As she gazed upon the Commandare’s back, she saw a monster.

Her sight faltered.

She saw the monster. Her monster.

Viscous liquid, dark red, was pearling from its fangs and claws.

The eyes that were watching her were akin an unending abyss.

Darkness took hold of her.

She fell.

Dream.

She heard laughter. Crystal clear, brimming with life. It shined of happiness.

It should have been melody to her ears.

Melody. Her mother’s name was Melody. How had she forgotten her name?

Her father’s name was Vale.

She hated them.

She felt their blood drip on her skin. Soak her clothes, pierce her flesh and bones.

She loved it.

She saw herself run. Freezing in white hell. The warm blood was not anymore, frozen on her skin.

She was dreaming, Nay was aware. She had to wake up, she knew what would follow.

She was unable to, the scene could only continue before her eyes.

The little girl running in the snow stopped for a brief moment. Then, she split apart. Nay saw multiple reflections of herself running away in all directions.

She died. One of her was beheaded after ten steps. Another had her throat sliced next to a tent.

Every time she was murdered, every time one of those reflections was caught, she felt their pain. She could feel her own body sliced up, crushed, pierced…

In total there were twelve of her mirror-self. All were killed more brutally than the other.

Only one made it out alive. This reflection had climbed away and went along the rocky cliff of the Canyon of Sables, hidden by shadows.

Then, as if pushed by a strange force, all of Nay’s bodies rose. Wounds healed, limbs put themself back in place, spilled blood flew back inside the broken arteries mending back to their life-filled state.

There was a pause.

All restored reflections looked at the one that had survived.

Twelve ghosts were watching a miraculous child.

Together, they flew to re-join her.

Every shadow brought what she had been through, offered as gift the experience of her death.

She died twelve times. She screamed in agony twelve times.

When her throat ripped apart, when no more sound could ever come out of it, that was when the ghosts and Nay were one once more.

“NAY! Nay!?”

The voice was feminine, familiar, anguished.

“Nay?” Someone was shaking her.

She realized that she was screaming and that the pain was not real. She closed her mouth and opened her eyes.

She was in her bed, Ra’fa holding her in her arms.

Nay looked at her mother, confused.

“Oh, Nay! You scared me so much…Doctor, she’s awake!”

A weird-looking woman entered Nay’s room. She was dressed in a dark dress that reached her ankles and wore a strange pointy hat. She had to be in her twenties, was quite beautiful, and long blond hair was flowing on her back.

“I am not a doctor yet, do not call me that.”

But Ra’fa was not listening to her.

“Look! She is looking so much better already; your concoction is working wonders!

The young woman disagreed: “The medicine doesn’t act that fast. She woke up on her own.”

“Nay, how do you feel sweetheart?”

The girl was lost in thoughts. She had forgotten that night. Why? Why remember now? What were those reflections of herself?

BLUE.

No. That memory she could not remember.

“What happened?” She asked, not really knowing why or what answer she was waiting for.

“After the exhibit, you fainted. Marke seems to feel guilty about what happened up there, he did not want to talk about it. You slept peacefully for a few hours, then you began screaming…I…well I am happy Doctor Gerin was already there, I don’t know what I would have done without her…” Ra’fa was on the verge of tears.

There was a short silence, broken by the woman named Gerin.

“I’m still in apprenticeship…” She said with slight exasperation.

She then talked to Nay.

“I have to ask, Miss Ra’fa had no answer for me, how old are you?” She had a professional look on her face.

“Eight…maybe nine? I’m not sure.” Nay answered weakly.

She still felt half asleep, like a part of herself was still stuck in her nightmarish past.

“That is worrying. Did you suffer from nutritional deficiencies when you were younger?”

“Suffer what?”

“It means you’re not eating enough for a long time, and your body gets weak and sick.” Ra’fa explained to her before addressing the apprentice: “Do you think that’s why she’s growing so slowly? She stayed alone for I don’t know how long in the Canyon of Sables.”

Gerin could not hide her surprise.

“The Canyon of Sables? Alone? It is a miracle she is still alive…Nay is it? How long did you stay there?”

“I…” Nay remembered the cold. She was so scared. Blood. Dripping from her face, dripping from her clothes. The sound of it was echoing inside the cavern. It was deafening.

Obsidian scales glazed in red were reflecting the silvery glow of the night.

She was finding it hard to breathe.

“You don’t have to answer me.” Said the young woman in a hurry, understanding the symptoms of panic. “It is possible your growth is slow because of it. Your body suffered too many deficiencies and has difficulties developing normally. Having a balanced diet should have fixed that, but maybe some lingering effects remain.”

She looked at Ra’fa.

“Maybe it would be best to let her rest. Let her wake up in peace?”

Ra’fa let her daughter go reluctantly, stood up, and followed the apprentice to the kitchen.

Nay looked outside the window. The sun was high in the sky already.

She had missed Marke’s training!

She quickly dressed and reached for her door. She stopped as she heard the two women talk.

“It may be she never grows fully. With some luck, her coming of age will help, but I cannot know for sure. You should prepare for the worst. Spirit that grows without the body can bring heavy unbalance, it doesn’t end well.” The apprentice’s voice was uncannily calm considering what she was saying.

“I see…” Ra’fa answered weakly.

Nay was in shock. She would never grow? Her hand was hovering over the door’s handle.

“I’d recommend you continue giving her healthy and rich meals, don’t let her miss a meal.”

“Nothing else?” Asked Ra’fa, almost begging.

“I…” The apprentice’s voice faltered, less confident all of a sudden: “To be honest, I don’t know. My master could give you…”

Now, Ra’fa’s voice was furious.

“Your master’s rates are insane! Why do you think I called for you?”

“I am sorry. There is nothing else I can do…” The young woman truly seemed apologetic.

“I understand.” Said her mother harshly. “Here, for your help.”

Nay heard the clinging of coins.

The conversation seemed over, and she heard the entrance door open then close.

She stood there, shaking.

She would never grow? What would Marke say? She would never be tall enough; she would never have the strength or speed to improve. You would just have to grab her weapon and throw it away. Just like that guard had done.

She finally remembered her three duels.

Marke had been serious, maybe for the first time. Then this guard, Herind, had underestimated her and lost. She realized that she would have killed him if her father had not pulled her out of her trance. In turn, it saved her, because Redrick… She would never have guessed that the one she thought was initially a normal guard, albeit charming and smiling, was this Commandare. She had no idea what that meant, but seeing how strong he was, his expertise with the sword and what Marke had said, it could only be a high-ranking military in the city. Maybe even in the empire. This was not the most disturbing to Nay though.

She touched her neck. A bandage was covering it fully. It was slightly painful, and she pulled her fingers away.

She went to look at her mirror, it was little and only gave a blurry image of herself.

Her hair was a mess, some of it missing, and she looked cadaveric at best. With all the bandages, she looked like a mummy.

She could not see the cut, but she felt it.

The man who did that was dangerous. Very. And this void inside of him…

She only felt such a thing once before.

Obsidian scales glazed in red were reflecting the silvery glow of the night.

She shivered. She was scared, but she did not want to remember.

How could she have been so blind? How did she mistake this monster for a human?

And how could she defend herself against them while staying in the body of a child forever?

She exited her room and entered the slightly larger one that was used as entrance, living room and kitchen.

Ra’fa was cooking, but immediately stopped when she saw her daughter coming out of her chamber.

The young woman with weird clothes was not there anymore.

“Nay? What in Ja’s name are you doing here!?”

“What do you mean? I’m late for training.” The girl answered earnestly.

“You look like you came straight out of a graveyard and you want to fight? By Ja, I have been too lenient with the both of you. Any training is forbidden for at least a week, you nonsensical child. Go back to bed!”

“But I’m not tired. And I’m all right!” She complained.

