"Can I speak to whoever is in charge of this?" I asked the human behind the counter. And while I utterly despised it, it was far more tolerable as of late. The gazes and the stares. But, that was inevitable given how often it happened.

"And for what purpose?" she asked me slowly as she started to get visibly nervous.

"Because I would like to take part in it." I told her with a loud huff of air. Getting everyone else to finally back down with the advice took longer than I thought it would. I made many arguments for it, from a practical sense and emotional one... But, they were dug in and entrenched when it came to their positions.

"R-Right..." the human let out before she suddenly rushed off into another room. And, when the sound of her movement disappeared, a blast of voices came my way.

"Student Liadanann!? Are you sure!?" one of the humans that came rushing out asked me. Yet, I did not give any answers until I had put some space between me and them. To have so many humans just rush out at once...

"I am, I would like it to be done." I said with as much authority I could muster. If I chose my words carefully, they would perhaps relent with their needless caution?

"I-I'm sorry, but, we must urge you to reconsider!"

"Yes! A chance of death does exist in the event despite our precautions!"

"We simply cannot condone this choice!"

"Your words will not sway me. Now, do as I have told." I said with a forming snarl as dealing with this stuff all over again was anger-inducing. I could keep my cool with Nin because I cared for him. But, these were humans! There would be no cooled tempers!

"Your magic isn't even strong enough for us to consider such an action!" one of them pointed out. And I could only click my tongue as the others made a point of showing off. They made sure their magic swelled over me and tried to intimidate me out of it. I, however, would not be swayed by such displays of might.

I had the blessing of the Lord! The might and power of the God of all Ddrai'och! The talisman I wore was proof of it! No feeble spell these humans could throw would scare me or kill me!

"Alright then, how about this? You provide me the means to prove you wrong, and you back down and do what I want?" I offered up to them as maybe a bet would appeal to their curious sides. They have hounded me with questions whenever they could. So maybe this would make them fold on the issue?

"We can't possibly display such professional lacking!" one huffed with an expression that felt hollow. It was clear they said it merely to keep up appearences.

"Well, think about it like this, human," I tell them as I start to gain some confidence which helped me approach them, "this talisman, gifted to me by Iderim-Ovi himself, blessed be His holy name. A power you have no way of knowing about. Give me the means to work it into something and you'll be able to see its power. As well, how my people do things."

"Now that is a very, very tempting offer, Student Liadanann." the human male in charge of the House I somehow was a part of said. And, with each sharp-sounding step he took, his curiosity became more visible. It was unsettling for me because I have seen that gaze from humans many times.

The kind of humans I hated the most with an indescribable fury...

"Then, will you take me up on it?" I asked him as I grew protective of my talisman. It was a holy item, sure, but, it was still a necklace at the end of it all... I worried that it might be simply snatched from me with a sudden tug and pull...

"Is Mechanical House's Head here?" he then asked as his attention moved to the other humans.

"I am." answered someone sat down, a stone tablet in their hands.

"Well, how about it then? Shall we share what our Houses can provide?" the human asked with a smile while the other stayed in his seat. But, when he sat up, his formerly flabby body seemed to tighten up. And, when he stood up fully, I was face-to-face with a bulky human male that was almost my height.

He was probably stronger than me, regardless, but, having them match your height made it scarier. And, I found myself moving away from him as he moved closer to me. His gaze was unlike the others, in fact, it reminded me of my home. When I was working around the clock, I often saw that gaze.

It was the gaze of an engineer at work, but, how he had a gaze like that here...

"Very well, Student Liadanann, if you'd follow me." he ordered before I found myself following him unintentionally. However, as I inspected the man further, I began to reconsider my worries regarding him. It might have been more due to his present and pridefully displayed dedication to a certain god... It was unsettling to be so close to such items.

Thankfully, however, the vast expanse that was his domain was calming. I could tear my attention from him and enjoy the sights of industry instead. This place was so much greater than the workshops my home had... And this was just a school!

My home had everything it could be useful. There was little in the way of recreation. It was a vehicle made only for survival and the continuation of my people. But, this place, it was made for industry alone!

Technology covered in magic and surging with arcane power was all about me. Humans at work swarmed the place and machinery thundered throughout the area. In fact, I could have sworn the place got louder when we walked through the main gates... But, I suppose it did not matter.

"Student Liadanann, in order to make sure you fulfil your craftsman's challenge to the best standard, I will relinquish my workshop to you between now and the start of the Inter-House Talent Display." he told me before he smacked his hand on something. And, within moments, the vast and grand chamber dedicated to engineering and manufacturing came to life. Forges roared to life and material came swivelling in on carts and hangers.

"T-This is..." I began to say at first, my awe indescribable as I saw so much I was unfamiliar with. But, at the centre of this vast place was a shrine dedicated to Ancient Thunder. The first-born god had a presence in this otherwise to die for place. It was very unsettling, to say the least.

"Pardon my curiosity, but, why do you fear the god whom your profession is tied to?" the human asked me as he rummaged about for tools and boxes.

"My craft is not dedicated to him!" I spat out in answer.

"All who make, honour Thurnmourer." he reminds me. Which while truthful, is not something I have ever done. I could only spit on the god who tried to kill mine.

"Then I'll make sure to make him something that will dishonour him and enrage him." I snapped as I began to stroll through the vast chamber this man called a workshop.

"An impossible goal. But, I have given you this space not so you can toil pointlessly, but so you can achieve a very reachable goal." he tells me, which, makes me come to a halt.

