After my last Book Club meeting but before the Intertwined film party, I teleported to Emiarhia and stepped into the private office of Miss Lucera for my last tutoring session of the week. Her desk was cluttered with many old scrolls and tomes, exactly as it had been for a while.

As I took a seat across from her, she spoke in a calm voice, "Welcome, Brielle. Feeling strong today? Shall we proceed with our next lesson about ancient magic?"

I smiled, feeling honoured to be chosen for such a difficult discipline. According to her, learning spells of that category would help me greatly in my quest to defend Emiarhia. Ancient magic was a term used to describe the raw beginnings of the phenomenon, and was rarely implemented today due to its complexity and unpredictability. "I'm eager to continue," I answered.

Miss Lucera nodded. "You must remember that ancient magic is powerful, but it is also dangerous. You would not be privy to such skills if not for Headmaster Gunthren's request. The majority of students never touch this section of spells. You must learn to channel this magic correctly, or it could harm you and those around you."

My eyes widened. That was new information. "I understand."

She leaned forward with a small glint in her eyes. "First, let us review the basics of channeling the energy and controlling it. Ancient magic falls not into any specific element, as most normal spells do. It has the potential to draw power from all six elements simultaneously, or none at all." A chill ran through me. This was exciting, but strange. She continued, "You will notice that ancient magic spells are far more taxing on your mind than typical spells. Your mind must be focused completely on the cast and its purpose in order for it to be effective. Therefore, channelling such magic is only taught to the most elite students, and is rarely attempted at the Academy."

I took a deep breath to muster my focus. So far, I was able to get the hang of everything that was thrown my way. Even beyond my light magic, I knew many practical spells from each other element. But ancient magic was a whole other can of worms.

"Many consider ancient magic to be a convoluted form of transfiguration," Miss Lucera explained. She placed a small pot containing a single yellow flower before me. "It often involves altering the appearance, properties, or abilities of things, but in ways that are more intricate than average enchantments. In that same sense, it also allows for the transferral of energy between sources."

A familiar wave of tingling rushed through my arms, but I halted. "Could you expand on that?"

"There are traces of magic everywhere. Most of it is contained within living beings, but not all. The gods constructed Emiarhia from its very essence, remember? Ancient magic was steadily developed to transfer the earth's magic towards other demands as the planet evolved."

I tilted my head sideways. "I guess that makes sense."

"Now," she instructed, "please change the flower's petals from yellow to red."

That was the easy part. With a simple wave of my hand, the petals developed an intense scarlet hue. "This is…ancient magic?" I asked, a bit confused.

"Not yet. Trust the process. Next, please change the petals' shape."

Again, it only took a second for the petals to become pointed rather than round. I had no clue what Miss Lucera's plan was, but I knew there was a reason behind the simple requests. I continued to follow her instructions for about fifteen minutes, changing the flower's attributes in various ways. Colour, stem length, size, number of petals. Back and forth. By the end, the plant barely looked anything like it had at the beginning.

"That will suffice," she cut in. "You must be somewhat tired by now, yes?"

"Kind of," I replied. Indeed, all those spells in rapid succession were just starting to wear me out. Magical exhaustion was far different from physical exhaustion; rather than muscle soreness or feeling like I wanted to sleep, it made me feel steadily lightheaded, and could cause me to faint entirely if I forced myself that far.

"Very good." Miss Lucera pushed the flowerpot closer to me. "Please proceed by detaching its roots."

My eyes flickered to hers. "I'm not sure I follow… Detach its roots?"

She nodded keenly. "Flowers can be red, or yellow, or blue. They can be pointed or round. They can be tall, short, or anything in between. Flowers cannot, however, be without roots. Despite this, there was once a time where summoning water from one's fingertips seemed impossible. A light source without electricity or flame was unheard of." She folded her hands under her chin. "Innovation and manipulation are the parents of progress. Limits are never eternal. You must convince yourself of a possibility."

I took a moment to stew those words in my brain before holding out my palm once more. I concentrated intensely on the bloom, picturing its tiny roots beneath the soil. I curled my fingers upwards. In my mind, the roots slowly distorted and crimped, severing themselves from the stem. A few seconds later, I was surprised to see them poke up from the dirt. Now detached from the flower, they almost resembled insects, writhing laboriously as if disturbed. My focus faltered at the sight, and they instantly stopped moving. The flower itself somehow stayed standing. My fingers were enveloped in pins-and-needles, almost burning.

"Well done," Miss Lucera commented. "How do you feel?"

"…Weird. I'm not really sure. Dizzy, sort of."

She hummed in response, jotting down some notes. "To be expected. As I said, ancient magic is very taxing. When you are ready, I will ask one more spell of you. Unless you wish to stop for today, of course."

I blinked away the mild wooziness. "What's next?"

"Tenacious as always," she chuckled. "All right. Finally, let's attempt a transfer of energy. From this plant to you." It was said so plainly.

"Just like last time?"

"Yes. Convince yourself that it is possible. Believe."

I closed my eyes. I'd attempted this a few times this week, but never succeeded. My target always ended up in flames, disintegrated, exploded, or otherwise destroyed, leaving me exhausted. To say this spell was difficult would be a woeful understatement. I just had to keep trying. My open hand hovered above the flowerpot. Since this discipline was still foreign to me, it was hard to direct my magic because it was hard to imagine the desired outcome. This is where I'd fallen short during the previous attempts. I would be absorbing magic energy from this flower, but what did that mean? What did that look or feel like? I had to decide on something in order to set anything in motion. Eventually, a sort of charging allegory formed in my brain, like what happens when you plug in your phone. Maybe this will work.

Steadily, my hand grew strangely cold; not in a way that was refreshing, but rather uncomfortable, like being dunked in ice water. I tried not to let the sound of Miss Lucera's scribbling quill distract me. As the feeling crept up my arm and my veins turned to ice, something else began battling for my notice. There was a sort of nodule that grew in the pit of my stomach. But as the seconds passed, I realized it wasn't the presence of something, but rather the absence. My stomach felt like it was twisting in on itself, garnering any amount of attention possible to this cavernous, vast emptiness. It felt a bit like nausea, but…not quite.

I moved my hand down. As soon as my fingertips grazed the petals, the bitter coldness that cocooned my upper body was slowly shaken away and replaced with a pleasant warmth. The emptiness in my stomach didn’t budge, though. Everything else that I'd been feeling – dizziness, fatigue, anxiety – faded away, paling in comparison to this hollowness. It was all I could think about. Yet, in seemingly no time at all, I felt back to normal. Better than normal, in fact. I felt well-rested, I felt strong, I felt bulletproof, I felt–

"That's enough!" Miss Lucera suddenly exclaimed. My eyes shot open, and I saw her reach for my wrists, but withdraw. The lights in the office flickered for a moment. My stomach finally ceased its qualms. On the desk in front of me sat a cracked pot holding the withered remains of a flower.

I gasped. "Did I kill it?"

"No," she replied, looking a bit stunned. "It will recover. I… My apologies. I expected a success, but not one so…effective." She cleared her throat. "Well, how do you feel now? Better?"

"I don't know how, but… Yeah. I feel good," I said. "So, that's what that was? A transfer of energy?"

"Yes, you absorbed its magic, which offsets the typically tiring effects of general spellcasting. Everyone would use this as a mitigation if not for its difficulty, and the lack of reliable resources. It is quite effective when done properly, but if done incorrectly, can be very harmful. Still, it's a valuable tactic for an adventurer such as yourself, especially being Earthborn."

I considered her statement. It was true that being able to replenish my magic energy without waiting would be convenient, albeit risky. My spell capacities were still increasing regardless. Even if I'd never use it, I was lucky to have the option.

The school bell rang out, signifying the beginning of lunch. I gathered my things and headed for the door.

"Brielle?" Miss Lucera called out. "Don't forget that this semester's exams will take place at the end of the month. Be sure to study well."

I groaned internally. "Right. I will."

The door was open when she added, "And… One more thing?"

I glanced over my shoulder. "What's up?"