“I’m all right! I’m all right!? Just what that inane imbecile would say. So manly! So brave!”

Nay was used to her mother’s temper, but even then, she was disconcerted. It was not like usual, Ra’fa seemed genuinely hurt.

“You are idiots the lot of you! If you are blind to your limits, how do you think you can overcome them? Is there only a ram to break a wall?”

“What?” Nay was lost.

Her mother sighed, her head low. She looked at her daughter. It was silent for a while.

“If you feel fine, you’ll come with me. You’ll need to be presentable for the school’s grand opening.” Ra’fa finally said, her voice calm.

“But…”

The tall woman raised her head.

“No buts! You’ll be coming with me. First, I’ll teach you how to comb your hair and how to use makeup. I don’t have many accessories, but it’ll do. I won’t always be there to do it for you.”

The tidal wave that was her mother took the little girl by force, who knew her fate would be to stand still in front of her mirror for hours.

“I made it, then?” Nay asked.

“Made it?”

“Our exhibit, you said the school would ope…aouch!” She shouted, the comb painfully pulling her hair.

“Oh, stop it! You’ll get used to it. And yes, the school will open next month. We’ve already got ten students enrolled. Forty other potential interested in the waiting. Enough for years to come.” Ra’fa informed her.

“And Marke, where is he?”

“He’s taking care of the enlistment and is looking to see if other teachers are available. He’s close to killing himself, paperwork makes him crazy.” His predicament seemed to please her.

“He doesn’t know I’m awake?” Nay just realized then that it was weird he had not come already. He had questions to ask her about the Commandare, and she had missed morning training after all.

“He brought you unconscious in his arms, wounded and white as snow. He won’t get any news until he comes visit himself.” Ra’fa had a mean smile. “But instead of talking, are you looking? I won’t show you two hundred times.”

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

She was teaching her how to do a ponytail.

“Yes, I’m watching…” Answered the little girl, unmotivated.

“Good! Next, colours and makeup, then we go out to buy you a dress.”

Nay sighed heavily but did not dare retort anything.

“Take them.” Ra’fa handed her a bar of soap and a towel.

“I thought we were going shopping for a new dress?” Nay questioned.

“Yes, but before that, we will be going to the baths. A friend of mine opened one a few years ago. It's time I visit her. I’m tired of the school’s cold showers or washing myself in buckets.” Her mother seemed excited.

“Baths? Is that like a bathtub?” The girl asked. She had no idea what baths could be.

“No, no. It is much larger, warm, and clean! You pay to enter them and…well, no need to explain, you’ll see by yourself.”

A giant bathtub? That was an intriguing prospect, and the idea of warm water was especially attractive. Nay could not imagine what sensations that could bring.

That was when a worried Marke entered the house. As usual, he had not made a noise until he had opened the front door.

“Oh, Nay! You are awake! How do you feel?”

“Well.” Ra’fa answered in her stead. “Nay needs rest and care, so I’m bringing her to the baths.”

“Baths? I’ll accompany…”

“No. You won’t. It is a trip between girls, you are not invited.”

“But…” He began before shutting up. Most likely because he had met Ra’fa’s gaze.

She did not seem pleased with him.

“Of course, Hani. Before you go, what did the Doctor say?” He asked instead.

This was a beautiful execution of a technique he had taught Nay. Never engage in a losing battle.

The tall woman’s face was perfectly still when she answered: “I’ll tell you tonight.”

He nodded.

They left to go to the baths. Ra’fa explained to her daughter that there were quite a lot of them in the city, but that they were going to the Jasminn. They followed the large road to the eastern gate, the beautiful Azure road, but before reaching the end of the city, they went north through empty alleyways. You could sometimes hear the cries of a baby or the cuss of a man, but that was all. The silence, associated with the tall and narrow houses, made from dark, at times black wood, was creating quite the lugubrious atmosphere. The buildings did not always have glass windows, and the clearer parts of the wood, often doors and window frames, were for the most part rotten or in bad shape. The structures were bent, and the roofs sometimes touched the ones that stood opposite of the road, creating arcs of darkness underneath them. Here, a muddy road had replaced the breath-taking coral pavement of the Azure road.