"You think I can do it? Harness the power of a holy talisman?" I ask him as I let out some of my uncertainty. It might seem simple in my head, but, the reality was probably harsher.

"I have never seen such a thing happen. But, my curiosity fuels an optimistic fire. Let's hope you can indeed match your words." he says to me before he leaves me alone in the vast workshop. Then, when the doors closed behind him, I rushed about looking for blankets. And, once I had found enough of them, I covered up the shrine and snorted at it.

"You stay out of this." I growled to the God of Thunder if he was listening in on our conversation. But, I had no time to waste. So, I turned my attention to the greater workshop and I looked for clothes to wear. As much as I loved the comfort Nin's old clothes provided...

I needed something better than a pair of straps over my shoulders. I needed overalls and I needed steel caps and I needed... Yet, then, I came to realise something, none of the protective equipment was made for my form. It was a frustrating thing that made me growl.

"Unless..." I quietly muttered when I took the talisman into my palms. Maybe I would not need protective clothing if I learned to control this better? I could learn quite a bit about it if I learned how to use it with vastly greater skill. To say nothing of the knowledge such skill came along with.

But, to learn such skill, I had to find something to test my current knowledge on. So I started to rush about the workshop looking for blueprint paper. And, when I found some, I took the talisman off and carefully inspected it. Then, I measured it and wrote it all down before I put it back on.

"I do know you can protect a vast area around me. But, can you protect only me as if you were a second skin?" I asked the holy relic before I looked around once again. I needed something that I could safely mess around with. Perhaps a simple metal hammer or wooden mallet would do? Or, I could heat up some water and dip my hand into it?

The number of tests I could perform was staggering and it intimidated me into a state of silence. At least, until I had carefully gathered up all I would need for simple tests. But, before I did that, I let out the magic from the talisman and inspected it. If I wanted it to, it would stop in the air.

It was quite amazing how in-tune it was with my thoughts. So, maybe, all I had to do was think of it as providing me with a second skin? Yet, despite how hard I tried, I could not envision a perfect frame around my body. And, most annoyingly of all, I could not figure out if the problem was my mind on its own or my ignorance of the arcane.

Yet, it did not make me want to give up, as, I knew how I could solve that problem. I had learned it a long time ago, but, I displayed it on the airship. I knew how to make pathways for magic to follow. If I could not cast it how I wanted, then I would have something else do the telling.

"Maybe I should find that human and bring him back..." I then said with slight embarrassment as I was unfamiliar with a lot of this tech. Unlike the airship we were on, this place had a lot more because of its size. It was not bound by the constraints of its static size. Or, I could use this as an opportunity to learn...

To revisit the brief joy I had when I was younger. Seeing and being able to use new tools was always so fun! But, it was also that drilled a certain behaviour into my head... Resources were not to be wasted by the unskilled.

"Yet, this is all the makings of humans. I don't have to worry about wasting a single bit of swarf!" I tell myself with an eager, toothy smile. And, like that, child-like glee filled me before I rushed off to the fanciest machine. But, like a child, I kept getting distracted.

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"And there they go again..." I mutter quietly as I watch everyone leave so they could prepare for this event. And as they spread out and disappeared, I tapped my fingers. Nin had taken no heed to my concerns and now he was at risk... This wasn't something we should be trivialising!

By his honest word, he was the way he was because he had died! Surely that would caution him against such reckless behaviour? Why was it not guiding him away from the fighting!? I may not be a master at it myself, but, it was clear he did not know how to fight!

"I guess I can't even curse your name..." I muttered with a sigh as some paranoia came to my thoughts. If I did anything but encourage this, would I hamper his confidence? Will his mind be distracted and would that get him killed...? I didn't want to think about such a thing but I couldn't help but do so...

Yet, at the same time, encouraging him to fight would bring the same feelings. Should he fail, that is. I wanted him to be safe, but I also did not want to partake in this event... We've done enough fighting as of late.

There was the fire-breathing, inbred, draconic beast I had to slay to save his life. There was the other one that destroyed his home... How he and Liadanann met even nearly ended in his death! It was too many times for me to be comfortable with it.

But, as I had not been able to sway him in any way, I was left on my own for the day. Everyone else was swept up in the fervour that was this event. Or, they had plans to join it anyway. Either way, there was no way I could be heard in such a biased place.

So, there really was no point in dwelling on this event. There was no point in staring out a window, a scowl on my face as I watched them walk away. Thankfully, I had things I should be doing anyway. I did not have to worry about stewing in my thoughts.

Then, with a frustrated sigh, I got up and out of my chair before I walked out of the building. And, I felt lonely doing so. Because, since coming back here, we finally were able to go back to normal. We would wake up, have something to eat, freshen up and depart for our lessons.

I loved doing that every morning. It helped take my mind off of why I was at this school, to begin with. I had other friends here, sure, but... Doing things we the people you've been through so much with was a different experience.

We had little jokes we could tell each other, even if I often found myself embarrassed. But, that was all just part of the experience that was friendship and love. There were moments that made you uncomfortable but you just did not care that they did. You just looked back and smiled as it was all with your friends...

But, now, I was alone once again. Only for the day, sure, but, I did not like it. I could not focus and I wanted to do things with someone else. Even walking on my own felt different when compared to normal.

"Lady-Heir Einervaene? Is that you?" someone called out before a familiar sound filled my ears. Those light taps could have only been made by getas!