"I am…quite proud of you," she spoke quietly. I'd never seen her look so sincere. "You were thrown into such a mess of a situation. A nightmare, even. Believe me when I say that I know what that is like. Yet, you've managed to withstand it all, and make such outstanding progress to catch up with your peers. I hope you are proud of yourself as well."

A sensation of fulfillment swelled in my heart. I grinned. "Thank you."

I couldn't help but smile to myself as I climbed the many staircases towards my locker. Miss Lucera did have a point. She was my tutor, my mentor, but also a mirror, in some ways. It was easy to get caught up in the chaos of life, with two universes, two schools, drama, dangers, injuries, illnesses, friendships, and enemies. I needed to step back every now and then to remind myself how far I'd come. I owed a lot to my professors, but Miss Lucera in particular. She was always there to help guide me, to help me get my bearings, and to answer any stupid questions. It was a little scary to think about what I'd do without her.

I hadn't quite reached my locker on the fourth floor when I ran into someone unexpectedly.

"Whoa, sorry." I stepped backwards, and my eyes shifted upwards to meet a familiar pair of ice blue ones. I gulped.

"Sleepwalking at this hour, De Mavset?" said Claude Staatley, with his pompous voice and vain smirk. I always tried my best not to interact with him, which was challenging during the classes we shared. Him and his group of cronies always had a problem with us saviours. I was usually good at avoiding them.

"Claude, I'm not in the mood today," I muttered, moving past him.

He threw his head back and laughed, light brown strands fluttering across his forehead. "Feisty today, are we? Well, every good circus needs clowns." His friends threw in their own jeers and slander. The scene had begun amassing stares from passersby.

I took a deep breath, trying to control my impulses. I knew better than to engage with people like Claude, but his remarks often cut deep. I looked around and realized that a lot of people were watching the scene unfold. My heart raced. I stood still, bracing myself for the next wave of taunts. Part of me was sick of backing down. But the other part knew that if I opened that door, behind it was a slippery slope, and I could land myself in a lot of trouble.

I tried to keep my tone calm and steady. "Look, I don't have time for this. I'm just trying to get some lunch. So, if you'll excuse me."

I turned to walk away again, but he stepped in front of me, blocking my path. I didn't want to have a conversation with him, but I didn't think I had much of a choice.

"What do you want?" I asked, crossing my arms.

He took a step closer in order to invade my personal space. "I want to know why you think you're so special," he said, his gaze drilling into me. "Why do you and your little group think you're better than everyone else?"

I opened my mouth to shoot back but was abruptly pulled to the side by my shoulder.

It was Shaye who'd come to assist me. She stood tall and imposing, her teal eyes blazing with a fierce determination. "Is there a problem?"

Claude didn't look the least bit intimidated. He sneered. "Nothing that concerns you. Don't you have plants to go water or something?"

She narrowed her eyes but didn't take the bait. "Sure. Anything would be a better use of my time than conversing with you."

A handful of quiet gasps erupted from the crowd around us.

"Oh, come off it! You think fraternizing with this Earth rat is a good use of time? They're feeble imbeciles, the whole lot of 'em. We should've wiped out their planet ages ago."

More gasps. Claude savoured every word of his riposte. I was so sick of hearing about that topic.

Shaye was entirely unfazed. "She may be Earthborn, but she has more decorum and honour in her earlobes than you and your friends have in your entire existences, combined."

For the first time, I watched Claude's snide grin wipe from his face. He clenched his fists. "You better watch who you're talking to, you crone."

A group of students nearby turned visibly bothered but said nothing. Shaye and I were both momentarily stunned. Just then, the heavy thumping sounds of boots filled my ears.

"So, Staatley, what shape shall I carve your tombstone into?"

I glanced behind me to see Miseris stomping down the hall, pushing her way past onlookers. Her voice was a low, menacing rumble. Even just the sight of her made some of the younger students back away.

Claude simply rolled his eyes. "Oh, lovely. What is this now, Girl's Club?"

Miseris stepped forward, and I could see the muscles in her jaw clenching. "If you have something to say, say it. Otherwise, I suggest you keep your mouth shut and crawl back into whatever sewage pit they dragged you out of."

"Well, if you insist." He shrugged casually, then locked his gaze with mine. "If you weren't so pitifully entertaining, I almost wished you'd never come back from that hospital bed."

I couldn't believe my ears. The cruelty was like a slap in the face. I had to resist the urge to deck him in his. But I didn't want to retaliate, not in front of everyone. Even if I wanted to, within seconds, Miseris had already gone the extra mile in my stead. Like a wolf hunting a rabbit, she lunged at Claude, wordlessly, before pinning him forcefully against the wall. The collar of his shirt was held solidly within her fists. He slid up, his shoes now barely touching the floor.

It was a sudden turn of events, and I stood there, staring at the scene in front of me. Claude's face was contorted with shock and pain, and his friends were gaping at the scene in disbelief. Miseris' face was set in a relentless perseverance that was both inspiring and terrifying. I couldn't help but wonder how many times she'd lifted someone like that.

Claude was the first to react. He cried out and clawed at his throat, trying to pry his way out of her grip. "Help! AAH!"

"Oi, let him go!" one of his friends yelled. The others quickly joined in.

I myself was about to attempt to calm Miseris down when the entire commotion was shut down by a piercing, ear-splitting whistle. I cringed but recognized the sound. It echoed off the walls, causing most of the crowd to scurry away like field mice. Miseris sighed and dropped Claude, who hunched over to catch his breath.

Amongst all of the havoc, I'd completely forgotten that the Headmaster's office was not even thirty feet away. Its large, mahogany door swung open to reveal Mr. Gunthren, and with him – strangely enough – Ashkan, who poked his head out. The Headmaster was an electric wheelchair user, but I'd never gotten a clear answer as to why. This was one of the few instances I'd actually seen him outside of his office. He was a dapper man in his early forties, with pointed ears and thin, rectangular glasses. Golden, diamond-shaped scales were visible on the tops of his hands, as well as on the back of his neck. He was always impeccably dressed in some sort of patterned doublet. Underneath coiffed waves of russet hair, his hazel eyes flickered back and forth between Miseris and Claude. Ashkan held the door open for him as he moved forward.

"Need I remind you two of the Academy's policy on violence?" Gunthren asked placidly. "Step into my office, please." His voice brooked absolutely no argument or debate. He was the kind of authority figure that didn't instill fear to achieve discipline. Instead, I'd heard of – and even witnessed – some instances where he'd simply mutter something into a misbehaving student's ear, and whatever it was, it would shut them up instantly.

Shaye and I watched silently as Claude followed the Headmaster into his office, with Miseris not far behind.

Ashkan closed the door after them, then turned to us with a look of bewilderment. "What did that prat do now?"

"Being a nuisance as usual," Shaye answered. "Particularly boorish today. Miseris was just defending Brielle…as hands-on as her approach was."

He grimaced. "Claude is a wastrel. Needs to be put in his place." His gaze shifted to me, and his expression softened a tad. "Do I want to know what was uttered?"

I shook my head. "No, it's fine. It wasn't anything important."

His eyes narrowed. "You're lying."

I sighed. Was it really that easy to tell? "It was just...something about Earth. Nothing that hasn't been said before. Well... Except for him admitting that he wished I'd never left the infirmary."

His normally phlegmatic expression twisted into a snarl. "That... That bloody bastard!" he exclaimed in a low voice. I couldn't help but be a little taken aback by his small outburst. "That is entirely uncalled for. No one should be allowed to speak about you like that."

"I completely agree," Shaye said. "But let's not give him the satisfaction of getting a reaction out of us. The best revenge is living well."

Ashkan nodded, and his expression slowly returned to its typical calm disposition. "Right... You're right." He paused for a moment, then added, "But if he ever says anything like that again, I'm not above personally setting him straight."

I failed to fight off a laugh. "Thanks. And thank you for sticking up for me back there, Shaye. I kinda got caught off guard."

She smiled. "Of course; I wouldn't ever hesitate about that."

"Can always count on this one to intimidate with flawless logic," Ashkan confirmed, patting Shaye on the back.