Nay had felt like she was walking on the bottom of the ocean, and now she had to be careful not to walk on broken glass or other disgusting things she did not want to name.

After minutes of wandering through the creepy alleyways, they finally reached another large avenue. It was paved, but nothing like the coral-like ones of the Azure road.

“We’re on the major avenue of Gite, Guard’s March, it links the northern gate with the harbour.” Ra’fa told her.

Nay could only answer with a weak squeak, deadly afraid.

There had to be hundreds of people here.

“You don’t like crowds?”

The little girl did not answer, preferring to grip the tall woman’s skirts.

“Hold my hand, so that you don’t get lost. Once was more than enough for me.”

Nay hesitated, embarrassed, but quickly did as she was told when three men, large nets on their backs and harpoons in their hands almost bumped her.

“Wa’shtya doinn standin on di ‘oad like dat?” Shouted one of them without stopping.

Nay, terrorized, looked between her mother and the men who were going on their way.

Ra’fa could not help but smile.

“Well! That’s an effective way to shut you up!”

The little girl glared at her angrily.

Which had the only result to make the tall woman laugh out loud.

They began walking again.

“What did he say?” Asked Nay, sticking close to her mom.

“The harpooner?”

Nay nodded.

“He was telling you to move. It is quite rude and dangerous to just stand in the middle of the road like that.”

“What language was he using?”

“Hymerian of course, like you and me.”

“Eh?”

“I know, I know. Coastal cities have many advantages, but when in contact with a lot of different languages, you have to if you want to trade, the dialects become the worst.”

They passed next to a big store, where scrolls of thick fabric were hanging in weird chests of drawers. Ra’fa stopped in front of it for a short time.

“The prices are acceptable. We’ll come back here for your dress.”

After ten more minutes of walking, they finally reached the Jasminn. From the outside, the building was not that much different from the others. It was in the same dark wood, and the architecture was identical. Three things were clearly making it different though: It was in a much better state than its neighbours, three times as large, and it had a distinct green sign where you could read Jasminn, pinned over the door. Numerous women were sitting on benches situated in front of it. They were chatting loudly, laughing, and exchanging the latest gossip.

“He asked me if we could move in together!”

“Nooo?”

“She’s scaring me…”

“Tell me about it, kissing your own children on the mouth. Believers of Lebe are truly decadence incarnate.”

“He was with my mother! On our bed? Can you believe it? My own mother!”

“…Well you have to admit she takes care of herself…”

“WHAT!?”

“Did I say something?”

The noise was upsetting Nay, and she put her hands over her ears. The trip here had been bad, but she could not handle any more now.

They entered. Inside, it was much less noisy. A young woman with an exotic physique and matte skin, showing the first signs of adulthood, was sitting on a very peculiar chair, almost an elevated platform of some kind. Even Ra’fa had to slightly raise her head to talk to her.

The teenager turned around to face them.

Nay could not hide her fascination as she gazed upon the slanted, dark green eyes, reminiscent of a forest of firs.

“Yes? Need of a supplementary? Private?” Asked the young receptionist, a commercial smile on her lips.

“Feryn, you’re not even saying hi first? Do you want me to have a talk with your mother?” Asked Ra’fa mockingly.

The teenager’s eyelids widened, and her smile cracked.

“Miss Ra’fa? Is that you? But you’re not fa…” She stopped herself just on time, her cheeks as red as they could be.

Ra’fa showed her teeth in a carnivorous smile.

“Growing up, are you? Still not a great diplomat though. How did you convince your mother to let you handle the front desk?”

Nay knew her mother’s game. Its only purpose was to embarrass you like never before. She was pitying the girl with slanted eyes.

“I…Uhm, please, don’t tell her, it took months to convince her, and, well, you’ve changed a lot, it has been so long, I was just surprised…I…” The teenager was getting even redder.

Ra’fa cut her off with a loud laugh.

“Don’t worry Feryn, rather, meet Nay, my daughter, she’s been under my care for almost two years now. Nay, this is Feryn, she is the daughter of one of my old co-workers. Who I see is coming to greet us.” She said while pointing at an uncommon-looking woman. Older than Ra’fa, she was only slightly taller than Nay, and she was undeniably related to the teenager handling the front desk. Her origins were also obvious; she was a native from Jarulam, the eastern lands. The Sage-Brother had taught her about it during the Empire geography lessons. Jarulaviens had dark skin and slanted eyes and were merchant people living in the eastern deserts. Nay’s thoughts had to wait, as her mother shouted loudly.

“Manna!” She sounded joyful.

“Ra’fa! How pretty you’ve become! Why visit us only now? I was getting worried!” The aforementioned Manna answered with the same tone as the tall woman.

They hugged. With the difference in heights, the scene was quite funny.

“And so this is Nay, I heard some rumours about you. You are quite the extraordinary girl as it would seem.” Manna’s sudden interest in her perturbed Nay. She felt naked under the older woman’s gaze.

She tried to answer, and only managed a mumble: “H-Hi.”

Ra’fa came to her rescue.

“By Ja, aren’t you supposed to be retired? Don’t play your games with my daughter or you’ll answer to me.”

“My apologies, bad habits.” Apologized the Jarulavien woman before putting a hand fan in front of her mouth. Nay immediately felt her discomfort disappear. The eastern woman was looking at Ra’fa again. “You hear such things in the baths, you have no idea. This particular one was so juicy; I could not resist finding out more through our friends.”

“Well, be careful next time.” Ra’fa responded with no anger, then changed the subject. “I’ll be happy to talk about old times, but now that our problems have been more or less resolved, I’ll be back often with my girl. I also need to ask you about something.”

The short older woman raised an eyebrow.

“Would this be linked with a doctor’s apprentice?” She asked in a whisper.

Ra’fa did not answer.

“I forgot how we never understand anything you’re talking about when you’re together.” The teenage girl seemed annoyed to be left out of the conversation and had said that with annoyance in her voice. “What’s more, there is a line forming, could you hurry up?”

Her mother smiled.

“Give them number four, on your pay. I heard what you said to our client here.” She informed her with authority. “And don’t talk to me like that when we’re working.”

“What!? But how could you know what I…” Began the teenager before biting the inside of her cheek. “Yes M’am, Understood M’am.” She continued with no conviction, handing a key over to Ra’fa. She then looked down at Nay and gave her a big grin. “Let’s get acquainted next time, Nay!” She sounded sincere this time.

Nay felt herself blush, lowered her head, and didn’t respond.

She then followed Ra’fa through a maze of corridors and doors, crossing paths with almost completely naked woman except for towels. Finally, they reached a door with the number 4 written on a panel next to it.

“I wanted to show you the large common baths, but if I’m given a private booth, I won’t say no.” Her mother explained.

The room was of modest size, but as Nay usually washed with only a bucket of water, it already seemed an enormous amount of space to allocate to the lone act of cleaning yourself. All in all, it was also quite beautiful inside. The dark wood of the walls and floor were harmoniously balanced by the large ceramic bathtub of bright colours. There was a bench next to the door to put your belongings and they undressed there.

“Nay, don’t throw your clothes on the ground…”

But the little girl was not listening, too absorbed by this fuming water and her desire to jump into it.

Ra’fa sighed and bent over to pick up the abandoned clothing.

Nay was ready to enter the water, but a voice stopped her in her tracks.

“Stop!”

The bath manager, Manna, had appeared out of nowhere inside the closed room.