"Do- Do I know you?" I asked the woman who had approached me. She was clearly from my homeland. Her hair was metallic, like mine and she was modestly dressed in our traditional robes. And, her red-faced gaze made me nervous.

"I-I would be a bit worried if you did not!" she joked before she tore her gaze away from my exposed chest.

"I suppose you will have to be worried, then." I laughed out nervously. Her gaze, while not having anything intimidating about it. Was still nerve-wracking as it reminded me that I was scantily clad. Even if it was in honour of a friend...

"Hm, I guess it makes some sense, anyway! I'm the second daughter of Clan Aaedrii, Hycidna Aaedrii." she greeted before she took a rather respectful bow.

"Aaedrii... You are one of Bosphama's tribute clans?" I questioned, uncertain if I was remembering it right. It had been quite some time since I have had to think of anything like this. My memories of home had been largely in regards to Mother, up until now.

"Indeed we are, Lady-Heir." she said before she bowed again.

I smiled and held my hands up, "No, please, that isn't needed here..." I squeaked out as this behaviour had caught the attention of others. In particular, any fellow Eusorochiians living here.

"Of course it is! But, please, come, walk with me if you would be so kind, Lady-Heir!" she cheerfully offered as she made space for me to walk beside her. Not that it was needed, but, she did it anyway. The guards she was walking around with even helped her out. So, for a moment, I felt more important than I actually was.

"So..." I began to let out nervously, "How did you know I was Einervaene Bosphama?" I asked her as I came to a stop. My magic itching to come out in the event there was something else to this.

"Oh, because when I first met you, many years ago. I thought you were really pretty and I have tried my best to emulate it." she answered with rambles and many small gestures.

"Remembering a single face you saw once is..." I started to say before I let my posture say the rest. There was something off about this girl and I was not going to leave myself open!

But, then, her fingers formed a pale-gold net of lightning. Within the contents of which what seemed to be a memory played out. And, it made me embarrassed as I remembered the day it was showing quite well. It was on one of my birthdays and an animal got loose and ruined my yukata for the evening...

"Okay, that's enough of that." I tell her with a high-pitched voice as I try to interrupt the spell with my hands. But, feeling the lightning fizzle over my skin made my mood drop like a weighted man at the gallows. Her magic was weak, purely for ceremonial purposes and yet it had a golden tint... While mine was blue...

"Is there something wrong?"

"N-No... Nothing... What's the occasion? Why is the daughter of a tributary clan here?" I asked her, hoping to get an answer as to why that was the case.

"I'm here to bring back a recording of this tournament they have here! Father wants to see what my brother has been up to while he has been here!" she explained to which I nodded in reply. I guess it made sense for her sibling to be here. It was a very popular place to send daughters and sons for training.

"R-Right, so, is that all?" I asked her as we came upon an active sight. The airship landing pads we had landed at recently were full to the brim. Airships of all kinds were arriving and quickly leaving. And, from the building, hundreds of well-dressed, proper families.

"Well, I do have my own reasons, but, yes." she giggled out as she let her gaze wander towards a group of boys.

"So, this recording you are after, what sort is it?"

"Oh, it is just a visual recording of a student you want to be observed. Most of the people over there are doing it too." she clarifies as her hand gestures at the crowds I was just watching.

"So this event is televised?"

"Only to the lands within this country, which is why I am here. Because we aren't from this country." she giggles out towards the end.

"I see... Then... Can I ask a favour of you, then?" I began to ask as my mind immediately filled up with thoughts of Mother. If the woman I was speaking to was going to be heading back to lands ruled by my family... She could pass on word and proof to Mother that I was okay! But, that meant I would have to take part in the event itself...

Because I could not go back home until I proved that I was not a bastard of any kind... My Mother was no common whore who sold her body out. And I would not suffer the continued existence of such rumours! I would see her free of her burden!

"Oh, your expression got scary for a moment, but, okay, what is the request, Lady-Heir Einervaene?"

"Are you, perhaps, no. Will you pass on a recording of me to my mother? To the Lady Bosphama?" I begged of this woman as I just wanted Mother to know I was okay.

"Oh! You're taking part in the tournament? How exciting!" she gleefully said as her fingers came to life and flickered about.

"Y-Yeah... I am..." I muttered as I had now completely gone back on my position. I had pushed hard for Nin not to join and now I was going to just because of a video... It doesn't even matter if it was for a good reason. I would still be mocked over it...

"So will you be going in as a team or on your own?" she then asked.

"Team?"

"Yeah, my brother speaks of a system that lets you go in as a team? But, he's not good with his words despite the lessons he often gets so he might have just signed up with his friends." she told me with a smile.

"Right, so... My mother. Is she alright?" I asked her as my fingers came together and pressed against each other. Nervous sparks flying between them as I did so.

She then went quiet and her guards fidgeted, "The Lady Bosphama has rescinded from public life."

"What does that mean!?" I asked her as I suddenly took a step forward.

"Since you left, Lady-Heir, her image has declined and more rally against her. It may be a peaceful rebellion right now, but, there are rumours..."

"No..." I cried quietly as I started to tremble in fear.

"My Lady, if I may..." one of the guards suddenly spoke up to the woman I was talking to.

"Make it quick." she snapped in a sudden change of tone.

"The Lady Bosphama has taken to ruling through regents and advisors. However, she goes through them quite quickly."

"Alright, that's enough." the one I was speaking to snapped as my despair became even more obvious.

