Won looked down at Raiden’s unconscious form.
“You know at first I debated if you had gone a little too hard on him, but now…yeah a day unconscious Ren is telling,” Won said, folding his arms, giving the shadowy figure next to him a side eye glare.
Another shimmering form appeared on Won’s left.
“I agree, your tests are too brutal,” a feminine voice said.
Won glanced at the Mist blade, who was frowning at Ren.
“He passed. Is that not enough?” Ren, the Spirit Balde, grumbled, looking down at his new partner. “And it was good willpower training, even if it wasn’t truly life and death situation. Who did you get to fake, dying this time?”
“Remember that Lisa girl?”
“Oh, I liked her! Pity her affinities weren’t aligned with mine. Same goes for that, Naomi girl too,” the Mist blade remarked.
“Hmm, the one with dark and water affinity?” Won nodded, smiling. The fact that Ren even remembered her at all was a good sign of her future potential. “I held hopes she would try again, but I guess her will wasn’t enough.”
“No, actually she wanted to try again, but losing both her legs made her parents panic, so I put in a word for her to be added to the list whenever the next Spirit Blade that matches her affinity is created or becomes available.”
“What about me?” The Mist Balde wondered.
“Your still young, Misty. Water and air affinities are plentiful. You’ll find someone soon, I suspect,” Ren said.
“I’m no B-ranker anymore Ran, so you don’t have to reassure me of that. But bringing this back to him,” Misty replied, her glowing blue eyes narrowing and pointing at Raiden. “You should apologize for pushing so him far.”
“Hmm,” Ren remarked flatly.
“Hey now, let’s not argue. His hand is reattached, and I managed to rid Rai of some minor scars so it could be worse,” Won said.
“See, I didn’t go too hard,” Ren said, gesturing to Won.
“Woah, I also didn’t say that,” Won interjected before Myst could say anything. “I was fine with the willpower test, but damn, all that blood took three hours to clean up. And you pushed him so far past his magic and willpower limit he hasn’t even stirred once. His sister has threatened me like fifty times already.”
“You should have her come back. I like talking to her,” Misty remarked.
“She is going to get a healer friend of mine to check Rai out.”
“Oooh no, not that Lucent Devil woman,” Ren groaned.
“Hey, she is bringing her disciple too, so it should be a fun visit. I so look forward to watching you get scolded by this continent’s best healer,” Won said, grinning, while Myst giggled as Ren facepalmed.
“I don’t believe I’ve seen you like this Ren,” Myst teased.
“He’s just remembering the last scolding,” Won said, who went to pat Ren’s shoulder, but his hand went through the clouds of shadow. "Maybe this time she won't put you in a prison of infinite light," Won said.
Ren shuttered in response.
“Your Iridesium-rank, why such a reaction?” Misty wondered.
“Don’t underestimate Raith. But you’ll meet her soon, Misty,” Won said, then crouched next to Raiden. “But I think we should move him to the extra room at the Blades’ housing. Oooh, all the training you and I are going to do will be fun, Ria.”
***
Zerine watched the others start magic training with Sashi, Shiya, and Zara. Markilo was off somewhere with some of the other training instructors, so Zerine was left to her own devices. A very dangerous proposition because, much like Varino, boredom made her want to do something, anything, to distract herself. It was up for debate if it was Varino’s influence on her or the other way around. If her mother and Raith were right, then it was both of them being crazy.
Hmm, why do so many names end with A and I? She wondered idly. She didn’t want to go back to her side project of opening that the puzzle box, which had been the bane of her existence. Zerine wasn’t sure why, but she had hoped that she and Sashi would have been able to open the box, or maybe she could contribute significantly.
“Boy, was I wrong,” she muttered.
“Wrong about what?” came a voice behind her.
Zerine jumped and turned to find her mother standing behind her with her arms folded, an eyebrow raised. Varino chimed a greeting and flew into her chest.
“Hey, had some good one-on-one training?” Zerine wondered.
Variho whsitled brightly.
“She actually didn’t blow up the dummy this time. Took her a while to tune her mana usage with her concept, but now she can rejoin the others for magic training,” Ava said before Varino could go into detail.
Varino pouted that Ava took her thunder, but Zerine gave her one more squeeze before lettiner her go.
“Have fun and don’t pick on Mili, but do pick on Neil and Naro,” Zerine said.
Varino gave the fairy salute, where her right arm moved to her left shoulder with her hand in a fist. She chimed before zooming off on a cloud.
Ava sighed. “She is absolutely going to do that, you know?”
“Yep!” Zerine said cheerfully. She turned and called to the others. “Have fun, you guys. On, and watch out, Varino has some new tricks.”
Naro’s shoulders slumped, and he threw his head back, groaning. Neil’s eye went wide, while Shara giggled, and Estel cheered. With one more wave, Zerine headed towards the portal out of the dimensional training island.
“Not practicing willpower?” Ava wondered, getting instep with her.
“Nooo,” Zerine grumbled. “Zara and Mili saw me wiping blood from my nose and they had me stop.”
“Good. So, you and Mili seemed to have sorted whatever awkwardness was between you two,” Ava remarked as they strolled along the beach.
Zerine snorted. “It’s still a little awkward, but improving. Are we friends?” Zerine shrugged. “Maybe we can be, but it will take some time to get there.”
Ava was eyeing her, but smiled. “It will take small steps, but I think it’s a good thing for you to start branching out more.”
“What does that mean?” Zerine said, her gaze narrowing but fixated on the portal that seemed only to get further away.
“Well, I know you and Varino are inseparable, but it’s been a worry of ours how…” Ava let out a breath. “How it seems like you're lonely.”
Zerine had expected her parents, wanting her to spend more time socialising, but Ava’s words hit closer to home than she expected.
Am I lonely? She wondered, but pushed aside the thought as soon as it occurred to her. It could be something she thought in greater detail later.
“You and Dad have been getting a lot better at hiding your emotions. Is it a technique or something? I would like to learn it in case I run into someone like me.”
Ava smiled. “We’ve been starting to improve the technique, but with limited success. We’ve only been able to make it work with S and Gold-rank mages, probably because of how the mind is enhanced while advancing through the ranks. What we discovered is that your ability isn’t psionic in nature, but something else. We tried some items meant to help protect the mind and you still figure things out.”
“Wait, when did you do that?” Zerine wondered, raising an eyebrow.
“Zara and Sashi tried it out while on one of those little city excursions. But you can’t change the subject.”
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Zerine sighed. “I’ll be spending a lot of time with my fairy friends and dragon soon.”
“Ah…about Terri and the others,” Ava said. Her tone was that of someone realizing that they were the ones bearing news that they really didn’t want to pass along. “I don’t suppose with that training in the city you’ve heard the rumours about the intersectin9?”
“The ones about how it’s ending early and has everyone one edge? People seem to think it’s some sort of omen or sign of significant changes coming.”
“That would be the one. Well, many dragons are returning to old nesting ground here, but there are those that will migrate like they have been since long before the first empire,” Ava said.
Zerine’s shoulders slumped. “And Falkor’s family is one of those dragon flights leaving, right?” she breathed, her stride slowing. She sighed and looked up at the partly cloudy sky.
Am I lonely? I have Varino, the dragons, some fairy friends, and Neil. Then there are…pretty much everyone in the compound, some at the templlle…shit, she thought. She kinda was lonely. She and Varino were the best friends other than the dragons. But Varino also had other friends here in the compound, while she, she was going to lose nearly all her closet friends, and this separation felt like it would be longer than what Kimi’s departure had felt.
I never asked how the environment in this space was created or if the sun in the sky was real or fake, she thought, trying to distract herself from the spiraling thoughts.
“Zerine?” Ava wondered, pulling Zerine from her failed distraction attempt.
“I’m fine. It makes sense,” Zerine said, resuming to her faster stride.
“It’s okay to be upset about it.”
“Really, I’m fine. We’ll figure something out to stay in contact, I’m sure,” Zerine replied, not meeting her mother’s gaze. Why was the damn portal so far away?
“Hmm,” Ava replied, but shrugged. “We are here if you want to talk and whenever you need to. But,” her tone became brighter, “I think you’ll enjoy your time with the fairies and remaining dragons. It’ll take you out of your comfort zone and you’ll be with friends and people around your age and, of course, you’ll have Varino with you too.”
“My comfort zone?”