"I just find it hard to believe that you were ever friends with Claude, Ashkan," I commented. "I mean, talk about polar opposites."

He shrugged nonchalantly. "Eh, it was just...different back then. I suppose it's more like we were part of the same coterie. We were both interested in smithing, though."

"That was before he developed taste in friendships," Shaye explained.

Ashkan shot her an annoyed look before turning back to me. "But that was four or five years ago, and we've all grown up since then. Claude missed that memo. One day, he opened his mouth, garbage came out, and everyone with a brain started hating him."

I grinned at his blunt honesty, then noticed something. "Hey, what were you doing in the Headmaster's office, anyway?"

He hesitated for a moment before answering. "I had a meeting with him about my plans after graduation. I know we still have another year to go after this one, but I wanted some advice on finding a good internship."

"Internship? What kind?" Shaye asked, her interest piqued.

Ashkan scratched his jaw while he thought. "Ideally, I'd like to work with a master blacksmith, or maybe an armourer. Someone who could teach me everything they know. There's only so much I can learn here at the Academy, really."

A certain curiosity gnawed on the edges of my brain, and I restrained myself from starting an interview. Everything that I'd learned about Ashkan so far was still not enough in comparison to my other friends. Any crumbs of personal details he would reveal naturally always made me want to inquire further. There had to be so much I still didn't know.

Instead, I nodded encouragingly. "I'm sure you'll find something."

He opened his mouth to continue but was cut off by the sound of the Headmaster's office door opening. Claude stepped out, face flushed with humiliation. Miseris followed, looking satisfied with herself.

"Dismissed," Gunthren said sternly. "I trust we will not have any further incidents?"

Claude mumbled something unintelligible, and Miseris merely gave him a vague nod.

Ashkan, Shaye, and I moved away from the entrance, trying to give the others space. Despite this, Claude seemed to catch sight of me and stopped in his tracks. Our eyes met briefly, and then he looked away, his face contorted in what looked like disgust. I felt a small flare in my chest but brushed it off. I didn't need his approval or validation. As if he was going to change after one conversation. After all, I wasn't there to disassemble Emiarhia's societal injustices. I was there to do my job. So, Claude and his friends could think however they wanted. I'd still be there to protect them from the prophesized war's fallout, just like everyone else.

Headmaster Gunthren shifted his attention to us. "Miss De Mavset, Miss Onusch-Eires. Good afternoon. Would you three care to join me in my study? I believe we have much to catch up on."

We nodded unanimously without a moment's hesitation.

"Everything okay?" I whispered to Miseris as we passed each other.

"Fine," she answered with a wave of her hand. "Let off with a warning. Claude tried to lie about what he said, but Gunthren didn't buy it."

I breathed a sigh of relief, then briskly followed Shaye and Ashkan into the Headmaster's office. Shutting the heavy door behind me, I took a moment to look around. I'd never seen the inside before. The room was spacious, decorated with full bookcases and polished furniture. There was a slightly damaged astrolabe hanging from the far wall. Beside it was a shelf holding some old, dusty bottles labelled in faded script. A large, circular window served as the main light source, bordered by sheer, navy curtains. In the centre of the room was a solid mahogany desk, stacked with neatly organized parchments and books. Enchanted candles were peppered across multiple surfaces. From behind the desk, The Headmaster flicked his index finger towards the lone quilted armchair across from him, and before my very eyes, two more identical copies manifested out of thin air.

"Please, take a seat," he began, his fingers steepled in front of him.

I did as I was told, sinking into the delightfully comfy chair. Shaye was seated on my left, perched on the edge with her hands folded primly over her lap. On my right, Ashkan slumped into his own chair before adjusting the cuffs of his rolled-up sleeves.

Headmaster Gunthren regarded each of us individually. "Firstly, I would like to express my regrets for not conversing as often as I'd intended to. Especially you, Miss De Mavset. Ironically, working to align certain affairs to lessen the burdens you three carry, in combination with my endless duties as Headmaster, leaves very little time for cordial assessments."

Shaye gave a single dip of her head. "That's understandable, sir. We are fortunate to receive your guidance at all. You have our gratitude."

His eyes glinted with approval. "I am glad you understand. Therefore, I would like to conduct a brief checkup with each of you. Though I am not always available, your safety and comfort are cardinal priorities to me. Are there any difficulties that I can resolve at this very moment?"

Shaye, Ashkan and I exchanged unsure looks. We hadn't discussed this beforehand, so Gunthren's intentions felt a bit sudden. Personally, I knew that there was much to be confused by, or even afraid of, but it was more a question of which part to focus on first.

Finally, Shaye cleared her throat and asked, "Sir, we appreciate your concern, but would you mind...elaborating? It could help to better organize our thoughts."

"Ah, of course. My apologies for being vague." Gunthren straightened, hands coming to rest atop the desk. "As I had said, I wish to assess your well-being as students of the Academy, but also as saviours. I am well aware of the breadth and progress of your responsibilities. I have been friends with each of your parents since long before you were born, after all. You are far from alone in your quest, but perhaps I may offer some peace of mind or other answers that alternative sources could not. Does this clarify matters?"

"It does, thank you," Shaye replied. "I will go first then, if that is all right."

He gestured for her to proceed. "By all means."

"Sir, my concern is the current lack of answers that we've been receiving. We are ever so grateful to be assisted by Captain Lowell, her lieutenants, the Elders, King Typhis and Queen Valanche, our personal guards, and everyone else... Yet the exact details surrounding our end goal are still so muddled. How will this 'war' begin? And who will we be against? How can we be certain that we are being prepared correctly?"

The Headmaster smiled regrettably. "'Tis always the brightest students that ask the most complicated questions… Nevertheless, I appreciate your curiosity and diligence. Believe me, I wish for nothing more than to have every answer you seek. Unfortunately, I believe your mission resembles more a large puzzle, with pieces put together from several sources, rather than a single picture. However, rest assured that every effort is being made to provide you with as much information as possible. As for your preparations, you have been trained well and thoroughly. You possess unique gifts and talents that will assist, and you have powerful allies and protectors. You must have faith in yourself and in each other. You have been chosen for this mission because you are strong, capable, and courageous. Let not fear or doubt cloud your judgment. Believe in yourselves. Trust in your abilities, stay vigilant, and all shall be revealed in due time."

Shaye nodded thoughtfully, but I could see a wrinkle of anxiety lining her forehead. I felt much the same way. It wasn't the answer we wanted, but it was an answer nonetheless.

Ashkan leaned forward, his tone quiet but serious. "Sir, the only true enemies we are aware of are Balgaur and his Inkbloods. But...we haven't had many encounters with them. Only one, in fact. Should we continue to be wary of them, or was the meeting a fluke? What could they possibly have in common with the prophecy?"

Gunthren turned his focus to him. "An astute observation, Mr. Wroet'by. Balgaur and his associates are indeed a concern, even if simply for the fact that they have attempted to harm you before. While their motives remain unclear, we must not underestimate them. You should always be prudent when travelling outside the Academy's limits. As for any potential connection to the prophecy, I'm afraid, much like many things regarding this case, it's still unknown. I could, however, provide you with some backstory on Balgaur in particular. We were once friends."

Ashkan reclined in his seat, visibly intrigued. "Is that so?"

"Indeed. Balgaur was born and partially raised on the east coast of Winithas, in a small town plagued by crime – Saskyaa, Emyrando. He moved to Nelorismel as an adolescent. He and I were close colleagues as students in this very school. By extension, he became friends with the larger group, including each of your parents and the Greengroves. Before you three were born, he worked as a page and spy for His Majesty. Ironically, he was excellent at rounding up criminals. Perhaps that is where his own skills originated… As years passed, Balgaur eventually succumbed to the violence around him. And our friendship disappeared. He didn't create the Inkblood clan, but it is a strong theory that he commands them, even partially."

I listened intently as Gunthren recounted his history with Balgaur. Shaye and Ashkan seemed equally as shocked as me. It was strange to imagine the Headmaster being friends with someone who was now our enemy. But it also made me wonder how someone could change so drastically. Was it the environment he grew up in, or some other personal trauma?