"Mother..." I said, on the verge of tears as I heard this.

"Don't worry, Lady-Heir! The Lady Bosphama is fine and well. She's just taken a backseat to governance."

And, as my heart could not handle it, I had no choice but to believe her, "Okay... I understand. Thank you for telling me this..." I started to say before I realised my fear made her name slip from my mind.

"You ask favours of me and you can't even remember my name!?" she jokingly exclaims with a pout before she smiles.

"I do." I tell her, trying to get caught up in her laughter to ease my mind.

"Hycidna Aaedrii, Lady-Heir." she reminded me with a small smile.

"Of course, thank you, Hycidna." I tell her with a slight nod that made her smile wide.

"Excellent, now, seen as you are a student here... Perhaps you can show me around in the meantime?" she asks me as her face takes on a lustful hint. And, ashamed as I am to admit it, I only knew it was that because I showed that expression to Nin on occasion.

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

"Sure, we will just need to head that way to the tournament building so I can ask about something." I say to her, covering up my true intentions. I just needed to get to that building and sign up quietly so the others would not catch on.

"Oh, look at me. Hycidna of Clan Aaedrii is going on a prowl with the exiled Lady-Heir of Clan Bosphama!" she gleefully exclaims as we start to walk again.

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"One, two! One, two! One two three!" I sang as I balanced myself along a rope that I had attached to two buildings.

"Get down from there!" Tiya called out from down below. Her words caught me off-guard and I nearly fell. But, my feet hooked onto the rope and I was left smiling down at her.

"Make me." I taunted with a giggle before the rope suddenly snapped like glass.

"Owie..." I cried as I rubbed my head. Yet, I would soon start to laugh.

"Just to make sure, how's your head?" Tiya asked as she walked over with a misty hand.

"It's fine." I answered with a bird-faced pout before a dismissive aura went over my sister.

"Alright, good."

"Hey! You nearly gave me a lump on the rump and that is all you have to say for yourself!?"

"You fell on your head." Tiya scoffed back to me. And I could only pout even more with a louder groan.

"That's not the point!" I say as I stamp my foot down. Only to then break out into a confined state of dance.

"No, but this has a point." my sister commented with a smile before she started to jab at me with a stick.

"Hey!" I yelp out as I nimbly dodge each thrust from the stick. And, as I was dancing around it, she tried to add ice to her relentless assault. But, I was able to avoid that as well until I came to a stop. From then on out, I cautiously watched her as she threw the stick between her hands.

"So how come you haven't been preparing for the thingie."

"Because the thingie is going to be hard to practise for." I answer with a relaxed shrug before I weave under the thrown stick.

"And how will it be hard, exactly?"

"Well," I started as I kicked up some water to block her ice, "there's a lot of people in the thingie, so I will have no idea what to expect."

Her hand starts to idly wave about, "Then go and practise with people from the other Houses, then?" she says, but her spell did not go unnoticed.

"I can't do that, I'd get distracted." I tell her as I formed a barricade and kicked it away. The resulting blast of my magic hitting hers caused a mild air blast.

"It doesn't take much to distract you." she incorrectly reminds me before I somersault over a piece of ice she had sent wide. And, upon landing, I made a big show of it.

"Tada!" I let out with one hand placed on my chest while the other lanced out to the sky.

"Again, not much."

"Ah!" I squeal when an ice cube suddenly formed under my clothes. But, in a show of stubborn defiance, I waited for it to melt. I stood my ground until I started to fidget due to the cold.

"Larishazza, this isn't a game." Tiyanat reminded me as she moved to sit down next to me once I had handled the ice cube.

"I know, I'm not stupid." I reminded her in turn with dramatic flair.

"You are quite often stupid." she tells me as if there was no wiggle room to argue.

"Everyone is stupid on occasion." I say with a shrug as I try to brush it off.

"And for you, that occasion is every occasion." she speaks before her head thudded into the air near me.

"Meanie..." I groaned in response as I put my hand against my cheek. Resting the elbow down below on my leg before I looked off into the distance.

"But, if you don't mind me asking, Larishazza, why are you doing this?" my sister asks with a serious tone. One that I probably had to respect if I went by how she was looking at me.

"Because it looks fun." I lied for no real reason. It's not like the truth was going to cause issues.

"You hate fighting, Larishazza. Despite you somehow knowing how to." Tiyanat points out, my lie clearly having flown right by her.

"I wanted to keep an eye on Nin." I tell her with a sigh as I uncrossed my legs and leaned back onto my palms. There wasn't anything behind me, so I had made some platforms to rest on with my magic.

"You like to keep an eye on him, don't you?" she asks me with a smile and an obvious intent. But, I was not going to fall for her ploy as I just did not feel that way about him. Despite a certain item likely trying to influence me into doing so. Yet, I was not so arrogant as to say I was just more mentally disciplined when compared to the others.

I was very much not...

"When I first found Nin, I found him weeping in the lowest floor of our dorm. He might be big and strong, but, he's very delicate up here." I tell her before I tapped a bubble I had created. Despite how simple it was, it was hard to make bubbles. I had to make a thin layer of water and trap lots of air, something I could not control.

But, then she jabbed at it with an icicle that snapped against it, "Yes, but, he's clearly grown since then, thanks to you."

"Stop it..." I mumbled with a blush as I let my pride get the better of me for a moment.

My sister then huffed a laugh when she saw my face, "You've done quite well with him, haven't you?"

Yet, that made my face return to normal, "I don't know." I admitted as I started to think about recent issues. Not so close to when we got back, but, all the way before we even got to Vadei's home. I was never able to get anything done about that, Nin's just been keeping it inside of him all this time...

"Well, if you don't think you have done well yet, then, I believe that you will." Tiyanat says before she puts her hand on my head. I was then pulled down into a hug that I quickly returned.

"Ye." I squeaked out as I melted in the affection from my sister.

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"Quiet, please." a member of staff asked me kindly as they walked by me as I tapped a claw on the table.

"Sorry." I tell them before I go back to reading through what I had gathered up in the library. Which one, I did not know, I just walked into a library and asked for some tablets. As, despite our recent adventure across two continents, I was not that strong. The special measuring things even rated me as being on par with someone from Traditional House.

That had bothered me a little, so while everyone else was training, I was looking for inspiration. My magic might've been bolstered by an offensive spell, recently. But, I was still mostly attuned to the spell we oxfuinei all knew. I could make people understand what languages I knew how to speak and help them speak them too.

I mean, sure, it had its uses as it allowed me to meet one of my greatest friends. It also helped me sort of start up a friendship I wasn't too sure about. Yet, Nin started off as someone I hated. So, maybe Liadanann would come to like me more than she currently does.

Yet, that was all it could do, I just had to spit and that was the extent of my magic. In a life where I have had to dodge bullets and cannons, I do not know how just make something explode. And, that might never be the case as I was never interested in magic before. Probably thanks to what my first spell did.

A younger me would've just exclaimed disappointment if that was all it could do. But, I had learned how to focus my magic on my fingers and their claws. So it was certainly possible for me to do better. Especially if I was to go home at some point to make sure it was still safe.

Learning new magic, however, required experiences to guide your mind. Like how Nin suddenly developed his new and explosive magic. Or how Einervaene came to have her current attire. There was something in their lives that directed it.

But, what I have been through in my life had led me to nothing. Because they did the fighting and protecting. And, when I did it, it was against a foe with so little magic that it was horrifying to face them in retrospect. The stories of powerful witches casually slaughtering towns were made a reality when I saved Conquei.

However, to my annoyance, I had not learned any powerful magic because of it. So I was still stuck with what I had. And so far, none of the stories I had been reading had led me anywhere. But, maybe it was because I was growing bored and tired?

"Uh, excuse me, Oxfuine?" a nervous girl began to say as she came out from behind a tablet case with something in her hands.

"Can I help you?" I asked back as I made sure the place wasn't suddenly crowded. Thankfully, it wasn't, so I did not have to clear the table of my mess. And, I had made quite the extravagant mess.

"So, uh, I apologize if this comes off as strange, but, do you know anything about the story of the Breath Taker?" she asked as she placed a hefty piece of stone down on the thick table. Yet, when she nudged it over to me, it did not take much effort for me to pick it up.

"I might, can you remind me?" I asked her as I flicked through the not so literal pages of the tablet. Yet, truth be told, I did not know anything about this story. I had never even heard of it until now.

"It's about a witch from a very long time ago and apparently, she learned her magic from your people."

"Okay." I say with growing interest as this might be the act of providence I needed to gain a new spell.

"Apparently, your people know magic that can affect peoples words?"

"That is correct, we can make someone speak a language we know if we pass on our saliva."

"Saliva? Oh! That must explain why the witch was known to be a romantic type!" she exclaimed with excitement just before noting it down.

"I still need some reminding, I'm afraid. What was the witch's magic like?"

"Well. back then, when magic was still quite new to the continent, back when the Emerald Awakening Era first started. People used to say the names of their spells as it helped them cast it, some still do, even."

"So she used magic she learned from my people to stop others from casting their magic?"

"Yes! You're starting to remember now." she says to me incorrectly. But, I was the one who lied to her so I could hear her out. However, then I decided to quickly get out of this discussion so I could read the story on my own. So I had my ears suddenly turn as if someone was calling out to me.

And, it was oddly difficult to make a conscious effort of something they did fine otherwise...?

"Sorry, but, I have to be going. Someone is here for me." I say to the human as I grab the tablet after mixing it in with the others. And, thankfully, she was too reserved to comment on what I had done. So, she thought I had left it in the pile.

"Well, uh, my name is Ryipandel, I'd like to carry on talking about it later?" she asked me as I disappeared.

"Sure, nice to meet you." I waved at her dismissively before I disappeared. Yet, as I stood outside the library with the tablet, I did consider her offer. Maybe she could answer questions I could not get answered during my reading of the story. Either way, I really wanted this Breath-Taker to give me the inspiration I wanted.

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"H-Hey! HEY!" the one I was fighting began to yelp out as I broke through their barrier. People had been coming to me, seeking advice for the upcoming event. Others had come to me to receive training as I was one of the strongest here. But, that was to the surprise of no one who knew what I was.

Those I faced were all students, no older than forty in most cases. I was more than double their age and trained under the tutelage of the Valkinvar. And, despite proclaiming to no longer be a part of the group. My skills and knowledge had not gone away.

"Vapooliar! Calm down!" a girl exclaims as she cautiously retrieves the friend she came here with. And, as she did so, I dropped to the ground like a cannonball against dry earth. The sound and motion of which frightened her away briefly.

"Listen up, all of you. You came to me seeking help, so actually show a willingness to learn!" I demanded from them as I walked away from the prepared pitch.