“The temple, here, and most of the city,” Ava said, putting a finger up for each one she listed. “This is your home and it’s great you're comfortable here, but I believe this time away will help you get out of your shell. I know,” she said, putting up a hand to stop Zerine from interrupting. “I know that a lot of it has to do with your…instincts. But it’s time for you to start branching out in other areas that aren’t related to training, alchemy, and gods know what else you and Varino get up to.”
“I’ll be more comfortable there than you, imagine,” Zerine replied, and she finally stepped into the portoal, appearing in the compound once again.
“Oh?” Ava wondered, stepping next to her.
Zerine had really hoped that her mother would stay to train with the others, but clearly this conversation was going to be dragged out of her, whether she liked it or not.
“I’ve felt more comfortable with creatures, spirits, fairies, and dragons than most other people. I don’t know why, but I just do. Maybe for fairies and dragons it’s that their cultures and prospectives are so different that I don’t feel so self conscious. But I really don’t know,” Zerine said, getting a little frustrated that she couldn’t put a finger on why she felt the way she did. Was it they approached her with no judgement? Well, the fairies didn’t, for the most part, and dragons always did unless they approved of you, and she knew the dragons approved of her and Varino.
“Hmm, interesting. We will have to see if you think that way after living with them for over a year,” Ava commented. “Either way, it’ll take you of your comfort zone, which will prepare you for living at which ever academy you get into.”
“I thought about that and I want to go to Wisteria Academy.”
“Good choice. It just happens to be one of the more difficult ones to get into, but we can focus on that when it gets closer. What are your plans for your birthday and the rest of the day?”
“I plan to look at that puzzle a little, then work on some work that Ai and Vinyáya sent my way. Then training,” Zerine replied.
“Is that it?”
“Yep,” Zerine replied brightly.
Ava sighed. “This is one of those things that has us worried. We don’t want you to burn out from over working yourself. And-”
“And the fact I’m fine with just a special dinner with the families in the compound makes you worried about my lack of socializing,” Zerine finished. Her mother’s emotional control had slipped. Whatever she had been doing, it must take a lot of concentration, which made Zerine feel a twinge of guilt for sensing her mother’s actual worry. It also wouldn’t take a genius to tell Ava was truly worried. It was all over her body language, from the small worry lines on her brow, the thin line her lips were in currently, and her tone even if it was still bright, it had an edge to it.
“I’ll spend my free time with the dragons before…” she faltered. “Before they leave. Also, Sashi and Zara are pretty strict about me over working too, so I wouldn’t worry about me burning out. I’m also like Varino. Sitting still doing nothing that doesn’t keep my mind busy is awful.”
That made Ava smile. “Fine, I won’t push. Just remember to relax and take care of yourself from time to time. And don’t be afraid to try new things.”
“Duly noted, but I’ll see you later and thanks mom,” Zerine said, turning down the hall towards Sashi’s work room.
Ava watched Zerine go and sighed. That hadn’t gone exactly the way she had wanted, but she hoped the upcoming time away would open the shell that Zerine had built up over the years.
***
Drasil’s avatar sat cross-legged, waiting patiently in a room that she had shaped a tree to create. It was near the center of the Great Froest, near her true body, in fact. Her avatar in this era she had tweaked just a bit. She kept the flowering vines that comprised her hair, but changed her eye color to gold with fractal green flecks.
She had been waiting for a few days now, but when you ask the World Spirit to manifest, you had to accept that its concept of time differed from mortals. Although she couldn’t really be annoyed because she was like the spirit in that regard. Like, how was she supposed to know a month went by while she mediated when it felt like a day to her? Alright, that wasn’t entirely true. She had ignored those that had come by if they weren’t that interesting and she was also waiting for a delivery. A delivery that brought what she had been looking for. Something to entice the World Spirit.
“Drasil, it’s been what an era?” a gravity voice wondered. A being appeared that took the appearance of a human with light brown skin and black hair streaked with silver. Piercing grey eyes dimly glowed, which looked Drasil up and down.
“Yeah, World Spirit, or at least I think so. But it’s hard to tell, not much as happened the past few eras,” Drasil replied, giving the man a beaming smile. “This one is already shaping to be something interesting. Maybe I’ll finally find a partner worthy to ascend with.”
“Hmm, perhaps,” the World Spirit said, returning the smile. “It’s an era that will lead to many changes, all of which are hidden as fate and karmic threads are a mess. But it certainly has been rather interesting to observe so far.”