As I listened, I felt an unease in my gut. I'd seen Balgaur on Earth once before, back in Minnesota. I hadn't told anyone about it because I didn't think it was too much of a concern, considering I now lived practically on the other side of the country. But now, hearing about his past connection to Gunthren and my parents, I couldn't help but feel like he was watching, waiting for his opportunity to strike. Was there a chance he knew that I was in California? Could he even get to me without an interdimensional necklace?

Suddenly, the Headmaster's voice cut through my thoughts, bringing me back to the present. "And lastly, Miss De Mavset. How are you faring?"

I bit my lip nervously. "I feel the need to reveal something I previously hid, sir." He raised an eyebrow. I continued, "Almost half a year ago, I saw Balgaur. On Earth. It was before I moved...locations, but maybe that's more of a problem than it seemed at the time."

My two friends tensed from either side of me, staring incredulously in synchronization.

Gunthren's expression became grave. "Brielle, are you certain of what you saw?"

"Well, it might've been an illusion of some sort, but I believe so. He had the same face; the same scars. I was alone, walking around town for the last time, when I stopped at an abandoned building. My reflection in the glass displayed my eyes as being violet, like they are now... I heard a laugh, then I turned, and I saw him. Then he illuminated this old, decrepit lamppost, maybe magically...and disappeared into the shadows. That was the only time."

"That is troubling news..." he said with a frown. "But not inexplicable, however. Balgaur knew your Earth hometown, as did everyone in our old group. He would occasionally visit you when you were a young child, as would he with Ashkan and Shaylie. To hear that he visited you only six months ago is quite strange... Still, I believe we can be mostly certain that he knows not of your current location. It is always best to err on the side of caution, but Balgaur is intelligent enough to know that ambushing you on Earth is foolish indeed. Although your home planet has no magic, your technology usually outcompetes ours, and Balgaur has little knowledge of how to navigate it."

"But what if he finds out?" I asked, my voice betraying my worry. "What if he discovers where I am now?"

Gunthren clasped his hands together. "We will cross that bridge if and when we must. In the meantime, ensure that your parents are notified of this, and try not to find yourself in vulnerable or dangerous situations."

A follow-up question popped into my head. "Also, sir, how was it possible for Balgaur to travel to Earth without a necklace? And how did he seemingly cast magic there? I've never been able to do that, as convenient as it'd be."

"When an Emiarhian wishes to get access to travel to Earth, they must submit an application to their monarch to be granted a temporary access permit that is only valid for a specified time and will expire afterwards. These are uncommon and quite costly; they are primarily used for vacations and visits. Permanent tickets are extremely rare and even more expensive. They are most often purchased by someone who wishes to live on Earth or spend extended periods there over the course of many years. Your father owns one, for instance. People must first pass an interview, background check, and other extensive inspections. They work the same as your necklace. In the case of temporary permits, a travelling officer is appointed to accompany any travelling persons, and will stay within their vicinity until they return. If needed, they will send a distress signal to Emiarhia if trouble arises, and the permit holder will be whisked back to Emiarhia. The government holds the right to revoke any ticket at any time, thus cancelling its abilities. Each realm also shares with one another a list of names of people with prohibited access to these permits."

"Assuming Balgaur is on that list, he must've received one from someone else," Shaye spoke up, voicing my exact line of thinking.

"Likely," Gunthren confirmed. "He must own a permanent ticket, but not one registered under his own name... Alas, we cannot restrict his travelling if we do not know the name under which his pass was purchased." He squinted, then took a breath. "As for your second query, Brielle, in order to cast magic on Earth, one must be incredibly powerful indeed. My knowledge on that is limited, but I have heard tales of Emiarhians bringing magical objects with them to Earth and using its reserves to supply their powers while on Earth. Rings, amulets, talismans... Rare, arcane treasures powerful enough to function in any dimension. That is the best theory I can offer."

I sat there, taking in everything the Headmaster was saying. It was overwhelming to think about how Balgaur and his Inkbloods could potentially be a threat to not just us, but to the entire world. And the fact that he could potentially access Earth without a necklace was alarming. We all fell silent, lost in our own thoughts. The possibility that Balgaur could be watching us, waiting for his chance to strike, was daunting. But we couldn't let fear and uncertainty control us. We had to keep moving forward, no matter the obstacles.

The contemplative silence lingered for a while before Mr. Gunthren broke it. "Allow myself to be clear; I care greatly about your mission and Emiarhia's future. However, I also care equally as much about you three as people. I've known you since before you were born, before the Tremaium prophecy was revealed. I've had the privilege to witness your growth, your triumphs, your struggles. The drive for contentment should weigh as much as the drive for success. If I may assist with any concerns, related to any omen or not, I would be happy to do so. Therefore, in good conscience, I shall pose once more: Are there any difficulties that I may help solve?"

On my left, Shaye shifted towards me, waiting patiently for any response I might've had. On my right, Ashkan seemed somewhat checked out. I knew he wouldn't discuss anything too personal without complete privacy.

I decided to speak up. "Well... To be honest, sir, I'm not quite sure what my biggest stressor is. There's just...so much going on." Somehow, the words became clearer as I expressed them. "And I feel like I'm always one step behind everyone else. I don't want to let anyone down, but sometimes it feels like I'm not doing my part."

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A wave of almost undetectable sadness passed over Gunthren's face. He nodded. "It's perfectly natural to feel inundated by so many responsibilities. You are never by your lonesome in that feeling. But perhaps it is worth considering that some of that pressure is self-inflicted. It is admirable that you want to do your best and contribute fairly. Just remember that you do not need to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. Others are here to share the burden with you. Do not become hypercritical of yourself, Miss De Mavset. You're doing the best you can, and your best is better than you believe it to be."

"That's right," Shaye chimed in, smiling brightly.

I felt a sense of relief wash over me. It was comforting to know that I had friends who cared, and a mentor who was willing to lend an ear. "Thank you, sir."

"Of course." He smiled, then pivoted his wheelchair more towards the window and gazed at the scenery outside. "The desire to voyage, to progress, to explore, is quite innate. If we do not venture, if we instead default to playing prescribed roles given to us, we automatically roll the dice on encumbering ourselves with numbness, alienation, or emptiness." His eyes glanced over to Shaye. "Those who turn away from life progress internalize the urge for change, and slay themselves by declaring war on their looks, their intellect, their sensitivity, their ego, or some other attribute they deem unacceptable." He regarded Ashkan next. "Or, they suppress their feelings in order to become frigid performance machines, using only a list of accomplishments as the measure of self-worth." Lastly, he threw me a deliberate look. "Or they become societal chameleons, stamping out their eccentricities to serve a role they think will garner success…or simple safety. When we declare war on our true selves, we risk losing our souls; our essence. If this goes on long enough, illness becomes routine, and wellness becomes a struggle. In shying away from personal progress, we survive rather than live, and, accordingly, we call forth a sort of…internal wasteland."

I was struck by the truth in the Headmaster's words, feeling a pang of guilt for all the times I'd tried to suppress my own thoughts in order to fit in or meet expectations. Once more, the office was silent, the only sounds being the ambience of students passing by and the distant chirping of birds outside.

"I know this is a difficult time for everyone, but always remember that you have each other," he went on. "Trust and communication are essential to any mission. Most importantly, do not let the stress consume you. Take a moment to breathe, to reflect, to find balance. You are all capable of achieving greatness, but you must also take care of yourselves in the process, mental and physical health alike."

As the meeting came to a close, I couldn't help but feel like there was something more lurking underneath the surface. Like there was a bigger clue we weren't seeing yet. Shaye, Ashkan and I thanked Gunthren before leaving his office and starting our walk towards the main courtyard. Shaye was unusually quiet on the way there. I figured she was probably deep in thought about what all the Headmaster had to say. For once, Ashkan and I were carrying the conversation.

"Hey, Brie?" he piped up when we'd rounded a corner. "You're still careful when you're on Earth, right?"