Nay ran behind Ra’fa, terrified. Where had the Jarulavien come from? There was only one way in, no windows, and the door was closed: was she a witch? Could eastern women teleport?

Ra’fa and her old colleague laughed.

The little girl stared at them in confusion. Was she losing her mind? Why were they laughing at her?

“Don’t worry Nay, it’s just that this old hag is having fun with hidden passageways.”

“This ‘old hag’ could very well decide to leave, you know.” Answered Manna, a nerve visible on her right temple.

“Oh, sorry, I meant this rotting old goat.” Ra’fa added.

The bath manager closed her eyes. “I thought I had missed you, and five minutes in your company, and I already want you gone.” She inspected Ra’fa’s naked body, stopping for a moment at the Tertia tattoo at the bottom left of her stomach. “Well, you’ve still got a bit of a bump of fat there, gargantua.”

Nay could see the very rare sight of her mother blushing.

“Oh, that’s not…” She began, embarrassed.

It seemed to please the Jarulavien.

“Oh? Oh! Oooooh! Finally part of the big boys? Well, maybe you already were considering Nay. We’ll have to talk about it in detail, but right now the little one is going to get a cold, naked outside like that.”

This seemed to encourage Nay, who was effectively shivering, and she tried to enter the large bath once again.

“Stop.” Said Manna again.

Nay did as she was told but with a frown.

The eastern woman did not seem to care. “Have you not learned the rules of bathing? Take a basin, you need to wash and rinse yourself with it before entering the water.” She turned towards Ra’fa. “You’ve still got work to do with this one, and with the other one coming…no wonder you’re only coming to see me now, you’re clearly overworked.”

Manna took a bath with them. The two adults talked for a long moment, but Nay was not paying any attention. The feeling of pure pleasure procured by the warm water was freeing her from her mind. Moreover, when she started getting bored, she began searching for the hidden passageways, to no avail. After her failed attempt in exploration, she dozed off. As a grown up, she was going to have a house with such a bath, she promised herself. Her happiness was short lived when she remembered that she would probably never grow up. After that, she was not sleepy anymore, and even after they left the Jasminn to go to the tailor Ra’fa had scouted, Nay’s thoughts stayed sombre. She barely payed any attention to the cute blue dress Ra’fa bought her.

‘Maybe I’ll be able to wear it my whole life’: She thought. ‘It’ll always be my size.’

Nay lost herself in dark ruminations the whole trip back. But something interrupted them close to the Legio’s school.

In the deserted alleyway stood Ra’fa and Nay, and in front of them, three sinister-looking men.

The tall woman did not seem scared, but she was holding Nay’s hand too tightly. The girl whined in pain.

“Ra’fa Jarket, we’ve got a message to deliver, let the Legio know that wherever he flees, we’ll still find him.” Announced the leader of the group with a cold voice.

He was taller than Marke and had a heavy and strong-looking body. He was wearing a leather jacket and brown pants. Two swords were hanging on his belt, and multiple knives were hanging from the bands on his clothes.

The two others were smaller and were equipped with maces. One was most likely one-eyed as he wore an eyepatch and the other was wearing a ridiculous red scarf that was hiding most of his face. His stance was wonky.

That was what Nay looked at first, the lessons of her father imposing themselves upon her. She had to observe them, look at their weaknesses. She found many.

“Every detail can save your life or be completely useless. Unfortunately for us, we don’t know the future. So, observe. Every possibility. Prepare for every single one of them.” Said the master Legio’s voice in her head.

She followed his advice, and her summary was as followed: Three ugly as Trayx inexperienced killers.

She heard Ra’fa answer the bandit.

“Why not say that to him directly? Cowards.”

The chief of the bandits had a mean grin.

“We don’t need two messengers…You or the girl.” The threat was clear.

The one-eyed man complained: “Boss, if it’s the little girl, we won’t be able to have any fun!”

“You know, she’s cute.” Retorted the man with the scarf.

The chief cut them off. “Enough! We’ve got our orders and Jarl, I told you to keep your business private. I don’t want to know.”