“Oooh? Do tell?” Drasil said, leaning forward. “Oh, before you start, I crafted your favorite tea. I had the leaves delivered from the fairy’s hidden garden itself.”
She waved a hand and a pot of tea and cups appeared, floating in the air.
“Ah, perfect. Did you add your own special blend? The one you still won’t tell me how to make?” he wondered happily, taking the cup offered to him.
“Sure did,” Drasil replied with a grin.
“Absolutely perfect,” he said after a long sip and a content sigh. Then he began speaking, already knowing what Drasil was curious about.
“A little while back, I watched a Starborn crash into our planet and meet some odd characters. But the most interesting thing was that it went off and fought a corrupted being, leaving an Arcane Stone practically unguarded.”
“And none of the nearby Iridesium-ranks jump at it?”
“They were at parity and I believe either an ascendent or, more likely, gods hid it from most.”
“Hmm, Magic probably. He likes Starborns, and that is quite the prize for one too. But what happened to the corrupted one?”
“Defeated and its influence cleansed.”
“There has been up tick in cursed and corrupted magic,” Drasil commented, letting the cup float in the air.
The World Spirit raised an eyebrow. “Its most likely part of the change in progress.”
“And you're not going to stop them? That magic is dangerous even to those like you or me, not to mention this planet itself. There are parties at play that have affected the renewal intersection, causing it to end early. Then those ancient ones trapped in the Wastelands are stirring. It seems like many things are coming to ahead.”
“Yes, it certainly appears that way and fate itself is becoming harder and harder to read,” the World Spirit said, his smile only growing.
“Annnd you're happy about that?”
“Of course, it’s an era of change and rebirth. I wonder what role you’ll end up playing in all of this. It should be fun to watch,” the man said, chuckling.
“Your going to just observe like always?”
“Like always,” he replied, nodding before taking another sip of tea.
“Well, can you give me some hints or news?”
“Sashi will ascend in a few weeks and has been in the city of Emerald Sky. I would look forward to a farewell gift from her.”
Drasil perked up at that. “I will miss her. Talks with her were always fun. And the things she always seemed to get entangled with were entertaining to watch.”
“Hmm, her influence will certainly be felt in the coming years. That mystic she brought into her coven’s house will be quite the mage.”
“Bela Rouge,” Drasil said nodding. “She’s on my maybe bond with list.”
“I would hold off. Till either you find someone more to your liking and aligned with your concepts comes along or till she is at least B-rank. E-rank is too soon.”
“I knooow, it’s just a running list I’ve had since,” Drasil trailed off and began tapping her cheek, thinking. “Since…I think three ago. Yikes, it’s been a while.”
“I’m certain you’ll find someone. But back to the news. Lord of Water and Lord of Flames have their short list for dragon chosen for this era. Although the Lord of Water seems to be rather patient with his choice, whereas Lord of Flames has found a solar fairy that meets both his concepts and personality criteria. She will start his trial when she turns eighteen.”
“Now that is interesting news this early in the ear.”
“It’s going to be quite the…chaotic one, I can assure you.”
“Of course, the Primal of Chaos is involved.”
“Yes, there are many gazes on our little world in our reality. It seems something on a grander scale is also starting.”
“Now that,” Drasil said, pointing at the World Spirit, “is news. I don’t know how you get those little tidbits about the higher plan, but that means this era is going to be even more fun than I thought.”
“I don’t know, about fun, but it will certainly make the past five eras look dull in comparison. But,” he said, putting his empty cup down.
“You’re out of tea and I must be going before I draw too many distant gazes, well, other than the Triarch High Council and the Hive representative.”
Drasil sighed. “It was a short, but pleasant talk as always.”
The World Spirit smiled. “Thank you for the wonderful tea. And I’ll leave you with this last thing. I learned from a reliable source that Great Forest isn’t their end goal, but a fragment berried here. You may want to warn the High Council to watch out for bandits.”
“What is berried here?”
“Something that should remain closed. I will not say more on the topic. Till next we meet,” he said with a wave before vanishing.
“Well, that wasn’t ominous or anything,” Drasil muttered. She went to make more tea, but paused and swore. “That little… he took all my prepared tea leaves.”
She spoke to the air, “You do realize that you could have just asked.”
There was no reply.
“Great, now I have errands to run and no tea to make them more pleasant,” she grumbled, getting up before she too vanished.