My brows furrowed. "Maybe not as much as when I'm here, but yeah. I certainly don't go looking for danger."

"Okay, good. Don't start now," he said earnestly.

"I'm not going to waste energy worrying about if Balgaur will pop up one day," I replied, rolling my eyes. "I know to be careful. Besides, I'm rarely isolated, my house has a top-notch security system, and he'd probably get hit by a car or something before finding me."

Ashkan ran a hand through his hair, then faced me directly. "Just... Promise me that you'll keep a look out, all right?"

I nodded, a small smile on my lips. His concern was a little amusing. "Promise. You guys would be the first to hear about it."

As we reached the main courtyard, the usual plethora of stares and whispers greeted us. I'd stopped caring long ago. We strolled over to the large table where the rest of our friends were seated. It was funny how over the past few months, Ashkan's friends and Shaye's friends had begun to coalesce into one big group, and we would all eat lunch together at school more often than not. I liked to think I was the reason behind it.

Miseris, Lilwen, Viktor, Cassius and Ivahr each turned to us as we approached. I brushed a light layer of snow off of the picnic table before plopping down, noting that the three boys seemed engrossed in a card game.

"Well? How was the meeting?" Miseris asked between bites of her wrap.

"It was fine," Shaye answered, finally joining in the conversation. "Just the usual messages about working together and taking care of ourselves."

Lilwen looked up from her soup and smiled. "How thoughtful."

"Ah, that's what he always says," Ivahr said. "Never tells you anything useful."

"Actually, the Headmaster told us more than that," Ashkan corrected, and Shaye nudged him lightly.

Cassius frowned. "What did he say?"

"Nothing too exciting," I lied, trying to appease his curiosity. "A little advice and some background information."

Viktor nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on his cards. With his index and middle fingers, he flung a card face-up onto the table, amongst others lined up in front of him. "Prepare to weep, gentlemen. That equals twelve."

"Oh, come on!" Ivahr groaned, slamming his own hand of cards onto the table. "You're cheating!"

"You're just a sore loser," Miseris commented with a grin.

Cassius grimaced at his own loss, then laughed at Ivahr's frustration. "Iv, you literally lose every game we play."

"No I don't," he protested. "Just last week, I beat Viktor in rogue's chess."

"You didn't beat me. I let you win," Viktor clarified.

Ivahr and Viktor started a back and forth of petty insults, and Cassius just shook his head, entertained. I laughed and began digging into my own lunch. It was moments like these that made me forget about all the chaos.

After Ashkan had finished eating, he joined a new round of keyhole. It was kind of interesting to see the four guys interact amongst themselves, with their inside jokes and different personalities. They had such a strong bond, and it was fun to observe their banter. I leaned against the table and listened in while resting my chin in my palm. To boil each of them down to archetypes, Ashkan was the placid, quiet one, Viktor was the carefree wisecracker, Cassius was more of a helpful softie, and Ivahr was the audacious hothead with a bit of a mean streak. It was fascinating how different they were, but they still clicked so well.

"Okay, lads. Serious question." Viktor was met with blank expressions and silence, and I had to bite back a laugh. "Who would win in a fight between Professor Jakklo and King Typhis?"

"King Typhis, duh," Ivahr replied, scanning his cards. "He's, what, two metres tall? Jakklo would be decapitated in the first minute."

"I don't know, Jakklo is pretty powerful. I'd say they'd be on par," Miseris chimed in. Lilwen nodded as if to echo her choice.

"Yeah, but Typhis is a king," he argued. "He has an army of elite knights."

Viktor snorted. "It's a one-on-one fight. Keep up."

"Whatever. I still think the King would win."

"I'm actually inclined to agree with Ivahr on this one," Ashkan said. "The King has had extensive combat training."

Cassius rolled his eyes. "You're all dense. Jakklo is younger, and his magic is nearly unrivalled."

"Is it a fight with magic, or fists?" I questioned. "Or both?"

Viktor snapped his fingers and pointed at me. "A sharp one, you are! The question stands."

I thought for a moment, then shrugged. "I'd have to see them in action before making a judgement."

"What about you, Shaye?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "What's your pick?"

Shaye didn't seem to notice the question. Her mind was far away, and she was gazing into the distance. I could only imagine what thoughts were floating through her head.

"Emiarhia to Shaye! Come in, Shaylie," Viktor prompted with a chuckle.

"Hm?"

"Who do you think would win?"

"Oh, sorry," she murmured, blinking a few times. "I'm not sure."

Lilwen reached out to touch Shaye's arm. Concern laced her features. I hoped she was just tired. We'd all been stressed and confused, but she was always the hardest on herself.

My attention drifted back towards the card game. Although I still didn't understand its rules, and was wholly unfamiliar with the cards, I liked watching their reactions as they played. Every turn was followed by some form of expression, from joy to fury to pure indifference. With Ashkan in particular, naturally, it was hard to decipher if he was winning or losing. His concentrating face looked a lot like his angry face, and his serious face...and most of his faces in general. If he'd had any idea what 'resting bitch face' was, he would've been a class five offender on Earth.

"All right, I'm out," Ivahr stated after a while, throwing his cards onto the table in a flurry.

Viktor clapped him on the shoulder. "Good effort, mate."

"Oh, shut up."

"I'm calling it," he announced before revealing a card to his opponents. "Victory is mine. Again."

Ashkan sighed. "I almost had you! One more round."

"We are not playing again," Cassius complained. "It's just making Ivahr feel bad."

"I do not!" Ivahr snapped, crossing his arms over his chest.

Viktor just smirked and gathered everyone's cards. "Suit yourself. Anyone else want to play?"

"I'll join," Miseris answered. "I think Ivahr needs some time to recover from that merciless beating."

Ashkan eyed me, then tilted his head. "Do you want to learn? I can teach you."

I declined, "Oh, no, no. That's okay. I'm not a quick learner."

"It's no bother." He patted the spot next to him. "Sit."

I gave in and stood up, moving to the other side of the table. Ivahr switched spots with me, and I slid onto the bench beside Ashkan. My knee brushed against his.

"Uh, shouldn't Brielle learn from an expert instead of an amateur?" Viktor suggested, his fingers flying across the deck of cards as he deftly shuffled them.

Ashkan replied coolly, "Yes, I believe so."

He laughed. "As you wish. I'll try to go easy on you, Brielle."

"I'm flattered," I said, feigning gratitude.

After the deck was shuffled, Viktor dealt five cards to himself, Miseris, Cassius, and me. The rest of the cards were stacked face-down off to the side. Ashkan watched intently as I retrieved my pile, making sure not to show anyone.

"Keyhole is a lockpicking game, but with cards," Viktor began. He pulled three cards from the stack and turned them over: a red two, a black five, and a gold seven. "We each have to make a key that will open the lock based on these three random cards. In this case, the key will equal fourteen. Normal card numbers range from one to ten. The sum of your played cards needs to be fourteen, and if it exceeds that, then the lock breaks."

"The goal is to create the key the fastest," Cassius added.

"There's more to it, though," Viktor continued. "The trick is, we can't repeat numbers on any card in the key. Once you've played a three, you can't play another three, unless you use your turn to remove it first. Also, the key has to have at least three cards, but no more than six."

I was a little lost, but tried to absorb the rules anyway. "And what do the colours mean?"

Ashkan jumped in, "They're just extra qualifiers. You need to have at least one of each colour in your key, but only three can be the same colour. You can't, for example, have a six-card key made of one black, one gold, and four reds."

"That sounds...complicated."

"You'll get it," he reassured.

"Don't forget about the wild cards," Miseris noted. "There are some cards with negative values, which can be helpful if you have a lot of high-number cards. There's also a silver card that lets you have two moves, and a green card that lets you steal a card from someone else's key. Oh, and a purple card with an X sign on it can cancel out any opponent's turn. It's all about strategy."

"That is a lot of information," I remarked, and my mind began racing.

"It is," Viktor said. "But not to worry. You'll catch on quick."

Cassius shot me a smile. "Don't stress. No one's judging you."

