About two miles outside of Luthis, and several hundred yards from the trapdoor, Lara struggled to keep her head up whenever someone looked in her direction. Except, she couldn’t quite hide the blush no matter how much she scolded herself. Since last night, she hadn’t had the guts to face Skye. She’d somehow managed to keep busy in another room or tunnel. Lara sighed. She was being ridiculous, she knew. Unfortunately, her embarrassment wouldn’t allow her to do anything but hide from the man.

Ugh.

Nothing like airing all your dirty laundry and most private thoughts in front of hundreds of people. Most of the people had been kind and respectful; others still stared.

Lara, Eiren said beside her, making her jump and shriek at the same time, I don’t understand why you keep blushing.

She hissed, Because they know what I did last night.

What? They do not, Eiren gasped in surprise, her ears flat against her head. They don’t stare at you because of what happened last night.

Ducking her head, Lara asked, How do you know? I keep expecting a crude comment, particularly from the men.

Eiren looked at her with grave intent. No, Lara. Their awe and respect for you would never allow them to disrespect you like that.

Again, how do you know? She rolled the hem of her pants up before pulling them back down.

I know because, unlike you, I’ve walked among them and listened in on their conversations. Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten already what happened upon our return to Kureto. Eiren’s words held censure. You are the Goddess’s Chosen Lady, and I do not speak of the Lan’Ai bond.

Huh. Had she been taking their looks in the wrong vein?

Word has spread of your appearance and disappearance from Olun. What is more, you willingly fight alongside them against the invading Malirrans.

Oh. Geez, she sounded like a toddler. So, you’re saying they are staring because of that instead of last night?

I do not believe the Kurite warriors understand what happened yesterday evening. They felt your emotions, yes, but do not understand that they were, in fact, yours. Many have made no mention of the occurrence. Instead, they are focused on the Goddess’s Chosen Lady’s presence.

Seeing her Ai approach, Lara added aloud, “And they’re focused on the four of us. Skye and I stand out with our looks.”

As Chion sat down beside her, he commented, Do not forget your clothes.

Lara shrugged. Her Earth clothes were far more comfortable to her than the clothing the Kurites wore. With the upcoming battle, she’d changed into the clothes someone had scrounged up for her, all except the boots. Those stayed on her feet. With a sense of satisfaction and camaraderie, she noticed earlier that Skye had kept his on as well.

She gave Eiren a hug. “Thanks for helping me overcome my embarrassment.” She grimaced, wrinkling her nose. “I don’t know if being this chosen lady is any better, but my humiliation level is down a bit now.”

Every Tal’Ai faces challenges with their magic, Chion offered. All Kurites know this.

“Yeah,” she snorted, “and they are all kids, living at a school. We’re in the middle of a war camp preparing for a big battle. The situation is a tad bit different, don’t you think? Their trust in my magic abilities would be greatly reduced if they knew what happened.” She ran her fingers through her hair, messing up the loose braid. “Hell, I’m not even sure I know how to replicate it.”

Curiosity lit Eiren’s eyes. How is your water shield holding?

Lara couldn’t help the smug grin she sprouted. Pride colored her next words. “I have a stranglehold on the shield. It is locked in place, kind of like a vault. Somehow, coming into my Lan’Ai powers helped me better control the incoming emotions. Strange, right?”

Interesting, Chion hummed. Have you attempted to wield the Lan’Ai magic?

“You mean, on purpose? No, of course not. I embarrassed myself enough to last me the rest of my life.” Lara shuddered at the thought.

Eiren piped in, You should try. We will need your magic once the fighting begins.

She thought about that, looking up and down the tunnel at all the Tal’Ai warriors talking amongst themselves. They either cleaned their weapons or leaned back against the walls, waiting for the command to ready for battle. She didn’t know how emanating emotions to others could possibly be better than any of the other abilities the Tal’Ais had. They, at least, controlled their gifts. Finally, she confessed, “I don’t see how forcing others to feel my emotions is a useful weapon against the Malirrans.”

Chion narrowed his eyes at her, his whiskers twitching every other second. Fear is a powerful emotion, don’t you agree?

“Yeah,” she said slowly, not understanding where he was going with the conversation. Lara noticed that Eiren’s ears perked up as she listened in.

The fear I feel going into a battle is manageable, Chion said. I know what to expect—the amount of fear I will feel, so I either push the emotion down or twist it into an emotion I can use in combat.

Anger, for instance, Eiren murmured.

A perfect example, Chion nodded. Now, if I was suddenly inundated with fear—

“You wouldn’t have a way to cope,” Lara finished, her eyes widening in comprehension. “It would be fight or flight, or at least pandemonium.” She arched a brow. “That is what you mean, right?”

Not answering the question, the paka said instead, Try to push a single emotion outward.

Lara glanced around. “Um, I don’t feel comfortable doing that.” Seeing his eyes begin to glint with fire, she explained in a rush, “If I’m going to try to do this, the people should know what is happening to them.”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Of course, My Lady. It was rude of me to think otherwise. He bowed before turning to peruse the crowd. Give me a moment to find a few volunteers.

How in the world was she supposed to push an emotion toward someone? Last night, it happened without her knowledge or permission, and her reach proved extensive without any urging from her.

Sensing her bewilderment, Eiren edged closer. Lara, open your shield a little. Think of a hole in the shield and allow a few emotions inside.

She closed her eyes and pictured her watery shield. Instead of making a hole like Eiren recommended, Lara thinned the water in a two-inch section right in front of her. A combination of excitement, fear, and determination threatened to roll her backward, and she had to take a deep breath. She thickened the shield ever so slightly. Afraid of what would happen, she hesitated about latching onto the fear and excitement. If she could wield her magic, heightening those emotions would cause panic in the ranks. Instead, she focused her attention on the emotion least likely to cause havoc—the determination that ran through her body like steel. The warriors could use a bit more determination and strength in the coming battle. Using an imaginary fist, she grabbed the emotion, feeling it writhe in her grasp.

Curiosity splashed her like a gentle rain. Opening her eyes, Lara almost lost her concentration on the mental image when she saw three Kurites sitting in a semicircle, their knees almost touching hers. When she tried to push the determination in her grasp through the thinned barrier, it dissipated. “Ugh. That was anticlimactic,” she said with disgust.

A hard-muscled woman sitting in between the two men spoke up, her tone showing nothing but eagerness. “Your Ai told us what you are attempting. Take your time, the Goddess’s Lady. We are here to help.”

Discomfort spread through Lara at the woman’s words. She hated the title the Kurites had given her. She startled when the three Kurites all suddenly sported identical blushes. “W-What?”

As they glanced at each other and shrugged, it dawned on Lara what had happened. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to do that.”

Chion encouraged her, My Lady, focus on an emotion and try again.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes again. This time she grabbed ahold of the excitement that lingered against her skin and limbs. She herded it through the hole.

The emotion disappeared. Again.

Her shoulders slumped in disappointment. “It didn’t work.”

Did you try my idea? Eiren asked.

“Yes,” she gritted her teeth.

Tell me, Chion demanded.

While Eiren explained, Lara sent a small smile to the three patiently waiting for her. In response, they all straightened and sent a blinding grin back, their awe written all over their faces. She blinked. Oh God, the pressure had now increased tenfold. How could she meet the Kurites’ expectations when she was just… her? They expected the impossible. As this supposed ‘Chosen Lady’ and one of the forgotten Lan’Ai, their high expectations were going to make her lose her mind. And she’d already done that once; she so didn’t want to go that route again. Her fingers rolled and unrolled her shirt hem, her nerves getting the better of her.

Her stomach gave a heave.

Movement from the young male caught her eye. His fingers tapped a repetitive pattern against his leg. A second later, the woman twisted her head back and forth, and a large crack filled the air. The seasoned warrior on the other side rolled his shoulders once before stilling.

She stared at them. In their own way, each soldier acted as if they were stressed, nervous.

Huh. “I’m starting too big.” Her comment put a halt to Chion and Eiren’s debate, and they both turned to look at her.

Lara explained, “I’m trying to do too much. I need to back up and start at the bottom and work my way up. I’m trying to do too many steps. Baby steps. I need to start with baby steps.” She steadfastly ignored the looks of fascination she received. Yeah, she talked weird. They’d get over it, or not. She was too busy with her epiphany to worry about what words she used.

