The ledge was so far away. While her brain was happy to inform her it was only a two foot difference between the wooden walkway and the sand below, it felt like a cliff. Perol was helping support her weight, but every movement was agony. Painful yes, but a mental struggle all the more. Half the time, she could feel herself falling, the other, a mindless series of steps. She wasn't rushed, Perol was nothing if not patient, it began to be annoying. Progress was so slow. Climbing up on the rough wood, waiting for the spinning sensation to fade, stepping onto the grass. Maybe her awareness was tainted by all that had occurred.

She trembled. Both in shock and in rage. Perol pulled her to a stop, and just stood there, waiting. Once she was back in control, they continued on. Every hump in the ground took tremendous effort to ascend, every pebble, a dangerous hazard to navigate. A thought. She scanned the surroundings franticly.

"They headed back to the fort. Though you should be prepared to interact with them in the future, they won't bother you for the rest of today. I'll make sure of it."

Farha could only nod her thanks. Would they not be sent away? A jolt of anger. That was not right! Could the trainers not just refuse to train them?

"Why?"

Perol seemed to understand.

"Regrettably, it's the way of the world. Those with money or influence can do as they please while the rest of us are surviving on the scraps. I apologize, I didn't mean anything in that remark towards you. There are good nobles and bad ones, just as there are in any group of people. However, they have gone beyond what is able to be forcibly excused."

So that's how it was. She could understand even if she didn't want to. If she was born into another family, how would her escapades with the guard captain have gone? Certainly more strictly, if at all. But how could that be controlled? She didn't choose who she was born to. Just because those evil tormentors had status, they were invulnerable?

"How will they be punished?"

Glancing down at her, Perol saw the need for revenge in her clenched fist. The hunger for justice also rang out loud and clear. It was difficult to tell which was winning. Regardless, he decided to answer for the sake of the latter.

"I'll have to discuss it with the other instructors. I pledge to you that they will not go unpunished. It will not be a simple lecture or rebuke, some type of action will be required from them. Maybe the pit needs every grain of sand replaced."

He forced out a smile, Farha didn't look up. Walking took too much focus. Besides, what was there to see? Everything around her would only bring back those moments of helplessness. Perol continued to guide her, one hand supporting her arm, the other around her opposite shoulder. Where were they headed? Did it matter? Anywhere would be better than here.

They walked for hours, well, it felt like hours. Farha risked a glance behind her, the pit was right there. It sat empty and still. They had only moved a few dozen steps. The air was warm, in a refreshing way. It told her the world was still the same, even if she wasn't. More steps, always more. They stopped before an unmarked tent. Even this one was many times more luxurious than those in the fort. Perol let her stand under her own strength and pinned up the entry flap.

"Why don't you take a seat inside. Hopefully, you're not in here too often." At Farha's confusion, he continued. "It's the medical tent. Bandages, fresh water, and most importantly, a quiet place that's safe."

One tent was safer than another? It didn't make sense, but figuring it out was far too difficult in her current state. Entering, she had to admit, it did feel safe. There were only a few raised beds, some crates stacked around, and basins full of water resting on a table. Somehow, the arrangement of everything was more comforting than it should have been. Unprompted, she stepped over to the nearest bed and sat on the edge.

Visions of Ahven forced their way into her awareness, but she pushed them down. She had enough to deal with right now. Perol washed his hands and procured a chair from somewhere outside. Placing it a short distance from her claimed bed, he sat down and studied her face.

"Are you truly alight? Any wounds or bruises? Would you like to talk through what happened?"

Alright? What did that word mean at this point? She was alive, that was enough.

"I'm fine." The lie tasted bitter on her tongue. "No wounds or injuries." A bit more honest, though still far from the truth.

"I understand."

Perol let the silence hang, hoping his words found their target. After a bit, he turned and looked out at the bright landscape. Rolling hills, grass, so many trees. Farha still wasn't used to all the greenery. So much life and vibrancy. Was it just the abundance of water? That's all it took? Water. She saw it dripping down, felt it crawling down her nose. Maybe the wounds were deeper than she thought. Letting out a few painful breaths, she pulled herself out of the abyss.

"How did they do it?"

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"Hm?"

"The water I mean...how did he produce water? Did he have to buy a Mandelbulb?"

"A bulb? Why would he have to do that?"

"I thought that was how everyone learned. Or that you had to be much older."

Perol turned in surprise.

"I can assure you, they were all taught about essence from an early age just as you were. I'm afraid I don't understand the question. He produced the water same as you would produce air."

"But I only found out about essence a few days ago...I mean...yesterday?"

"Are you serious? Not once did your parents or teachers tell you anything about essence?"

"No, not that I can remember."

"Fascinating. I don't think I've ever heard of a noble family following the Emperor's command. They are all far too ambitious."

Farha leaned forward eagerly. Her tired body wouldn't let her completely forget its existence, but she could try.

"What command? I thought the Emperor didn't interfere with his subjects except under extreme circumstances."

"You don't know? But how could you. If you were never informed about essence, there would be no need to know the rest. Well, sit back and I'll try to inform you."

She really didn't want to, but the bed was so soft. The pillow as well, no use letting it go to waste.

"Now then...long ago, before either of our grandparents were born, the Emperor of the time made a decree. All throughout the lands, only registered citizens would be allowed to train in the use of essence. You see, there were many schools and communities who taught complex techniques and understanding in the use of all types of essence."

He paused, a wistful smile across his face as he stared out into the sunshine.

"Ah, to be alive during those days. Their knowledge and expertise far exceed most of what we know today."

"But how could it? Even if it was only taught to citizens, that information would be passed on."

"Well, it would have. If not for the rebellion. People don't like being told what to do, I'm sure you can relate. Those people who were not allowed teaching quietly formed together. It took a few years but all at once, they rose up and a full civil war started across the entire continent. From what little we know, it was horrible and devastating.

Those people were so opposed to essence, and it being used to control them, they destroyed as many records as possible. They also killed a large number of the experts. So much useless loss."

He stared at nothing now, lost in thought. Impatient, Farha needed to hear more. How did this relate to her and learning about essence?

"That sounds horrible...but so what? Wars happen all the time, we're in one right now."

"Perhaps, but all loss of life matters. Even those who have come before us. Especially those."

More silence, she could sense the panic returning.

"So...the essence? And how could the experts lose to people who didn't know how to use it at all?"

"Right. That's another important lesson to remember. No matter how powerful you think you are, in essence, or otherwise, everyone falls. The experts were so reliant on their skills that when they ran out of held essence, they were defeated in droves. Those were the opening strikes of the war, whole cities were taken by surprise. After the initial attacks, the army rolled across the land, crushing all underfoot. It was an empty victory. So many lives and accumulated knowledge destroyed in only a few short months.

From that point on, the Emperor, and his sons after him, were even more concerned with the masses learning the use of essence. He implemented a rule that all children could not even be told of its existance until they became adults. In contrast, anyone pledged to be in his army were taught how to draw in the air before they could even walk. This advantage allows them to stay ahead of the population and maintain the peace."

"I'll admit, that is all very interesting. But what does that have to do with me? Are the three from the pit already pledged to the army?"

"And that's exactly where my confusion originated. All the nobles I know of ignore this command and teach their children as much as possible. The Emperor won't punish them since they manage the cities well enough. From the sounds of it, your family decided to obey anyway."

She could have been taught sooner? This situation could have been avoided. She could have helped Ahven, trained with it for dueling...why was Father such a stickler for the rules? Farha lay there in frustration, too tired for pure outrage.

"What can I do to catch up?"

"That's a good perspective, keep that spirit. Actually, I suspect that's why you're here. I, and the other instructors, offer a higher level of expertise than most cities do, and that's just us individually. Combined, we can turn anyone into a force to be reckoned with. But you have to put in the effort. Without that, it's all useless."

Finally! A goal she could work towards. Training, she knew. What were those hours running across rooftops and hiding from the guards for if not something like this? The hours spent training in the sword with Ahven, preparing for duels...

"What of the sword?"

"What of it?"

"Is it...worthless now? All the time I spent practicing?"

"On the contrary! In fact, skill in all types of weapons will be a major focus of your time here. This can be your first lesson. Essence is powerful, certainly. It can reach further and strike harder than any blade, but there is a limit. That limit is reached far quicker than you expect, it's not an infinite resource. But think of the possibilities! A surge of wind to accelerate a swipe with a blade, water underneath an overextended foot, it's all in the strategy of it. Timing, subterfuge, control, all are key. But the weapon itself, whether it be bow or mace, is the core of it all."

Such relief and pure joy. Had she ever felt this much at once? Her imagination burst out into the unknown, determined to learn everything possible and enjoy each new discovery. That must be true control. Knowing all, practicing everything, understanding herself. Then she need not fear some random thugs whose egos were so fragile they had to crush anyone already beneath them. Then, she could be free.