Zerine glanced to Varino, who was still mediating.

“How did you get over on to this ledge?” Zerine wondered as she stretched.

Varino burbled in reply, not opening her eyes.

“You…created a mana barrier bubble and flew over here while stopping me from falling!?” Zerine said, impressed.

Varino nodded and grinned, eyes still closed.

“Damn Varino, you're awesome! And thanks for saving me again.”

Varino chimed bitterly, saying that she would like the purple and green spirit fruits as payment.

“You're charging me!” Zerine said, feigning being stunned and hurt.

Varino opened an eye and whistled.

“You're doubling it now! By the gods, the power is getting to your head. Wait till mom finds out,” Zerine teased.

That got Varino quickly whistled, saying she was kidding, but it turned into a cheer as a spirit fruit appeared in Zerine’s hand.

“I know you were kidding, silly. But-” She pulled the fruit back from Varino, “we only have a few, so we are saving the rest for when you really need them alright,” Zerine said.

Varino nodded fiercely, reaching out with both her hands. Zerine chuckled, handing the fruit over, which Varino happily took a delighted bite out of.

Once Varino had finished the fruit, which took far less time than Zerine had anticipated, they started upwards again. Soon they both were grateful they took the time to recover after the golems. The rest of their ascent was full of constant fighting, while attempting to traverse yet more obstacles. There were even actual monsters too, not just golems. In short, the rest of their ascent made the early part look like a joke.

It was a constant struggle, but the two kept going. Even when Zerine had an arm broken, along with a torn shoulder, she kept fighting. Then got an earful from Varino about reckless actions and pushing herself too much. In the end, Zerine still ended up with injuries ranging from minor to some broken bones. Later, both would agree there was more fighting than the days with the mass monster manifestations back on the island.

***

Cassel and Kaz stood atop the mountain watching as first Varino stumbled into view. The spirit looking ready to drop at any moment as she used her staff more like a crouch. Next, Zerine arrived and, well, Cassel had to admit he was surprised that the Celarian was still moving.

Zerine had small trails of smoke drifting up from…seemingly everywhere, Cassel observed. Every stepped looked like it took a force of will. Then there was her head. A large patch of hair had been burned away from a fight with an elemental spider. In those purple eyes, he saw determination locked on to the finish line, which was marked by a line of runes. He was about to praise them as the two as they crossed the finish line, when Zerine fell to her knees, then fell and rolled on to her back, ignoring the puff of soot that came from her impact on to the ground. Varino sat, resting her back on Zerine’s side. Zerine’s eyes were closed, and she was breathing hard. Even the spirit was panting even though she didn’t have lungs.

“Well done!” Kaz said, actually meaning it. But in that moment, Zerine could barely focus on the words from the trainers. She just wanted to catch her breath, rest, and a bath. Gods, a warm bath would be perfect.

Varino managed a weak cheer, slowly lifting one fist into the air.

“Yes, good job. It’s a little before lunch. So, we will have you two recover before you do the other affinity ascent challenges in area,” Cassel said.

Varino's fist flopped down as she chittered.

“That’s an over exaggeration. You two didn’t almost die,” Cassel said. It was true. In his opinion, there were only a few instances he would deem truly dangerous, but the two had handled themselves admirably. Even if he viewed using training resources on a crestless a waste, Zerine had proven to be full of surprises. But one training session wouldn’t easily sway his opinion. His bet was that she would quit when the training got harder, and it would get harder.

Varino’s high pitch burble begged to differ, which Cassel choose to ignore.

“You and I will go to a place that will help you recover quicker. As for Zerine,” Cassel looked down at the girl, whose eyes were closed. She was taking in long slow breaths and letting them out slowly. “A recovery potion should do the trick.”

Zerine’s brow furrowed for a moment, the only reaction that she gave that she even heard his words.

“On your feet, you get two hours,” Cassel said.

Varino sighed and slowly got to her feet.

Zerine rolled to her side, then crawled away before heaving. Cassel sighed. This wasn’t the first time a recruit had this reaction. It wasn’t even the first for Zerine. This was the second time she had upended her stomach. First being after Varino had healed her head from the being burned.

Kaz winced at the stench. Their sense of smell was stronger than most warm bloods, well, other than Beastkin, of course. So, the smell of sick, even downwind, was pungent to them.

In a blink, Varino appeared next to Zerine, holding back what remained of the Celarian’s long hair, all the while softly cooing and rubbing Zerine’s back. Cassel created a stronger breeze to keep the smell away. It was only a few minutes later when Zerine had recovered enough for them to vanish in a flash of light.

***

Marigold stood waiting in the clearing where they had seen Zerine off early that morning. Nerel stood next to her, waiting eagerly for her friend to return. A flash of blue light announced the dragon rider named Bob’s arrival.

It was Bob, right? Marigold thought. Bob was not a name she would have ever associated with a dragon rider. Could it be short for Bobren? Boblin? Marigold’s train of thought was interrupted as she what the human was carrying. Bob was carrying an unconscious Zerine while Varino stood next to the rider looking up at her firend, worry etched in the tiny face.

“What happened?” Marigold wondered, walking up to Bob. Suddenly, she froze mid-step upon seeing that Zerine’s purple hair had patches missing and a streak along the left side of her head appeared to have been burned away.

