(Mallea)

“Rylarleo became more and more terrifying, and I escaped from him one night while he was asleep. I used magic to create a human disguise and, unlike Iliastyr, suppressed my high magic factor to stand out less. After a few days of fleeing, I ended up in Mazgrove and spent quite a while training in their orphanage, hoping I’d be selected and sent to the capital to find my brother. But, well, I fell for a human girl, and things got tricky… But everything worked out because I finally found the one I care about more than anything else.” Safreya pressed the crown of her head against Iliastyr’s. “Ailyu, Nii’Bru.”

“Ailyu, Imo’Schwe,” Iliastyr responded. “I only remember names and ideas; I've still got no memory of the events from that day. It sounds like what caused my amnesia was the head injury I sustained battling Berin. My first memories are from the orphanage they left me at. They're the ones who taught me to disguise myself as a human."

The confession crystal continued to shine a bright green. Everything that Safreya and Iliastyr had said was true. While the faellarin siblings painfully reminisced, the four humans were stunned. Kylie held the shaken Asher, who tightly clung to her hand. However, Asher and Kylie’s horror couldn’t compare to Mallea and Vladimir’s.

"You said they called the smith Desmia?!" Mallea asked. "That’s impossible! There’s no way it could have been her. My aunt is a kind woman. She’s a hero. She would never help with something like that."

“No. No… absolutely not…” Vladimir whispered, his fist furiously shaking. “Father and Aunt Brynhyl murdered an entire colony of faellarin? I don’t believe it.” The confession crystal shone a faint red. Vladimir put his head in his hands. “Okay. Fine. I believe it. I've always known that they weren't good people. But there’s something I need to say to you, faellarin…”

Vladimir moved to Iliastyr and Safreya with near superhuman speed. Safreya flinched at the sight while Iliastyr raised his hands up to protect his sister. However, their fears were quickly assuaged.

Iliastyr and Safreya relaxed into Vladimir’s arms as he embraced them, tears of rage welling in his eyes. “I’m sorry for what happened. I'm sorry we doubted you. I’m so sorry…” Vladimir wept. “I could kill them for what they did to you.” The confession crystal glowed the deepest green of the entire night; it was as if Vladimir had never spoken truer words in his life.

Tears even began to well in Mallea’s eyes, but she fought them back. “Saf... You heard I was Desmia’s niece... not to mention Asher and Vlad's relationship Berin. Why-"

“Did I become friends with you?” Safreya asked. “You’re no more responsible for their crimes than Nii’Bru and I are for Rylarleo’s. So I decided to give you a chance.”

“I believe in this group of six, even if you did trap us into this confession,” Iliastyr said, looking at Kylie, who flashed a sheepish half-grin full of regret. “We'll right the wrongs of those who share our blood. Or, in Kylie’s case, our future in-laws.”

The embarrassed Kylie removed her hands from Asher’s shoulder and hid her face in them. She’d been wearier of the faellarin siblings than anyone, even despite her previous friendship with Iliastyr. She was even willing to believe that Safreya was the one causing the magical animal attacks.

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“I was wrong to doubt you,” Kylie admitted. “But we have to stop them both. Rylarleo and the Setrics.”

Mallea agreed, even if it meant standing in the way of her aunt. Humans couldn’t get away with ravaging the world around them. Even in the context of hunting, attacking the other humanoid species was a line that nobody should cross.

“But how?” Mallea asked, “where do we even start with finding Rylarleo or opposing Berin and Brynhyl?”

The group all pondered what their next steps were. Kylie and Asher whispered to one another in a stalemate. Iliastyr and Safreya were at a loss. Vladimir, as he so often did, took charge. “Three weeks from now, there will be a tournament,” Vladimir explained. “Well, three tournaments. It’s officially being announced tomorrow. Two scholars, two crafters, and eight warriors will be selected to join Aunt Brynhyl on an expedition across Solluna's territories to find a rogue magical being."

"Rylarleo..." Safreya whispered.

"Most likely. Kylie, Asher, Iliastyr, and I will enter the warriors' tournament. Safreya can enter the scholars', and Mallea can join the crafters'.”

Iliastyr perked up, excited by the prospect. “It’ll be challenging, but it's doable.”

Mallea was nervous. She was still just an orange hammer. The black and diamond-ranked crafters will have their own expeditions. Even still, can I keep up in a crafting competition with blue and violet rankers? She wondered. She didn’t have a choice. She had to. In the three weeks until the tournament, Mallea swore to work tirelessly on honing her craft. She’d learn all there was to know about magical materials.

“Let’s make an oath while the confession crystal still works. It’s not easy to turn against family,” Iliastyr said, to the group’s agreement. “Repeat after me: I vow to stop Rylarleo, Brynhyl Setric, and Berin Setric however I can.”

The other five repeated Iliastyr’s words, and the crystal glowed green for the entire group. After saying their goodbyes, the six finally went their separate ways. However, while the others went to bed, Mallea went to the Sollunan library. Every night until the crafter’s tournament, Mallea vowed to work on her skill and creativity. She rented a set of four encyclopedias: magical animals, magical plants, magical crystals, and magical metals.

When Mallea wasn’t in her guild or the forge, she swore to study. Any questions she had, Safreya could help her with. Mallea had a genius faellarin as a roommate; it would be foolish not to use that resource. Safreya had already fallen asleep when Mallea returned to the dorms. Iliastyr, back in his human disguise, watched over her. “Hello, Mallea,” said Iliastyr. “I’ll leave my primisai to you.”

“Your what?” Mallea asked with an awkward laugh. “I don’t speak faellarin.”

“I hardly do,” Iliastyr chuckled, “but it’s slowly returning to me. Primisai means first love. Faellarin are said to have three great loves. Our closest family, our best friend, and our romantic love. For so long, I was without all three. But… my most beloved family member has returned to me, and I think I'm starting to develop the other two loves.”

“And who might they be?” Mallea asked, feeling silly at the violet thumping of her heart.

Iliastyr threw his arms out wide and shrugged his shoulders, a telling smile on his face. The amused Mallea climbed into bed, opening the first of her new encyclopedias.

“It’s good that you’re studying so hard for the crafter’s tournament, but rest is also important,” Iliastyr reminded Mallea. His lesson implanted and his sibling safe, the feallerin boy took his leave.

“You know, despite your arrogant facade, you’re a pretty cool guy, Iliastyr,” Mallea called out.

Iliastyr stopped at the open door frame. Turning his head ever so slightly, Iliastyr winked at Mallea before disappearing from view. Mallea had things to discuss with Iliastyr at a later date. For now, she had to focus on studying for the crafters' tournament. All six of us are going to make this expedition, Mallea thought. Rylarleo, Berin and Brynhyl Setric, Aunt Desmia, watch out. We’re coming for you.