Wondering if she had made a mistake by taking this too seriously, Narvari’s eyes bulged when the sacros halted mere inches away from Trixan’s tall form and dissipated into a million tiny black specks. Trixan was completely unharmed.

It took a while for Narvari to find her voice again. “What. Was. That?”

“Come at me again. This time, gear up whenever you want.”

Narvari shook herself out of her stupor. The battle wasn’t over. She had to get her head in the game. Game? This was no game. All the kicks and punches she received were real. She had a feeling Trixan had been holding back, but it didn’t feel that way to Narvari’s muscles. She attacked Trixan using every skill and every move she knew. But each time, Trixan simply shifted out of the way like a mirage. It was like Narvari was just an ant going against a giant. The Elder was way out of her league.

By the end of the training session, Narvari was panting like a dog and sweating like a fish. Trixan had barely moved and yet she had not landed a single attack on the woman.

Trixan stood over Narvari’s body, smiling at her. She said, “Azmel was right. You’re really good, my dear.”

“Not as good as you.” Narvari sat up. She was certain that even if everyone in the WPU attacked Trixan at the same time, none of them would be able to touch her. Narvari wasn’t even certain, that Yabaga, the strongest person she knew, could beat Trixan. There was a precise fluidity to the way Trixan moved. It was like she was not moving at all.

Trixan chuckled. “Don’t be too hard on yourself, my dear. Not many rookies grasp sacred combat that quickly.” She paused in thought. “You said your father taught you to fight?”

Narvari nodded. “Everyone in Sharmandi can fight. It’s a rite of passage. My grandfather made sure of it.”

Trixan nodded slowly. It was hard reading the woman’s emotions but when she was pondering over something, Narvari could see it in her eyes. The woman always seemed to be lost in thought whenever Narvari brought up her grandfather or father. She just wished she knew what Trixan was thinking.

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Narvari flexed the muscles in her ripped arms. The power pulsating inside her body was nothing like she had felt a week ago when she began training in sacred combat. Even when she didn’t use sacros, she was stronger and faster than her old self. Moreover, she could continuously wield her sacros for three hours and forty-two minutes now. By the end of next week, she was sure she would reach her six-hour goal.

“I’m ready now,” said Narvari, looking intently at Trixan. “You said once I could wield my sacros for an hour, I would start my missions, right?”

“That’s just one of three requirements, my dear.”

Narvari folded her arms and frowned. Now she was convinced that Trixan was making things up as they went. “And what are the other two?”

“To earn your license as a professional vanquisher,” said Trixan, “you have to master sacred combat and pass your Finals.”

So all that remained was her Finals. She had never heard about this but it did make sense that she would go through some form of examination before she could earn her license. She had gone through the Captain’s Test too before becoming captain of the WPU. It shouldn’t be too different. Examinations were her thing. She loved them. “When do I take my Finals?”

“Patience, my dear. You haven’t yet mastered sacred combat.”

“What?”

Trixan chuckled. “There are two more things you need to learn in sacred combat. Then you can take your Finals.” Trixan patted Narvari on the shoulder. “Take tomorrow off. You’ve earned it.”

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Narvari groaned. Was it normal for her teacher to keep giving her days? Well, she wouldn’t be able to change Trixan’s mind so she might as well enjoy it.

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Trixan was going through some files on her laptop when she heard the knock on the door. Based on the vibration pattern of the knock, she knew exactly who it was.

“Come in,” she said, her eyes fixated on the document on the laptop.

“You sent for me,” said Zemeron.

Trixan finally lifted her head. “Have a seat, my dear.”

Zemeron sat.

She had been meaning to talk to him about this in a while but unfortunately, Zemeron had been on a mission all this time. Now that he was back, she could not waste any more time.

“I heard what you did.” She went straight to the point.

“What do mean?”

“Zemeron,” she said, rubbing her knuckles. She heard his heartbeat spike. It wasn’t from fear. It was more out of caution. Zemeron could sense her anger. This Zoleris was perceptive. Not many people could tell when she was angry unless she actually lost her temper — that too was rare. Keeping her cool, Trixan continued, “When Narvari came back, I thought she did so willingly. But then she told me you arrested her. Under false charges, no less. Care to explain, my dear?”

Zemeron sighed. “I apologize, Trixan. I was just trying to help.”

Trixan paused, carefully considering Zemeron’s words. “How exactly were you doing that?”

Zemeron clenched his jaws. He was holding back. It sometimes annoyed her when he did that. He could speak his mind to anyone but would always hold back when it came to Trixan.

“You need to speak freely, my dear.”

Zemeron nodded. “I know how hard it is for you to find your special recruits,” he said. “I just tried to help for a change. It was the least I could do after everything you’ve done for me and my sister.”

Trixan didn’t like that Zemeron had tricked Narvari into coming back to Draghein School. Every one of her special recruits agreed to join the school willingly. Although she wanted more vanquishers, she would not resort to any underhanded methods to get them here. But as much as she hated what Zemeron had done, she sensed the sincerity in his voice.

“I appreciate the effort, my dear, but you are already helping me just by being here.”

Draghein School sorely lacked senior vanquishers so it was a miracle that Zemeron, a class two vanquisher, was here at all. She released her grip over her knuckles as her anger evaporated. “Narvari agreed to train here so I guess I should thank you for bringing her back.”

Zemeron smiled. “I’m glad to hear that.” Then he paused thoughtfully. “How’s her training going? I heard she awakened a fifth-order savaz. That’s not an exaggeration, is it?”

“It’s not. She’s progressing at a terrifying speed and has no intention of slowing down.” Trixan shook her head, recalling Narvari’s zest. “It’s quite scary, to be honest.”

“I’m not surprised. She has a great teacher.”

All her recruits were hardworking and talented and she pushed them to be the best they could be. Trixan had no doubt she was a great teacher. But there was something strangely powerful about Narvari and Trixan knew it had nothing to do with being her teacher. Not only was the girl progressing so quickly but she had also awakened her savaz at fifth-order. That had never happened before.

Most commoners, like herself, awakened first-order savaz, only to order up through training. People from the Dominant Families often awakened second-order, third-order, or occasionally, fourth-order savaz. But never in the history of the Central Domain had anyone awakened a fifth-order savaz. Although it was rare for outies with distant Agon ancestors to awaken savaz higher than first-order, it was still not unheard of. But fifth-order savaz? That was just insane.

Who exactly was this Erasmus Shar? She never found anything about any vanquisher by that name. Maybe Narvari’s grandfather was not a vanquisher but Trixan strongly believed that he was from Agon.

“At the rate she’s going,” said Trixan, “I won’t be surprised if she orders up in a few months.”

Zemeron raised a brow. “That takes a lot of years for most people.”

“I don’t think Narvari sees herself as most people.” Trixan chuckled.

“You believe in her that much?”

“I do.” She nodded. “She’s got this fire in her eyes… it reminds me so much of Hellstorm.” She bit her lips. She couldn’t believe she was about to say this, but she wholeheartedly believed it. “I think she will surpass Hellstorm someday.”

Trixan had never seen Zemeron look so shocked before. “If this had come from anyone else,” he said, “I would have laughed in their face. But I trust your judgment, Trixan. I just wished the Draghein Family trusted and supported you more.”

Trixan shrugged. “I have the trust and support of my vanquishers. That’s more than enough for me.” The Draghein Family would never break her resolve. “Anyway, there’s something else I need from you.”

“Anything.”

Trixan tried to imagine what the Draghein Family would do if they learned that she had accepted Zoleris vanquishers into Draghein School. The thought almost made her laugh out loud. “I want you to run an errand for me. You and Rizav. I’ve already briefed her.”

“She’s returned?”

“Not yet. She will be here this evening.”

Zemeron nodded. “Of course. Whatever it is, we’ll take care of it.”

“I know.” Trixan smiled. They were her strongest vanquishers and they always did take care of things.