Miseris quipped, "I'm judging a little bit. But only because I want to see what you're capable of."

"Don't worry," Ashkan whispered, nudging my shoulder with his. "I'll help you." I met his gaze, and he smiled slightly.

"Let the game commence!" Viktor exclaimed.

Cassius played first, as he was to the right of the dealer. He discarded a card, then drew a new one. Miseris went next, playing a gold nine. It was my turn after. I glanced at the cards in my hand. I had a red six, a red one, a black four, a silver double-move card, and a gold ten. I was trying to think logically about the key, and which cards would be best to play. There had to be three to six cards in my key, all with different numbers, and between one and three of each colour.

Ashkan leaned in closer to observe my options. A whiff of familiar, woodsy cologne wafted under my nose as he did so. "Not a bad deal. Try starting with a medium number; not too high or low."

"Got it." I decided on the red six and played it. Drawing a card from the stack, I was met by a gold two.

Viktor went last, placing down a black eight. The game was a little monotonous for a few minutes while everyone figured out their strategy amongst the random aspects. Ashkan watched patiently and offered tips along the way.

"Don't put too much focus on the wild cards," he told me. "Use them only with a specific intention in mind, or you risk making a mess of things."

I nodded and discarded my gold ten, then drew a gold three.

"Good call," he praised.

The game went on, and after a few rounds, the pile of cards began to dwindle. To my mild chagrin, I found myself unable to concentrate fully on my cards. Whenever I'd glance over at Miseris' incomplete key on the table, Ashkan's face would appear in the corner of my sight, and his focused features would be so damn distracting. My stomach fluttered. I couldn't tell if it was because of his attention, or if it was from the fact that our knees kept grazing against each other.

"Your move, Brielle," Cassius said, interrupting my thoughts.

I looked down at my own key: a red six, a black four, a gold three, and a gold two. I had all three colours down, and every number was different, but I was one over fourteen. I still had the silver double-move card, but none of my other cards were low enough to replace with. "If I play a silver card, can I draw two cards?"

"Yep," Viktor answered. "Then you'll have double the chance to get a useful number."

"Okay." I placed the silver card down beside my key, and then drew two cards from the pile. A green card and a black negative two. My heartbeat quickened. I scanned my opponents' keys. Viktor had a red one. If I stole it, then I would have everything I needed.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Ashkan whispered. His breath tickled the shell of my ear.

"Probably," I responded with a grin. On my next turn, I promptly used my green card to steal one of Viktor's.

He raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Rude!"

Miseris burst out laughing. "I can't believe she got the drop on you. Nice going, Brielle!"

Cassius nodded at me. "Well done."

"Thanks," I said, beaming.

"You're going down, Vik," Ashkan warned, a smug smile forming. "Try not to cry on the cards. They're limited edition."

Viktor hunched over. "Please. You're bluffing."

"Oh, he's in for a rude awakening," he said to me after leaning in again. His irises almost sparkled under the midday sun.

I smirked and focused on my cards once more. After my last play, it was just a matter of waiting until my next turn. Finally, I laid down the black negative two, completing my six-card key with a sum of fourteen.

Viktor cursed and tossed his hand on the table. "What?! Really? I was just about to play a four and win!" He shot up out of his seat. "No more help from now on! Banned! Forbidden!"

"Second place, mate," Cassius commented, patting his arm in sympathy.

Miseris shook her head in disbelief. "She did that on her first try?"

"She did," Ashkan answered, his tone tinged with pride.

"I've never seen anything like it," Viktor grumbled. He sat back down, then buried his head in his hands with a dramatic flourish. "I lost... I can't believe I lost... Dethroned, by a novice...!" Our entire table burst into laughter, and he failed to maintain the façade of his anguish. A few seconds later, he joined in on the amusement.

When the laughter subsided, I looked over at Ashkan. His gaze was already on me, and I had the strangest feeling that he'd been staring.

"I guess we make a good team," I remarked.

A half-smile ghosted across his face. "Guess so."

"How about a rematch, huh? Double or nothing," Viktor proposed, raising his fists and cracking his knuckles.

The chimes of the school bell rang through the courtyard, cutting him off. Everyone started packing up their bags. I was surprised by how quickly the time had gone by.

"Oh, come on!" he shouted, throwing his hands up.

Ashkan gathered his canvas messenger bag and swung it over his shoulder. "Another day, Vik."

"All right. But I will win the next time."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night," Cassius teased.

As dozens of other students filtered back inside, the eight of us followed suit. Bit by bit, we split apart, going off in separate directions towards our next classes. Ashkan, Miseris and I climbed to the fourth floor, then headed down the main southern corridor to our Arcane Artifacts class. The three of us took the same seats we always did, near the middle of the room.

The class was an upper-year course that studied the use of various physical vessels for magic and contrasted them to the 'hand magic' of today. It was much more common for people to use things like wands when Emiarhia was first created. Over the months, we explored the difference between magical vessels and magical objects (for example, wands versus enchanted mirrors), as well as the difference between an object with innate magic and an object imbued – or cursed – with magic.

"This is so boring," Miseris whispered, her face scrunched up in disgust as she scribbled the date onto her open notebook.

"It is a little dull," I agreed.

"I'll take History of Magic any day. I don't think I can last until the end of the semester..." She let her head flop onto her desk before exhaling a long sigh. I chuckled quietly.

Ashkan tapped me on the shoulder. "Do you think Professor Klewoei would know anything about magical artifacts that could work on Earth?"

"I suppose she might. Why? Are you that worried about Balgaur? We don't even know if he's planning on going back to Earth."

He shrugged. "It's bothering me that there could be a powerful magical object in the hands of someone who shouldn't have it."

"I think it'll be all right. If Balgaur wanted to cause trouble on Earth, he would've done something by now," I reasoned.

"Maybe," he muttered, turning back to the front of the room.

Professor Klewoei stood at her desk, flipping through the papers in her hand. She was a thin woman with greyish skin and dark hair cropped above her shoulders. "Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome back. Today we'll be learning about the importance of imbuing. Who can tell me what imbuing is?"

The answer was supplied by a pointy-eared boy in the front row: "Imbuing is the process of imbibing an object with magical properties, either by using a magical vessel to enchant an object, or by adding a rune to it."

"Exactly. In most cases, the object has a limited supply of magic, and once that is gone, the effects disappear."

The lesson progressed, and we continued reviewing the material we'd learned over the months. It focused on the history, lore, and uses of magical objects in different cultures and mythologies across the planet, and throughout centuries. We'd covered topics such as the creation and enchantment of artifacts, the different types of magical items and their functions – such as chimes, talismans, amulets, wands, and staves – and how to identify and use them (in theory). The class also explored the ethical and moral implications of using magical objects and the impact it had on both society and individuals. Students were also taught how to handle, store, and preserve certain artifacts and the dangers that came with using them.

When the lecture ended, the bell rang, and the room bustled with the sound of students shuffling to their next class.

"Later," Ashkan called out before disappearing into the crowds.

"Bye!" Miseris and I responded, waving goodbye.

My last class of the day was Rune Interpretation, which I shared with Lilwen. After splitting off from Miseris, I joined the rush of students making their way to the southwest tower, which housed a bunch of rooms dedicated to academic studies. The classroom was located just off the main staircase and was one of the smaller ones in the school. It only fit around twenty-five students. Lilwen and I claimed two seats in the third row beside a long window. The sky outside was grey, the clouds darkening and growing heavy with the promise of snowfall.

Runes was another advanced branch of studies that taught students to read and transcribe ancient Emiarhian runes. In the very early days, scripts of runes were the way to record details and processes related to magic as people discovered its attributes and mechanisms. They were the very beginnings of magic. They represented a category of ancient, archaic spells that were rarely used anymore due to their complexity, difficulty, and lack of versatility. Many required ingredients or materials to cast. In exchange for going through so much trouble, the effects of runes were permanent and unyielding. The class material was entirely theoretical. It focused on the early manifestations of magic, and concerned itself with the possibility of unlocking a higher strength of magic that was perhaps lost to time. Runes also gave insight into a time where the gods were much more active, and what kinds of effects they could've had on spells back then.

"How'd you do on the last test?" I asked, unpacking my bag.

Lilwen winced. "I mixed up the runes for 'water' and 'dream'... That cost me five marks. What about you?"

"I got a seventy-eight. It was pretty hard. There were some questions I had to guess on. Sometimes I really wish the King and Queen didn't make me take this class..."

"It could be worse. You could be studying alchemy like me."

"Yeah, that does sound worse," I laughed.

Our teacher, Professor Cienttoff, arrived a minute or so later. His long, orange hair was tied back in a braid, and his beard was neatly trimmed. He was a short, round man, with a jovial and kind disposition. "Hello, students. I hope you are enjoying your Friday so far." A series of murmurs and nods rippled through the class. "Very well. Today we will continue reviewing the most prominent runic translations."

It was no secret amongst senior students that Rune Interpretation boasted some of the hardest classes the Academy had to offer. Despite that, Professor Cienttoff's teachings were thorough and comprehensive, and his assignments and tests were fair. Still, the class was quite rigorous, and most students didn't do too well in it. Regrettably, there wasn't much of the material I could apply directly to my responsibilities as a saviour, or anything else for that matter, with the lone exception being the runes inscribed on my travelling necklace. They included the rune for 'protection', 'transport', and 'direction', among others.

The hours ticked by, and when the final bell chimed, we were released for the weekend.

"That was a lot of runes," Lilwen groaned, rubbing her eyes. "I need a nap."

"You and me both." I gathered my belongings and stuffed them into my bag.

On our way down to the first floor, we steadily met up with the rest of our friends. By the time we reached the front doors, the entire group was together. We exited the Academy and walked into the chilly air. Snowflakes had started falling from the sky, the flurry gentle but persistent. I was eager to go home and relax, but of course, I had training first. At least I'd be inside for it.

Once more, everyone said their goodbyes and parted ways, wishing each other a good weekend.

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

That night, I decided not to immediately return to Earth after my daily training session. Instead, just after sundown, I found myself approaching The Roaring Witch's front door. Miseris had nailed the interview with Elliott's mom, and this week was her first one on the job, so I wanted to see how she was doing.

The moment I entered the tavern, the atmosphere was completely different than the peaceful, frigid streets outside. Almost every seat was full of people enjoying their drinks and chatting noisily with friends and strangers alike. Boisterous laughter filled the air, along with a warm glow and a savory scent that made my stomach growl. The phonograph-like instrument in the corner blared some kind of jazz-esque melody that made my feet want to move to the rhythm. I felt a little out of place amongst the brawny soldiers, rugged adventurers, and hardworking townsfolk, but thankfully, my clothing made me blend right in with everyone else. I was obviously going against the King's demands by being out on my own, so I wore a fitted, brown duster coat with the hood pulled low. Everything below my eyes was obscured by a small black scarf.

Scanning the room, I quickly spotted my friend behind the bar. She was in the middle of talking to a large, well-dressed man with a thick beard and even thicker eyebrows. I wove my way around patrons to get a closer look.

"You don't think I know my own bloody limit?" the man barked at Miseris, who didn't flinch even slightly.

"Either way, you refuse to acknowledge it. You're sloshed and it's time to go home," she responded firmly. "I'm not serving you. Please leave. Now."

"Oh yeah? What are ya gonna do about it?" he replied with a smirk, standing from his stool and looking down at Miseris, who was several heads shorter than him. He looked like he could crush her with one hand. "Gonna kick me out, lass?"

"I won't, but they will." Miseris hooked a thumb towards two burly bouncers who appeared from the shadows near her. They approached the drunken man and placed their hands on his shoulders, and he instantly wilted under their intense gazes.

The man grumbled and slammed his fist on the counter. "Tch. This place ain't worth it. Yer boss'll hear 'bout this!"

The two bouncers effortlessly escorted the drunkard out of the building.

"Yeah, I'll tell her myself!" Miseris yelled after him, and I couldn't help but smile. She went back to cleaning some lipstick off a glass.

I hopped up onto a free stool and rested my arms on the wooden bar, taking in the scenery before me. My gaze fell on the bottles, liquids and glasses shelved on the far wall, all neatly arranged and organized. There were many different shapes and sizes, along with some bottles that glowed or moved by themselves.

It only took Miseris a second to notice me. "Evening, stranger," she greeted. "What can I get for you?"

I fought off a grin. "What do you recommend?" I knew my voice would give me away instantly.

She froze and her eyes widened. "No way. Brielle?"

"I was wondering when you'd notice," I said, lowering my scarf. "How's the job treating you?"

"Well, I was having a decent night before that ruffian showed up."

"He was pretty tough-looking."

"Nothing I couldn't handle," she replied with a smirk. "But you keep your wits about you, all right? Most here are out of their skulls."

"So... Very crazy or very drunk?"

She shrugged. "At the end of the week? Likely both."

"I can see that," I chuckled, surveying the rowdy crowd. "Everything else going well around here?"

"Oh, I love it. My first shift went swimmingly. It was a bit rough at first, but once I got the hang of things, it became a whole lot easier. I'm getting to know some of the regulars too, and they're pretty friendly."

I smiled. "I'm glad. Tell Elliott I say hello."

"Will do! And, ah..." Her expression turned vaguely sheepish. "I don't think I've properly thanked you. For what you did for me, I mean. So, thank you, Brielle."

"Of course. It was nothing," I dismissed. "So, about that drink?" One upside about Winithas was that the drinking age was seventeen, so I was in the clear.

"Ah, right. Let me think..." She tapped her chin. "I suppose you're not exactly a seasoned drinker. How about something sweet?"

"Sweet is good."

"Ace." Miseris turned and reached for a skinny, dark green bottle with a gold-leafed label and poured a shot into a small glass. "This is a local specialty; a liqueur that's aged in an enchanted barrel, if you can believe that. Tastes a little like fruit and nuts, and there's a bit of a kick to it." She then added the shot to a tall glass with ice, mixed in some bright red juice and a shimmery blue syrup, and topped the whole thing off with a thinly sliced berry. "Give it a whirl."

I took a sip and was pleasantly surprised. The drink was fruity, sweet, and tangy, with just the right amount of alcohol and a smooth finish. "This is delicious. Thanks! What do I owe you?"

She winked. "It's on the house. As long as you don't go telling anyone, eh?"

"Deal. Thank you."

I took another drink and looked out into the tavern. The masses seemed to grow as more and more people flooded inside. I turned back to Miseris, but she was already busy serving some other customers farther down. So, I took a long sip of my cocktail and let out a relaxed sigh. It felt good to sit and watch the crowd for a while, and the music and noise was strangely comforting. For once, I wasn't the centre of attention. In fact, no one paid me any mind at all. It was refreshing.

After a few minutes, someone slid onto the stool next to me. I quickly pulled my scarf back up over my nose. I wondered if they'd recognized me before realizing how crowded the bar was. Maybe this was just the last free seat. Still, I surveyed the figure from the edge of my vision to ensure they weren't a threat. The furtive young man also had a hood obscuring his face, but the warm light from the sconces illuminated his profile. My breath hitched in my throat.

It was none other than Prince Zyel.

He didn't seem to notice me as he leaned on the counter and waited to get Miseris' attention. I quickly glanced around the room, but couldn't see any sign of his guards or other royal family members. Was he alone? Did he come here often? If so, how had I not noticed him before?

I watched him curiously. His posture was relaxed. He had one hand propped up under his chin and the other drumming along to the music. He was dressed much more casually than the last time I'd seen him, and without his cape and expensive jewels, he looked like an ordinary civilian. Well-groomed, but ordinary.

Miseris finally finished serving the people at the other end of the bar and made her way over to us. She stopped dead in her tracks upon seeing Zyel, but quickly recovered her composure. "Your Highness! It's an honour." She bowed deeply.

"Ah, I prefer not to be addressed as such when I'm here. I'm just a typical patron, like the rest of these fine people," he responded casually.

"Of course, my apologies. What can I get for you tonight?" Miseris asked while wiping the counter down.