“The short story is Varino and Zerine nearly completed the fourth training area, and she pushed herself well past her limits,” Bob replied, handing Zerine over as Marigold inspected the young lady’s body with her mana.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

“And the long story?” Marigold wondered, doing a deep examination to make sure there weren’t any urgent problems.

“Hmm, I don’t really know the complete story. But Cassel is kinda pissed at both Varino and Zerine,” Bob said, scratching the back of his head.

Varino chimed indignantly.

“Oh, so it wasn’t your fault you two somehow destroyed not one, but two training areas,” Marigold grumbled. Nerel snorted a laugh, but quickly covered it up with a cough when Marigold shot her a look.

“Aah well, I don’t really know the complete story. Just that he isn’t happy. Will she be able to recover enough for training tomorrow?” Bob wondered, sounding like he hoped Zerine wouldn’t be able to.

“Tomorrow!?” Nerel exclaimed.

“We’ll help with the hair. But she’ll be the one to decide that. How are you, Varino? Your mana is extreme low,” Marigold wondered.

Varino burbled tiredly, which got an understanding nod from Marigold and Nerel. Fighting what were essentially multiple mass monster manifestations that were all D-rank would drain anyone, if not be the end for many.

“We got it from here. Thank you, Bob, see you tomorrow,” Marigold said, turning away with Zerine still in her arms.

Nerel bowed her head, and Varino waved, somehow managing to give her usual bright farewell. Bob returned the wave, and the spirit skipped to catch up with the others.

When the others were gone, Bob looked up at the sky in time to watch Arashi land.

“You could have said the crestless had bizarre willpower capabilities,” he thought to her.

“Hmm, bizarre?” Arashi thought back, amused for some reason.

“Yeah,” he thought back as he climbed on to her back.

“You know, from what I saw of those recordings, she has insights that you three don’t…yet, for willpower.”

“Are you serious?”

“Take the time to watch how she fights, and you’ll slowly pick up on it. Also, don’t tell the others. They will need to come to the realization themselves. I’m only telling you because I want you to figure out how she does what she does,” Arashi replied, as her four powerful wings launched them into the sky.

“So, you’re fine training with her?”

“Potential takes many shapes and forms. I believe giving everyone a chance to bloom is what will bring lasting change to our world.”

Arashi’s thoughts made Bob think. Arashi always chose her words carefully. For her to not only point out the strange willpower, but to be alright with training Zerine made him think. Silence fell as they flew with the setting sun. The emerald sky was a light with yellows and vibrant purples.

“Change, huh? Is it alright if I’m afraid what this era will bring?” he thought.

“Fear is part of life. Learning to overcome and control fear helps us grow and change, so it’s normal.” Bob smiled, but Arashi wasn’t done and her words made him feel a tingling sensation go down his spin. “But I fear those two will be in the middle of it all. I also have suspicions as to why both the fairies and the Lord of Water are watching those two. And if I’m right, your fear is more than justified.”

***

When Zerine woke, she made it in time to eat dinner with the others, where she and Varino had to explain their training and the condition Zeirne had been in. When they heard that Zeirne had needed healing along with stamina recovery potions, the others just stared at her and Varino.

“What?” Zerine wondered, her gaze flicking from one shock look to another.

They were sitting in a dining room in a pod near the middle of the cluster that made up Marigolds compound-like household. It was far smaller than back at home, but it still comfortably fit twenty people. Five out of the twenty were staring at her and Varino. The only one sitting near her who wasn’t openly starring was Marigold, who was calmly eating, only raising an eyebrow at Zerine’s words as she went on.

“I was told it was going to be hard. So, it kinda fell into my expectations,” Zerine said. “The only things that weren’t expected were the explosions.”

That got Marigold to blink rapidly while the others gasped.

“Yeah, the first one was by accident. I used an arrow that can pierce rock that had some rope on it so I wouldn’t fall off a cliff that was collapsing. We were fighting a stone golem. And I must have hit a mana crystal right as it absorbed a ton of mana. That sent me right off the side of the-”

“Hold up!” Neler said. “It sounds like your story is out of order.”

“Wait…you said the first was an accident. What about the second one?” Kamar commented.

“Oh, the first was a completely crazy accident. As for the second…” Zerine glanced to Varino, who was munching happily on small Raindrop fruits. The fruit was deep blue with dots of red and the size of grape. It was a type of natural treasure that grew on a bush and tasted like a cross between a strawberry but with the texture of a grape. Or at least that was she had read. They had firmly refused to let her taste the fruit.

Varino saw the glance, pausing with her mouth open, about to take another bite. The little spirit chimed in defense of her actions.

“You made it look like an accident. But two in one day? And where did you get a destabilized mana crystal?”

Varino’s eyes turned round at Zerine’s words. By the end she had winced, slouching slightly, her shoulders near her pointed ears, and gave Zerine a sheepish slime. She burbled.

“Oooh yeah, I saw the tiny, destabilized mana crystal. Those were for me to experiment with not be used like blast powder containers.”

Varino chimed.

“You were lucky our trainers didn’t see. And if they did, I am certain they would have given us shit for it.”

The two bantered, while the others look on amused.

Neler leaned over to Kamar. “Why do I feel like our quiet village is going to become quite,” she paused, searching for the right words.

“Fun!” Kamar suggested with a grin.

“…Rowdy,” