Emela and Nyx moved from shadow to shadow, careful to avoid the eyes of any of the pedestrians on the street. It was late in the evening so the chances of them being spotted were low—any Mana-cultivator walking the streets at this time already had a set destination. They wouldn’t be paying too much attention.

There is nothing like a nighttime run.

Under normal circumstances, her family would lose their minds if they saw her doing something like this. As a lady of the Frostkeep family you act with poise, her father would say—if he acknowledged her at all. And to a certain extent Emale did, but when it came to the art of freedom, of being yourself. Nothing could compare.

“We are coming close to the compound walls,” Nyx said, racing along at Emela's side. “make sure you have enough momentum to leap.”

“Don't worry, I know. Besides, it is far easier for me to clear the wall than you.”

Nyx set her jaw and continued running forward. When the two of them reach the end of the street's pavement they lept into the air. Emela sailed higher than Nyx—which was a given, she had a higher mana cultivation level after all.

The two landed with a soft thud at the edge of the Frostkeep compound. Emale sighed. They had made it, not that she doubted it. All they had to do now was get past the guards.

Gulken, the captain of the compound guard and a fourth-level Core Formation mana cultivator would be on duty tonight, so it should be easy enough to get back into her room—the man liked to ensure that the main exits and entrances were heavily guarded and was laxer with the perimeters.

“Ready,” She said turning to Nyx.

The girl nodded and stalked forward and Emela followed, making sure to keep low and sticking to the bushes. The manor of the Frostkeep family sat in the middle of this forested compound—a design choice all of the great families chose. They know doubt thought, it made them seem a bit more ethereal.

Emela stopped as Nyx held up her hand, she pointed forward gesturing to a moving light in the distance. A torch. A patrol of Frostkeep guards was a head—one of the few they had to avoid on the way back.

The two of them waited, for them to pass. If they rushed they would increase the chances of getting caught. A snap of a twig sent, a shiver down Emale’s spine and she whipped around, finding a squirrel bouncing out of a bush.

Oh, its just a rodent. It’s fine.

Nyx looked back at her and frowned, then shook her head and gestured for them to continue on.

The two of them bound through the dense shrubbery with ease, stopping as they spotted another patrol. Emela never understood, why their family had so many guards running up and down, they were in the centre of Middlec. No one could touch them here, the main reason she and Nyx had even got this far was because they had the correct mana signatures to enter and exit the formation at the compound's edge.

“They’re almost gone, get ready,” Nyx said. Her blue eyes focused on the passing guards.

A bush rustled and Emale whipped around as her heart hammered in her chest. Only to frown as a badger trundled out of the bush shaking its head furiously. The cute creature spotted the two and turned heading deeper into the forest.

A lot of creatures out tonight, Emela thought, as she watched it disappear into a bush.

“Time to go,” Nyx hissed shooting forward. Not wanting to get left behind—not that Nyx could. Emela stuck close sailing through the bushes just behind her.

Nyx had an affinity for the night. One of the many skills that she had displayed growing up with her. It was an unexpected boon for Emela, allowing her ever-loyal Nyx to help her with escapades, during the hours of the night.

Furthermore, Nyx was also a serious person much like Emela herself. She would help to ensure Emela didn’t go too far off course and upheld her appearance as a lady of the Frostkeep family—even if her friends in the slums weren’t aware of her true origins.

The two continued to zip through the forest, approaching the left side of the manor where her room window was located. Smiling, Emela noted the family guards' absence, which could only mean that the hard part was over.

“We are almost there mistress Emela,” Nyx said glancing back at her. “Shall I run you a bath when we get back?”

Emela nodded. A bath would do her good. Her friends, as lovely and free as they were, lived in a place surrounded by filth. And as the saying goes. If you play with mud don’t be surprised when you come back dirty. These were words, Emela strived to adhere to.

She glanced, down at her still white tunic, the warding talisman having kept all the muck of the swerve off of her. She wore pieces of white clothing every time she went to the slums as a test—and as proof—that no matter what, no matter where. Her environment would never sully her.

“Mistress,” Nyx said pulling Emmel from her thoughts.

“Yes, sure. Run me a bath.” She said as they stopped in some bushes. Her room window could be seen two stories up from the bushes. “You did leave it unlocked didn't you?”

“Of course. Are you ready?” Nyx’s body tensed, before she shot into the air, like an arrow and touched down on the windowsill.

A wave of calm washed over Emela. The trek home had been uneventful as usual, and she was glad for that. She tensed her body and leapt into the air, arcing onto the windowsill as Nyx pushed the window open. “Did you leave, my garments out before we left?” Emela asked.

“Yes, Mistress.” Nyx hopped off the large windowsill and raised a hand for Emela to take, “I’ll start the bath now, and then help you get dressed.”

Emela reached forward, taking Nyx's hand, and hopped down onto the frost-white carpet of her room. A wave of satisfaction washed over her as she relished the fact that, again, she had made it back and no one was any the wiser.

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With a sigh, she slipped her sandals off and padded over to her bed as Nyx went to the side room to start her bath. Emela smiled, anticipating the warmth that would soak her tired muscles and the sweet smell of roses. She ran her fingers along one of her braids resting on her chest as she glanced down at the garments laying on her white sheets.

They had been a gift from her mother. A white silk dress customary for a lady of the Frostkeep family, embroidered with the family crest on its breast and accented with ice-blue patterns on the cuff. It was beautiful.

"Allimon is truly a splendid designer. Isn't he?" Said a voice.

"Yes, that's why it's one of—"

Emela froze as the colour drained from her face. That voice. She turned her head slowly, dreading what she would find.

How had I not noticed, how long had she been following me? It didn't make sense; there were no signs. You have to be kidding me.

She turned, and standing by the windows with a playful smile on her face, dressed in white form-fitting leather was her mother. She stood with her arms crossed and her blonde hair tied up into a bun, her blue eyes seeming to see right into Emela's soul.

"Hello, my love," she said, tilting her head to the side. "You look surprised to see me."

More than a little surprised, you're meant to be asleep, Emela thought.

"No, no mother," she said, taking a step back on the carpet. "I was simply, startled is all."

"Oh, so you knew I was following you?"

"Ah," Emela said, glancing back at the side room. Nyx was still in there running the bath, but she could really use her help. She had to get her mother to leave but without her figuring out where she went, she didn't want to lie to her, how could she? A lady's word was important. "I wouldn't say I knew, but you are here. So." She cringed—what did that even mean?

"Damn," her mother said with a sigh, shaking her head as she glanced out the window. The moonlight reflected off her snow-white skin. "And here I had thought that the squirrel and the badger might have outed me."

She looked back at Emela and her eyes steeled as a pressure exploded from her and bore down on Emela, causing her knees to bend a little. "Where were you today, my darling? Your father has been looking for you."

"I—"

The door to the side room burst open and Nyx ran in with a panicked look on her face. When she saw Emela's mother she froze and glanced between them. "Mistress Catherine, what brings you here tonight?"

"I'm here to see my daughter, Nyx. You may carry on with your duties." She fixed Nyx with a glare and some of the pressure on Emela lessened. Nyx's face seemed to tighten as the pressure was spread to her.

Emela took another heavy step back on the carpet—she had to get out of her mother's orbit. Even though she wasn't going full force, this small pressure from someone who was at least at the third level of the Core Formation realm was suffocating. "Mother, father was looking for me," she said, hoping to pull her focus back on her, this wasn't Nyx's fault.

The woman sighed and casually glanced back over to Emela. "Yes, he had an announcement to make. Something to do with your engagement."

Its already decided? I thought I had at least another month left. How can Father have decided already and to who?

"But that's not important," her mother said, looking her up and down. Her eyes seemingly analysing Emela's body. "Where have you been?"

"How can you say that, this is my future we are talking about," Emela said, taking another step back. The pressure had begun to loosen. From her studies, she understood that a Core Formation mana-cultivator at her mother's level typically had an orbit of about two meters. So she had to be close to the edge by now.

Her mother narrowed her gaze at her and smirked. "My dear I love you, but you've known this was coming for a long time. You are nowhere near as talented as your siblings and you are better off finding your place in a lesser house."

A pain welled up in Emela's chest, dull and throbbing. It was one thing to hear this from others, but her own mother. "I—I, well... who is it I am to marry?"

"For that, you can wait until tomorrow to find out. Your father is having them come to the meeting hall tomorrow to announce it to the rest of the family." Her mother's gaze relaxed and the pressure on Emela dissipated as if it were never there in the first place. Emela let out a breath and moved over to Nyx's side as her mother continued. "You don't have to tell me where you have gone, but you will be punished for coming in so late."

Her form flickered and she appeared by the bedroom door, "Be thankful, that it was I who discovered you. Anyone else, and you would be having this discussion with your father. And I trust you know how that would end."

Emela nodded at her mother's words, lowering her head.

"Get some rest, my dear, you have a long day tomorrow. And I should have your punishment ready for you after the announcement tomorrow." With that, Emela watched as her mother opened the door and glided out of the room.

"Well, that could have gone worse," Nyx said, brushing a loose strand of black hair from her eye. She turned to the side room door and gestured towards it, "Are you ready to go and wash up?"

Emela sighed and slumped her head onto Nyx's chest, muffling her voice. "Thanks, Nyx. What would I do without you."

----------------------------------------

The early morning sun beat down on the dry dirt of the training ground as Emela stood in the middle of the grounds with her sword pointed forward. The cool morning wind rippled through her bangs as birds sat on the training ground walls and sang their summer song.

"Keep the sword straight, girl. If I see it slacking, that will be ten laps around the field," said Captain Shallowcold, standing at the end of the training ground with her arms crossed next to a training dummy. The long scar across her right eye from a battle she never talked about was particularly menacing. The sunlight seemed to intensify it as well as her cold grey eyes.

The captain's gaze narrowed as she watched Emela. She shifted her weight onto her other foot as a light breeze buffeted her battle robes. "You have still yet to make any progress past the novice stage with the Frost Ice Dance technique, while your siblings are already pushing the adept level."

Why am I not surprised? I'm sure they would reach the grandmaster rank if you pushed them a little more.

She glanced over at Nyx who stood at the side of the field by the stone archway. She had her usual blank look on her face as if all of Emela's suffering was unrelated to her. Emela sighed, refocusing on her sword, and taking a step forward.

She kicked off with her back foot, the tip of the sword piercing the air with a whistle, and as she channelled her mana into the blade—the technique fell apart. Her sword shot forward, sinking into the dirt with a clang as she staggered, barely able to stay on her feet.

Shallowcold let out a heavy sigh and strode over to Emela, "What in the great lake’s beauty was that young lady? Have you no control over your mana?"

"I did, it simply—"

A sharp cackling from the other side of the field caught Emela and the captain's attention. The ugly wench Noella, Emela’s half-sister, and her toad of a maidservant had arrived. The girl wore another new battle dress no doubt paid for by her mother and Emela made out the family crest embroidered on its left breast.

The seventh child of Emela’s father and the most annoying by far. Noella was a terror to be around.

What does she want now? Emela thought, walking over to her sword and plucking it from the dirt.

"Mistress Noella, I have no training scheduled with you today. What brings you here?" Captain Shallowcold said. Emela could see the confusion on her face. She had no idea why this annoying girl was here either, and Emela hoped that would mean she would send her away.

"No, no, captain. I was passing by is all, and I noticed Emela seemed to be struggling with the novice stage of her technique," Noella said, with a sly smile directed at Emela.

"We all know that's a lie," Nyx said as she arrived at Emela's side and stared down Noella. "You only came here to cause trouble."

"Shut up, you filthy street urchin," spat Noella's maid, Matilda.

Emela took a step forward, but the captain stood in her way. "If you are here to help as you say perhaps a spar is in order?" The captain said, looking between Emela and Noella.

"That's a wonderful idea," Noella said, clapping her brutish hands. She acted as if coating them in white dust did anything other than make her look desperate for attention—not that Emela’s father starved her of any.

"It's decided then," Shallowcold rested her gaze on Emela and smiled. "Best get into position then."