Departing Day .

The clouds ambushed the skies overnight.

Altar City, unsuspecting in its early morning slumber, now lies silent underneath an overcast blanket.

Fior, on the other hand, is restless.

They watch the day approach all around them, but they know full well that it won’t reach the Western Park until close to noon. Baladeith shrouds the entirety of the Wallsides in an extra shadow, and at this time of year, the sun wakes due South. So, the shabby streets are left particularly dark on mornings like this, their silhouettes only visible with the aid of what meager illumination the clouds can spare.

The bench they wait on faces one of the only trees in the city, but it’s just their luck that the shade has robbed it of its color. It’s one of the only sources of comfort in this dilapidated town, tucked away on this small, grassy hill. Yet now, its bright green leaves are doused with a muddy gray as if even they cannot condone the professor’s decision.

Of course they wouldn’t.

Fior’s knee begins to bob up and down as they think back to their final detour last night.

The stop by Kelsi’s was a disaster. Her parents’ reaction was expected, but their daughter’s unstoppable progress, while gratifying as a teacher, only reaffirmed the Chancellor’s worries.

Not only that, but with the way her eyes lit up at his proposition…

She’ll be here soon.

And she fully believes it’s just for training.

Fior sighs and looks down to the two slips of paper in their grasp. The messy handwriting reminds them of Mailo’s hushed words yesterday as he intercepted their retreat from the academy halls.

Listen, jus’ one more thing… what we talked about…has reached few ears. I’d like ta’ keep it that way. Even if the location ain’t known, knowin’ it exists at all’d send the whole Realm into a craze.

And what of Kelsi?

Well, she’s ‘yer student. I trust ‘yer judgement.

Then, he opened his bulky fist to give them these crumpled notes, no doubt signed moments prior.

That bastard. He never even heard Kelsi’s answer, but he prepared hers anyway.

Rian was right. “Your choice,” my ass.

Fior can do nothing but sit in the Western Park and await their student’s inevitable arrival. A part of them wishes they were mistaken, that they somehow misread her eyes.

But they know it is not so.

Their knee settles as they brood over their two separate missions.

How do they keep the Flame a secret?

How should they begin this lesson?

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As Kelsi walks up the hill, she tries to recall the last time she came to the Western Park.

It must have been some time ago, given how difficult it was to find amidst all the new buildings in the area.

Hopefully, Professor won’t be too mad if she’s a little late.

Her backpack is bulbous, packed to the brim with all the snacks she could find on the way here – mostly jerky from the closed food stands. She resisted her stomach yesterday, but the hunger after a full night of sleep turned out to be too much to bear.

She uses the glaive her parents made as a walking stick to help with the added weight. Somehow, it shimmers despite the lack of light all around her, and she’s no closer to understanding why even after holding the blade for the better part of the morning. Even so, it provides perhaps the only bright glow in the Wallsides right now, so she doesn’t dwell on it.

At last, she reaches the top of the hill.

The sight of the darkened tree resurrects a forgotten memory.

That’s right. This was a favorite spot of hers, wasn’t it? She used to play here as Mama and Papa watched from the bench.

It, too, is still there even after all this time. Yet, the person sitting in it now is neither Mama nor Papa, but the cloaked individual she’s come to know so well.

Her guide for her next journey.

They appear to be lost in thought, staring in an empty direction.

“Professor? Should we get going?”

She asks the question as softly as possible so as to not startle them.

Their stupor breaks, and they look up to the giantess. Even in the all-consuming shadow, they can tell there’s another big smile on her face.

As she watches them innocently, their attention is drawn to the blade in her grip.

They only know two people who have ever wielded weapons with such a bright hue.

That crescent… Those wings…

It can’t be, can it?

Her parents would never…

Before they can stay their rampant thoughts, a rogue idea pushes past them.

…Wait. That’s it.

Kelsi looks on in confusion as they lift themselves off the bench. They stand in brief silence.

…

Their voice steels itself.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“…Are you ready?”

Oblivious to her professor’s intent, Kelsi cracks open her mouth to confirm her resolve.

“-!”

But by the time air passes through her lips, Fior is gone.

Her eyes make out a blur of movement from where they once stood.

Her instincts realize before her mind that the gap between her chin and their foot is rapidly closing.

She barely leans back in time to avoid the kick.

The force with which Fior somersaulted off the ground took them high into the sky – higher than even Kelsi’s antlers can reach. Now, at the end of their flip, they meet Kelsi’s wide, stunned gaze as she looks up in the midst of her dodge.

Something unseen draws them back like an arrow and launches them down at unimaginable speed. Their curled fist aims a strike at her face.

Her senses kick in just in time, bringing the shaft of her glaive up to block the blow.