The man with the scarf scowled.

“Cowards…” Ra’fa repeated with disgust. “Come if you dare, I’ll feed you your own balls.”

Despite her size, Ra’fa was no warrior, and her bravado was only there to give Nay the opportunity to flee. Her mother had not hesitated, she knew the bandits would not spare them. Or if they did, it would be after much worse than death. She understood what kind of man the scarf-wearing one was, her daughter would not be spared of that fate. But even if her resolve was clear, Ra’fa could not help but tremble, and she put her free hand in front of her stomach in a protective gesture.

“Mom, let go of my hand. You’re hurting me.” Said Nay with unnatural poise.

Ra’fa looked at her. Did she not understand the situation?

But then she met with Nay’s eyes. They were cold and far away. She had seen this expression before, and she released her hand.

The three men had not bothered to look at the exchange between mother and daughter, they were advancing on them.

Nay put herself between them and her mother.

The one-eyed man laughed.

“What does the little one want?”

Then he stopped. Something in the girl’s eyes unsettled him greatly, it made him swallow his laughter. Something was not normal there, something another.

The chief of the bandits drew one of his swords out of its scabbard.

“As you wish, you will go first.” He announced.

“Nay! Come back here.” But despite her words, Ra’fa was petrified.

The bandit got closer to Nay, sword in hand.

Thirty feet.

Fifteen.

Six.

Nay spoke.

“Let us through.”

An uncanny thought crossed the chief of bandit’s mind. He was tempted to obey. It bothered him. Those eyes and voice. His experience was screaming not to underestimate the individual facing him.

He had to stand still. He had to think.

His two companions looked at him with surprise.

“Yarric?” Asked the one-eyed man.

“Not the real names…” Responded the chief automatically, not daring to blink or look away from the child.

“You used my real name three seconds ago!” Grumbled the man in a scarf.

The leader did not react to the comment and took one step forwards. He was going to test her, he thought.

A fast strike, without much strength behind it, and see what she was going to do with it.

He lunged, his blade going sky to ground straight towards the little girl’s head.

He hit nothing.

She had also stepped forwards. So much so that she was now just underneath him.

He hurriedly backed off, almost tripping in the process.

“Ya…Higuana?” The two others could not see what she had done, the chiefs back hiding her from their view.

They had just witnessed their chief retreat.

“Careful now. Not a normal kid that one. I bet that madman trained her.”

His accomplices froze for a single moment, all humour disappearing from their faces.

“You’re called Higuana? Your street name is a shitty lizard?” Taunted Nay with a mocking face.

The chief of the bandits gave her a dark scowl. “You Firante, just for that I’ll break your bones and give you to Jarl. We’ll see what your mouth says after that.”

Nay did not know what this Jarl was supposed to do to her, but as she felt his disgusting gaze on her, she knew it meant bad things. Still, she was unafraid.

She was following Marke’s lessons: “As you control the opponent’s emotions, you control his Rreico. Once it is taken, you can break it. Once. Because once is enough.”

The chief took three steps forwards, as he unsheathed his second sword. A vertical strike and a horizontal one.

She would not dodge that.

She did not.

It was not necessary anymore.

The one called Higuana was on his knees, looking with a stunned expression his two swords falling in the mud and the blood flowing from his wrists. He could see the ripped tendons inside the cut flesh. It was unlikely he would ever be able to hold a sword again.

As his gaze went up, he saw that the little girl had two knives in hands. His knives. He looked down on his jacket. Two straps were empty.

Had she taken them when she stepped forwards the first time?

The speed to do that unnoticed had to have been absurd.

“Yarric!” Shouted the two other bandits.

The one-eyed one attacked first. Or at least he tried, as after two steps he just collapsed, groaning in pain. He had the handle of a knife sticking out of his stomach.