"Um... I'll have whatever my friend here is having," he decided, gesturing toward me. If I'd been drinking, I would've aspirated right then and there.

"Friend?" Miseris looked between the two of us and a knowing smile crept across her face. My eyes pleaded with her to shut up. "...Sure. I'll get right on it."

Zyel leaned forward and peered at me but didn't say anything. I could feel him watching me, and I got the urge to pull my hood down and leave. But, I stayed. I couldn't afford to cause a scene.

"Here you go," Miseris spoke up minutes later, sliding a tall glass in front of him. The drink was identical to mine.

Zyel took a long sip and let out a happy sigh. "Thank you. This is fantastic. Would you let me compensate you for this?"

She just shooed away his offer. "No need."

"You sure? I insist."

"Don't worry about it, Your High– Uh, sir. I'll just start a tab for you," she said, then bowed again and left to take someone else's order.

"A tab?" Zyel murmured in confusion. He leaned closer to me, and I held my breath. "What is a 'tab'?" he whispered.

"Um, it's, uh... Basically like a credit. You pay for everything on the tab later," I stammered, trying to disguise my voice.

"Ah, I see. Very clever... Say, I know we don't know each other, but would you mind keeping me company? It's always a bit awkward drinking alone."

"Uh, yeah, sure." I turned to face him a bit more, and my eyes wandered over his form. His clothes were simple, but still obviously tailored to fit him perfectly. Under his navy leather coat, he wore a crisp, white button-up shirt, the top two buttons undone, and dark slacks. It was a bit strange seeing him in regular attire. It made him seem a little less intimidating, and I was thankful for that.

Zyel noticed my wandering gaze and gave me a cheeky smirk.

I averted my eyes, feeling flustered.

"My, you're not very talkative, are you?" he remarked. I shrugged. "That's all right, we can just sit here and enjoy the ambience." He lifted his glass, observing its contents. "I must say, this is quite good. I'll have to remember it. What do you think? Is it too sweet for your taste?"

I shook my head. "No, it's good," I answered softly.

"I agree," the Prince laughed. "I usually prefer a strong drink, but I have a bit of a sweet tooth." He took another sip. "Y'know, it's a little hard to hear your voice with all this noise, but I swear I've heard it before. And your eyes strike me as familiar... Have you visited the castle recently?"

"I have," I said, keeping my response short and vague. I couldn't believe he was being so casual and friendly. He was very social and easygoing – a stark contrast to his twin brother.

"I knew it! We have met before, haven't we?" Zyel exclaimed. I didn't respond. "I apologize for not remembering. I've met thousands of people, as you can imagine. ...Your name evades me yet. What is it, again?"

I hesitated. Maybe I could've lied and given him a fake name, but that felt wrong. I didn't want to lie to the Prince. Rather than saying anything, I simply hooked a finger around the edge of my scarf and pulled it down to my neck.

His jaw went slack. "Miss Brielle? Wow, I'm sorry. I didn't recognize you," he chuckled. "Why are you all bundled up?"

"I didn't want to draw attention to myself."

"Oh? And why is that?"

"Because your parents have forbidden me from being out in public alone."

"They forbade you? What for? You've done nothing wrong."

I furrowed my eyebrows, wondering if he was serious. "Take a wild guess."

Zyel's mouth curved downward and he glanced at the floor. "I see," he sighed. "Father's always been like that... Overprotective. I would know."

"Speaking of, what are you doing here, of all places? Where are your bodyguards?"

"Standing outside my empty bedroom, I'm sure," he laughed. "I sneak out all the time, to get a taste of the outside world. You could say that I'm addicted to it."

"Really?"

"Absolutely."

I couldn't help but admire his rebelliousness. He was the Crown Prince of an entire realm, yet he felt the need to sneak around and escape his life. It reminded me a bit of myself.

"So, what brought you here tonight?" Zyel asked, sipping his drink.

I nodded in Miseris' direction. "Came to see a friend."

"Is that so? That's rather kind of you," he remarked.

"Yeah. She just started working here, actually."

"How's the job going for her?"

"She says it's going well."

"Good, good." Zyel fidgeted and began toying with the ends of his hair. I didn't know why he was suddenly so antsy, but the tension between us was palpable. "Hey, um..." he said after a moment. "Do you mind if I ask you something personal?"

I felt a spike of nerves. "Personal?"

"Sorry; you don't have to answer, of course. Just tell me to bugger off and I'll leave you be."

"No, it's fine. Go ahead," I urged, a bit curious.

"Okay." He hesitated for a few seconds. "...Why is it you don't like me? Is it because of my family's actions?"

I was stunned. I almost dropped my glass. That was not the question I'd been expecting. "I-I'm sorry?" I stuttered. "What makes you think that?"

He explained, "Well, it's... We've met several times now, and you seem rather apprehensive of me. Not that I can blame you. It's a valid feeling, I guess. But... Forgive me for sounding a bit full of myself, but I'm kind of…used to being liked by nearly every girl I meet. I can't help wondering why you're an exception."

I felt my cheeks flush. "What? You're a prince. There's a lot of people who adore you."

"That may be true, but I'm not asking them. I'm asking you." His sapphire eyes bore into me, searching for an answer.

If I had no respect for Zyel, I would've laughed right in his face. "Look, it's not that I don't like you. I just don't...fancy you. Not like that. I mean, even if I did, you're a prince and I'm Earthborn. And you're nineteen."

"Would that make for a strange age difference on Earth?" he questioned.

"It depends, but it can be," I clarified. "Also... I hope it doesn't seem like I'm overstepping, but... Maybe the main reason why you like me so much is because I'm from Earth."

He was silent for several beats, thinking. "How so?"

"I dunno. Maybe you think it's cool, or different, or exciting. Maybe it makes me stand out, like a novelty item or something. But I'm still a person, like any other. You have your entire life ahead of you to explore Earth on your own. You don't need me for that. And there's more to me than where I'm from."

"Hmm..." he hummed, mulling over my words. "That's...very true. I hadn't thought of it that way. You're right. Thank you for setting me straight. I'm sorry; it seems I've made a fool of myself... Again."

"I wouldn't say that," I chuckled. "You're fine. You were just curious."

"I was," he admitted, staring into his glass.

"Besides, I'm not entirely opposed to being friends."

He looked at me. "Really?"

I smiled. "Yeah. You're fun, and I could probably use your help again sometime, to be honest."

Zyel's eyes widened, and a bright grin appeared on his face. It was a very genuine one that suited him. "In that case, let's start over. Shall we?" he asked, his posture straightening.

"Yes. It's nice to meet you," I said with a bow of my head.

"Likewise. It's a pleasure." He returned the gesture.

I joked, "Your Highness, is this a trick? Are you going to capture me after this?"

"Haha! Spare me. If I can handle my father, I can handle a light rejection," he replied, winking.

We laughed and continued chatting. Our conversation flowed easily, and the more I talked to him, the more I enjoyed his presence. I could see the appeal that other girls saw in him. He was understanding and likable, and despite the drastic differences between us, we had a fair bit in common. Regardless, I was positive that I only liked him as a friend. It was nice to know that not all royalty was stuck-up and snobbish, at least. We stayed at the tavern for a while, talking, laughing, and drinking. I left well before midnight, grateful that I could sleep in once I'd returned to Earth, knowing that it would be almost three in the morning.

When I was finally able to slip away unnoticed, Zyel had asked, "Are you certain you don't need an escort back outside? It's late, and not the safest."

"No, it's okay. I'll just walk around back and teleport home," I'd assured him.

He'd become amused at my nonchalant use of 'teleport'. "Ah, right. Then, I thank you for the pleasant evening. Safe travels!"

"Goodnight, Your Highness."

"Goodnight, Your Luminary," he'd added with a smirk.

As I left, Zyel tipped Miseris generously, which made her ecstatic. Before parting ways, he reminded me that I'd see him again in two days. I'd almost forgotten about that. I had to admit, the event wasn't something I was looking forward to. However, I knew it wasn't something that I could get out of, either.