"I don't think you quite grasp how strong you are." one of the boys commented as I sat down on a bench before I took a sip of water.

"I am fully aware of it, I have been since I arrived here." I tell him as my mind suddenly flashes with memories of my worrying arrival. The guards along the road up to this mountaintop had cleared a grand path for me. And, when I was near the school, they treated me as if I was royalty. I did not enjoy that experience given Thrurstradtur's association with the Jherikra.

But, that experience also gave me a newfound respect for the advances of this nation. Despite my efforts to contain my power, they detected it anyway. Their machines treated me as if I was an untrained child firing off their first spell. It gave me both a goal and a well needed humbling.

Because, if the Jherikra had weapons such as those airships I fought not long ago. Then there was a likely chance that they have gained new developments alongside it. But, it still perplexed me as to how they had such technology. In all my time fighting them, it was only in a recent surge have I seen so many new and fascinating inventions.

Even the room we were currently training in was beyond what I could have imagined. The Valkinvar and I, once, trained in the air above the great Redstone Canyon. It was an empty space where one could master flight easily due to the circumstances. And, if need be, you could easily cross into the wastes to practise destructive magic safely.

Yet, here, they did not need to take such precautions. All they had to do was open a pathway to another place and mould it to their liking. I was not sure of how expansive such systems were. But, I could easily envision its implications.

But, I was not here to think about my awe, "Who's next?" I asked as I stood up and moved back onto the battlefield. And, I was left slightly bemused by how the confident members of Exceptional House backed away from me.

"I-I'll give it a shot." a young woman said as she slowly stepped into the arena. And, when she was fully within the boundaries of it. It came alive and we were safely secured away from everyone else.

"Roll with the punch!" someone called out to the nervous girl as she suddenly regretted her descision.

"Quiet!" I snapped at the commentator before I walked up to my current opponent.

"I-Is it too late to b-back out?" she squeaks as she flinches away as far as her immobile body could.

"Yes, now, hit me with your best spell." I tell her as I open myself wide open for attack. I wanted to get an idea of where she could improve. I had been carefully memorising everyone's flaws and was planning on working on them later. If they would accept my advice, that is.

"Oh, uh, o-okay!" she says as glowing winds start to pass through her spread out fingers. And, then, she fires off her spell. And, as my actions suggested, I let it hit me. But, nothing came of it.

"There's a greater purpose to this spell?" I asked her as I did not feel anything that could be considered damaging. So I was going to assume it wasn't actually an offensive spell like many here had.

"You're too heavy..." she whispers quietly. An answer that makes my brow rise.

"I see." I say in understanding as I moved my gaze towards her arm. She was struggling to move it, so, I started to hover and went along with it. Her other hand soon came to life as the spell carried on forming. Then, I found myself flung into the air, in the middle of a suddenly formed storm.

"Haha! Get her!" someone cheered as I idly waited for the rest of the spell to go off. Then, in but a moment, I was encased inside a cloud of magic that was trying to crush me. I simply shot out of the spell and landed before her with a frown.

"Is it always that slow?" I asked her as I pointed out how long it seemed to take.

"Huh!? It went off nearly instantly! I trapped you within a storm of my own making!" she nearly yelled out in shock and surprise.

"Oh, sorry." I tell her as I come to realise I was still acting too fast for these students. Some were able to make me out as a blur, but, often, they only saw the pop. And, I would appear behind them suddenly. The last one I practised with failed to a similar action.

"Sorry...?" she wheezed before she collapsed to the ground, "We came here to try and learn something, we even made it uncomfortable to be in here by maxing out all the metres we could, but, you're just too strong!" the girl tells me with uncomfortable awe and fear. It was clear all of them were glad I was in the same House as them.

"And you will learn something, just give me a moment to get my thoughts together." I tell her before I helped her up. I casually strolled away from them once I had done so until I was out of the magic room altogether.

"I brought you some lunch." Dandel'lhia wheezed out quietly as she came to an abrupt halt before me.

"Oh, thank you." I tell her as my eyes move towards her son who she was also carrying.

"Has it been going well?" she asked me before she sat down on a chair in the hallway. She was clearly tired from carrying her son about. But, it was a necessity for her as losing him was not an option. This school was too vast, too dangerous for one so young.

"Va-va." her son gurgled out before he began to chew on a biscuit shoved into his face.

"Vapooliar." I remind him with a small smile.

"Vapoo!" he laughed out before he went back to his food.

"So has there been any luck with your search?" I decided to ask Dandel'lhia as she prepared our food.

"No..." she quietly tells me before she hands me a portion.

"Do not worry, you will find them." I tell her as she expressed her want to go home. Back to a place I did not want to go as it held too many bad memories... Even if an aelenvari flower is a mobile construct, I did not want to see theirs again. It would just lead to me being reminded about...

"It will probably be best for me to head to our Garden-Mount. Wait there until it comes back." she tells me with a sigh before I got too lost in my thoughts.

"But, you could potentially wait years at such a place." I remind her as that was quite the decision to make. One I did not think was very mindful of her son. He needed to see his father.

"We would still be certain to find him, though." she chokes out as she carefully strokes her son's scarred body. He had not been injured by anything here. It was just the result of an ancient monster.

"A few years that won't be good for your son."

"Then fly us home!" she begged me once again before I shook my head. I just couldn't handle going back to the place where I had to...

"I am sorry, Dandel'lhia. The food is lovely, but, I have commitments to keep."