The man with the scarf was suddenly much more careful and backed off. He had seen the throw. His teammate had had no chance. Fluid and fast, the girl’s technique was terrifying. Without the element of surprise though, she would not have him. He was more worried about what happened to his boss. He could not see it happen, but his chief was now clearly out of the fight.

He crossed the girl’s gaze. She was waiting for him. He could read it in her. In the child’s grey eyes. His mace shook in his hands.

“Not my problem anymore.” He decided out loud.

He ran away.

Nay did not try to pursue him. She was just watching him with a confused look. The last knife was still in her hand.

Ra’fa could not speak. She had not seen her daughter train for a long time, but with such improvements, she finally understood why the school’s opening had been decided so fast.

She had an unsettling, unacceptable, shameful thought.

That it was not the first time she had raised a monster.

The bandit ran. Just enough to reach the end of the alleyway. He was ready to turn.

He only saw a flash of silver.

Now he was looking at his own boots, and then his headless body.

Then, nothing.

“I thought I had gotten rid of all the trash.” Marke groaned, emerging from the neighbouring alleyway.

He whipped his sword. Blood struck the ground at his feet. He sheathed his sword back and scurried towards them. He stopped a brief instant in front of Nay’s carnage. He grimaced.

“They are not dead.” She announced with a detached voice.

Painful grunts attested the truth of her words.

He opened his mouth, then changed his mind.

“Ra’fa, everything in one piece?” He asked instead.

“Yes, yes. She protected me.” Silence. “How can I stare at myself in the mirror after being saved like that!” She exclaimed.

“I trained her; such inexperienced throat-cutters are barely a threat if they under-estimate her.”

“Marke, they did not…” She began before being interrupted.

“You created a fucking monster you maniac!” Shouted the chief of the bandits, still on his knees, blood still flowing from his wrists.

Marke barely looked at him. His foot went crashing down on the bandit’s nose. Higuana’s body slumped in the mud.

“I was saying. She’s gifted, they had no chance. Still, I’m rather surprised by her…effectiveness. She even followed my instructions. She did not kill anyone.”

He had spoken in a way that left no place for retorts.

“She struck them down in a heartbeat…”

“Yes, and considering their level, any trained soldier would have done the same. Little girl or not.”

Ra’fa seemed far from convinced.

“I shouldn’t have let her.”

“And then you’d be dead. Go back home Hani. The way is safe. I just need to talk to Nay for a bit. We’re just behind you.”

Ra’fa stared at him, tried to say something, then stopped. She left, putting a hand in Nay’s hair on the way, who did not react. The girl was looking at the unconscious bandit chief’s body on the ground. Her gaze unfocused.

When Ra’fa was gone, Marke knelt in front of her.

“Nay. Nay! It’s over. Drop the knife.”

She obeyed.

“Look at me.” He took her chin, forcing her to do as he asked. “I know this trance you have, where you are too focused, where you forget everything…” He sighed. “If only my master was there…Nay!” He added with strength in his voice.

The little girl seemed to wake up.

“I…yes?”

“You didn’t kill them, that’s good.”

“You beheaded the one I let go.”

She had let him go? He made no further comment and answered her implicit question instead.

“I’ve killed before. One more, one less, not much of a difference now. You, you’ve still got a choice. You can use your abilities to defend and save. Today, you saved your mother. But a saviour is never a murderer. Had you killed them: no-one would have been saved.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Don’t worry about it, you’ll understand one day, probably better than I do, I’m sure. In the meantime, just follow my orders. Don’t kill.”

She nodded.

“Good.” He stood back up and looked at the two men on the ground. “Go back home, I’m going to bring this jolly lot to the Church. Canna’s worshippers will be delighted in those two’s revival.”

The one-eyed man with a knife in his belly began pleading. “No…please….”

“You’d rather have my sword in your throat?” Asked the Legio with an icy tone.

“No…”

“Good!” He turned around to face his daughter. “Nay, come on, move! Meet up with Ra’fa.”

The girl’s eyes widened, and she left, alone in her thoughts.