In that instant, Fior’s punch collides with the metal rod. The blaring shockwave makes Kelsi’s ears ring.

Her attacker grabs onto her weapon with both hands and unwinds their straightened body. Their legs swing down and plant themselves on the chitin shell covering Kelsi’s chest, locking themselves in place.

Their grinning face takes up her entire field of vision.

Finally, her mind catches up with her situation.

“Wh-Wha-?!”

She can’t even finish a single word. The one clinging to her is smaller than most humans, but they exert enough pressure to make her stagger backwards, forcing her feet into the soil.

At this distance, she catches a glimpse of a single crimson eye underneath her professor’s spindly hair. It’s drawn up into a mischievous bow, amused by her frenzied panic.

“You silly soul! You thought I’d wait until we were out there to begin?”

----------------------------------------

A million thoughts race through Kelsi’s head, but not one is fully comprehensible.

Why is Professor-

When did they-

How do I-

Every time a new question enters her head, it’s interrupted by the shock of another blow.

She’s used to combat training, but any bystander witnessing her current predicament wouldn’t know it.

Mock fights between her and Fior were commonplace at Rift Point. In fact, this would be around the time they would start practicing in the training field…

The only difference now is Fior themselves.

They were always fast, but they were normally merciful, too. They would calmly dodge Kelsi’s thrusts and swipes until the morning was over, correcting her form and flaws whenever they saw fit. They never, ever countered unless it was to make a point.

Now, their mercy is gone, and a more ferocious speed has taken its place. Since the match began, she hasn’t once been able to go on the offensive – their strikes respond automatically to her most minute mistakes, exploiting her every opening. Even tossing her bag to the side to free up her body does nothing to help her keep up.

But there’s something that bothers Kelsi more than this.

The way Fior moves makes no sense.

They jump around in a way she’s never seen, and they maneuver the air in ways they shouldn’t be able to. Every time she thinks she’s getting used to their attack patterns, they leap in a different direction, fleeing her line of sight with the aid of the darkness before hitting her somewhere seemingly random. Even if she manages to track their movement, they change their trajectory midair without warning and hit her anyway.

They’re like a fairy mocking a clueless child.

Fior lands their heel on her shoulder and backflips away, retreating for the first time.

Kelsi is left sore. Her battered left arm can barely keep hold of her glaive.

Fior doesn’t give her the chance to collect herself. Their knees bend, preparing for another jump.

Instead of resuming their onslaught, however, they rush to the lone tree and disappear up into the branches.

Kelsi does her best to listen to the rustling leaves.

…

Fior ejects from the crest, their dark form soaring above the park. At such a distance, Kelsi should have more than enough time to intercept their descent with an attack of her own.

But…

No. I can’t do that.

Sure enough, Fior plummets at her with another massive burst of power.

She ignores the dull pain in her roughed-up legs and throws herself out of the way before they slam onto the ground, sending dirt and debris flying into the air.

She lands far from the crater near the edge of the hill. From her angle, her professor’s back is turned.

They taught her better than to pass up a weak point!

Her right hand slides all the way to the base of her glaive, extending her range as far as she can.

Then, she twists her body, prepping the weapon with as much energy as she can muster…

And swings it with all her might.

Its balance feels as good as ever.

…No, better than usual!

It’s perfect!

The soreness leaves her body as she turns with her careening blade. It soars through the air with a dove's silent grace, carrying its wielder as if leading her along in a dance-

A horrendous tearing noise interrupts her euphoria.

The tree was in her way when she let loose, and her blade passed through the trunk like it was paper.

The sharp edge, having blown past one obstacle, now hurtles at Fior’s supple neck.

She was so caught up in the fight, she forgot her new weapon is a glaive!

She pulls against its motion to no avail.

A sliver of the blade appears to graze her professor’s throat.

She squeezes her eyes shut.

The severed tree tumbles onto the hill.

…

Kelsi leaves her eyes closed, too terrified to see what she's done.

…

She realizes her glaive has stopped in place.

Although she fears the worst, she opens one crystalline eye.

-!

The other shoots open at an unbelievable sight.

Fior holds their left arm up to the blade below their head. Their tiny thumb and forefinger poke out of their long sleeve, closing around the white edge sitting a hair’s breadth away from their neck.

Their face is entirely unfazed by their student’s accidental murder attempt. They instead seem drawn in by the beauty and brilliance of the weapon resting between their fingertips.

They can’t help but compliment it.

“This is a work of art.”

And then…

They flick their wrist up, snapping the bright material off the shaft, wings and all. In the same motion, they press their fingers together, sending thin cracks through the blade before shattering it entirely.

Huh?

Kelsi watches as her parents’ gift falls to the grass in shiny, white droplets.