"Okay, take care. Will you be by later?" she asks me with a smile as her son waved goodbye. Mushy, soggy biscuit all over his mouth as he did so.

"Of course, especially for him." I say with a smile before I tap her son's nose. Much to his amusement when I left a trail of magic for him to watch.

"I still cannot seriously believe they let that bug join." I heard someone complain to their friend who fired back with a similar comment. And, when I heard that, I froze up and glared silently at the ground. Only to then start flying until I reached the building so many were looking at these days. Unfortunately, they were right, too.

There, in big bold letters that had been clearly spat on frequently was his name. The name of someone who should not be here. Because I killed him, I saved him from the horrors of being an osibindah, yet, there it was. A name I could never forget no matter how much I tried.

Nin Urtuan, the friend I was forced to kill when a delayed reaction came. To my horror and despair did I cut his tortured body in two. Yet, somehow, there was something here carrying his name. With all the scars I should have known about.

Across that beast's chest was a large, slash-induced scar that went all the way down to his opposite hip. It had stolen his voice and his eyes and it puppeted itself around as if it were him. To my anger, as well, it had managed to enthral my friend, Vadei. She had no idea what she was near yet...

"Student Vapooliar, please, control yourself." one of the lecturers of Suhurlodst Academy of Arcane Learning and Understanding asked of me.

"Sorry." I say to him as I realise I had been letting my magic flow freely as I thought about the bug. Then, that having happened, I flew off into the sky above the school and waited. And, suddenly, my power would violently erupt from me as my teeth started to grind. Despite my efforts, that bug was in my thoughts once again.

Those thoughts followed the same well-trodden paths as well. I considered various things about it, and I moved on to thinking about its death. I could not just kill it as it was idiotically made a student. But, this event, the Inter-House Talent Display...

It came with a risk of death that all who participated were made aware of. Families were warned and they made sure to catch all those who were uncertain. So, perhaps, I could find a way to free Nin's memory from that beast? It could go back to how it once was...

When I was just trying to honour my friend's memory... Rather than associating it with a creature that pretended to be him... That was the duty I was going to have to undertake, even if the others could not understand it. They weren't there when Nin turned...

There was no way that creature was Nin... I sliced him in two so he wouldn't have to suffer!

"Tears, again?" I asked myself as I rubbed my wet eyes. But, while I was up here, I just couldn't find the will to keep pretending I was some cool-headed individual. So I cried some more before I whispered a promise I would make sure to keep.

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"No, that's not right." I comment with a sigh after I failed to cast the spell properly. I wasn't failing so to speak, but, I was clumsily waddling about. The closest comparison I could think of was holding a heavy stick. You knew how to hold a stick, but its weight made it hard to do so.

At the very least, however, I had managed to get some peace and quiet. No guards had flown on by and no one had followed me. So, I have been able to just cast spells endlessly and try to figure it all out. Or, well, that was what it was just a moment ago.

"Why're you here?" I asked the approaching shadow who quickly revealed themselves. A pair of lights lit up their face and the area around them. For some reason, Rose was here. And I was completely baffled as to why.

Since a certain incident, she's avoided me to the point you'd think she was a different person. To my surprise, however, I did not get angry when I saw her. Almost as if I had burnt myself out on the anger I felt towards her. Maybe because my mind was focused on other things...?

"I didn't come here to see you..." she nervously tells me while rubbing one of her arms. Yet, despite her words, she did not carry on walking. She just stayed there and looked at me with a saddened expression. Regret was clearly on her mind.

"Then why are you here? Of all the places to go on this mountain, you come here. Right where I am practising my magic." I point out to her just to see if it made her slip up and admit something else.

"Look behind you." she quietly muttered as if she was disappointed by my ignorance.

"What am I looking at?" I asked her before she walked very close to me.

"This is the same spot where you first climbed up the mountain. Where we both saw Jhroungijherammujhernosumonaterikra for the first time." she informed me with a sigh before she moved away.

"That's... An odd claim."

"I have been coming here quite often, Nin. I know where we first came up the mountain." she tells me as if she was hurt by my lack of belief in her words. And, frankly, I didn't get why that bothered her. She was not interested in me anymore and this mountain was big, there was no way this was the spot...

But, I would not argue the point, "So, would you like me to go?" I asked her as I was more than able to move away.

Yet, her head suddenly turned in shock, "NO!" she cried out and that made me freeze in place.

"That was...?" I began to say in confusion as I had no idea where this had come from. She turned her back on me and now she was demanding I stick around...? Where was the logic in this?

"You don't need to move for my sake." she sighs out before her face becomes hidden behind her hands. It was clear she was frustrated about something.

"Okay, then, find a seat and watch the fireworks, I suppose." I tell her uncertainly before I get back into what I was doing just before. And, once I got my mind back on track. My right arm lit up in arcane fire as I showed off what I had developed since we left Vadei's village. Then, I cocked that arm back and moved my feet about.

And I thrust that same arm forward a moment later and aimed for the air beyond the mountain. A blue fireball erupted from my arm and washed over the immediate distance before me. Yet, when it disappeared, you would not have even known it was there. There was no smoke or embers, just an empty space being filled out.

I found that humourous in a way. I had learned and developed a new kind of magic that impressed even Frihdeicalkbr. But, I was literally just throwing nothing at something and letting arcane science handle the rest. It was probably more complex than I thought, but, all I could think of was an air pump.