My apologies, Solara, Chion said. I am not following.

Eiren hopped up. I do. Lara has already used her magic twice without focusing. It happened instinctively.

Lara pointed at Eiren. “Exactly. I don’t have the time to finesse my magic. So, natural is going to have to be enough for now.” She swept the three Kurites with her gaze to include them in what might happen—if she could pull it off. “I’m going to try for happy. Give me a minute to focus on a good memory.”

At their nod, she squeezed her lids tight and thought back to a childhood memory. Christmas had brought in the entire family, including her grandparents and her mom’s sister. Holiday music blasted from the stereo, and the adults passed around a bottle of eggnog. She didn’t learn until years later it had alcohol in it. They had split into teams and were playing charades. Her grandfather’s acting out the name of a Christmas song still made her laugh. Smiling, Lara cracked an eye open and looked across at the trio of volunteers. The joy she always felt whenever she brought up that childhood memory was displayed across their faces. Their shoulders were relaxed and the creases around their eyes had smoothed out. In fact, the seasoned warrior’s grin displayed a hidden cracked tooth.

“It worked,” she almost shouted. Unfortunately, the strength of her emotion unleashed a ripple effect down the hall before she could repair her shield. The warriors closest to her started laughing, and a few slapped each other on the back.

Oops, she groaned through the bond.

Once she stopped emanating her glee, the people in the tunnel immediately stopped and looked around in confusion.

The younger volunteer barked a laugh. “The Goddess’s Lady is powerful.”

Squirming a little, Lara dropped her head, her hands clenched in her lap. The pressure was going to squish her like a bug under a cat’s paw, and considering the size of a paka’s paw, being squished was a major ordeal.

Chion drew their attention away from her by giving each warrior an elegant bow. I thank you for your assistance. Now that My Lady understands better how to wield her Lan’Ai magic, we must now work to direct it toward an appropriate target. Let us not keep you from your tasks.

Once they were alone again, Lara opened her mouth, but before she could ask her question, Skye called through their bond, It is time.

Chion roared, gaining everyone’s immediate silence. Take your places. May the God and Goddess watch over you in whatever may come.

Grabbing her sword, Lara scrambled after Eiren while belting the sheath around her waist. The prong missed the small hole in the strap, and she growled under her breath and tried again. It latched the second time, and she slipped the end through the buckle. Two twisting intersections later, she saw Skye standing by an open doorway with a middle-aged woman and her bondmate.

In a hurried tone, he asked the two strangers, “Jaure mentioned you can make illusions. How big of an illusion can you make, and how long can you hold the picture?”

My Lady can hold an illusion for half a day. The paka’s boastful words made Lara smirk. Apparently, all bondmates were proud of their human’s ability.

“And the size of the illusion. Can you create an image large enough to cover the tunnel?”

“Of course,” the woman’s cultured voice responded. “What is it you need from us?”

Skye jerked his head toward the direction of the trapdoor. “I need you to create a wall behind the door. We want the Malirrans traveling in only one direction—the one we give them.”

The woman warned, “The illusion will not hold up to touch.”

“I doubt they will touch the back wall, but a small counterforce, ten pairs strong, is already in place. Once they cross to the next intersection, we will follow and prevent a retreat. As you’ve probably heard, the war council has posted small units of warriors along the route. Our goal is to make sure they take the right path from the start.”

Lara glanced at the two Kurites. Wasn’t it a little late for last minute additions? Was this what he briefly mentioned as a concern last night at dinner? If so, what trick did he have up his sleeve?

Granted, knowing Skye was a phenomenal warrior didn’t stop her from worrying about him. Her fingers touched her sword for reassurance. Skye wasn’t the only one she worried about; she was scared that any one of her friends would die in the next couple of hours. Lara prayed to any God listening that her friends would be protected. For the strategy the cities’ war triads and Skye had devised to work, Skye could not drop unconscious. Never mind the fact that he still didn’t have full control his magic. Hell, they both needed months of practice using both their Tal’Ai and Lan’Ai magic.

Except they’d run out of time.

War had found them.