One that blew up trees, granted, but, that is what helped me cast the spell. Like all my spells, actually, I just thought of a tool or item. This, in turn, also created some issues as I had to think of a tool first. If I could not think of a tool, the spell didn't appear.

It was an annoying obstacle to overcome as being bothered impeded my ability to fight. However, much to my gladness, Rose being here did not bother me. In a way, it made me happy as it reminded me of my first spell. And I have grown a bit since then.

"Remember when all I could do was sharpen a stick?" I asked her with a huff of amusement as I wanted someone to talk to. Being on my own was one thing, but another being here made me want to talk.

"I remember a lot of things..." she quietly answers to which I nearly laugh at.

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"Where has she been?" I asked myself as me, Einervaene and Vadei walk through Mechanical House. Liadanann had been busy with something and we only just figured out she was going here. Which is why I was hauling Vadei about so we could find her.

"Can we hurry up!" our captive demanded as she faked throwing up while covering up her nose.

"Sure, just sniff her out." I told her while Einervaene smiled at my words. But, she was also covering her nose. I, however, felt a little at home. These were smells I was very familiar with.

"My nose is going to be broken by then, blegh!" Vadei choked out before a trembling finger directed us around the corner. And, I quite liked walking through this part of the academy. Barely anyone was outside so I had no comments to be mindful of. Even then, everyone seemed to keep to themselves here.

"It's very quiet for an industrial park." I comment as I looked across a rare, open expanse.

"They're probably all working on the arena for the Inter-House." Einervaene points out to me. Which, I found to be quite interesting. Apparently, Mechanical House built the arena each time from scratch while the other houses punched each other in it.

"You sure know a lot about it, Einey-Whiny." I say with a sly grin. Having found out about her joining up with us in the event.

"Don't call me that!" Einervaene whined as she tried to look intimidating.

"Well, if you had actually gone off to do what you needed, I wouldn't have to." I say to her.

"You didn't have to say anything like that..." the copper-haired beauty corrected with a pout.

"Oh, we both know I did." I snickered out to her as a blush came across her face.

"He has a point." Vadei gently laughed with a strange voice. And, when I saw her crushed nose, I understood why.

"Fine, then, maybe I will go do what I came here to do..." Einervaene tells us with crossed arms. Yet, she did not, in fact, go and do what she said she would.

"I think she likes us too much to leave."

"Well, she certainly likes you too much." Vadei says to me with a shake of her head and roll of the eyes.

"There's no problem with me liking Nin the way I do." Einervaene retorts defensively as she hugs my arm.

"Pair of you haven't even shared a kiss and yet you want me to believe you ain't overdoing it? Yeah right." Vadei snorts which makes Einervaene hug my arm tighter.

"Try not to shock me." I tell the woman on my limb as I see sparks of agitation come off of her.

"Sorry..." she quickly mumbles before her fingers press against each other.

"Don't worry about it, I think Vadei is just jealous I let you have all the fun."

"Get jealous!? Don't kid yourself." Vadei tells me before her tail starts to linger near my free claw.

"Well, I guess you won't mind this, then." I say before I pick up Einervaene and carry her as if she was my bride. This resulted in two reactions, a growl from Vadei and a series of stutters and a bright blush from Einervaene. It made me laugh and I enjoyed every moment of it.

"And if you want me to keep guiding you to your daily boob massage, I suggest you stop it." Vadei tells me with a confident huff. Did she really think that would make me stop taking the piss? Well, I planned on proving her wrong so I just yanked her up into my other arm.

"Have fun walking away now." I laugh out nervously as I realise I ended up picking her up by the aft.

"You don't have to be so light-handed, you know." Vadei comments very quietly before she snuggles up against me.

"C-Can I just walk?" Einervaene asks as she struggles against my hand being near her rear.

"Cool, more for me." Vadei says as she tries to clear her nose out with my stench.

"You still only get that arm." Einervaene snorts once she is walking again. But, soon, I turned my attention away from teasing the pair as we came to a building. A very big one that seemed to be in use if we went by the noise. And I had stopped because Vadei's nose was pointing at it.

"So Liada is in here?" I asked as I put Vadei down so I could properly open the door. And, well, not knowing about the machines in here, I did not want an accident to happen. Nor did I want my messing about to be the cause of it.

"That is where the nose says, so, I guess?" Vadei shrugs before she tries to block her nose again.

"Well, look at you." I end up commenting to Liada once I saw her. But, when you took into account the slams of her hammer and the banging of metal. It was no surprise that she did not hear me. So I just waited for her to be done.

Completely content with watching her hammer away at a piece of reddish metal. Then, a steamy sizzle when she plunged it into a barrel of something. Yet, I could not figure out if she was quenching in oil or some kind of magic chemical. There was a lot of fancy stuff in here, after all.

But, I was baffled as to why there were so many sheets of cloth in the middle of the building. I guess Liada was practising with them or were they always there? Seemed very out of place regardless, I had to admit. But, what was I to say when so much of this stuff was foreign to me.

"So, how long do I have left?" Liada then asked us when she slammed a helmet onto the anvil she was working on. A prideful smirk all over her face before her gaze gestured to a suit of armour. And, within it, she had placed her necklace that had dripped out of my bracelet.

"Do you need more time?" I asked her, quite impressed by the fancy suit of armour she had made. And, I was going to assume it was based on something from her home.

"To practise fighting in it, maybe." she pridefully told me as she moved up to us. The helmet in her arms and sweat all over her brow.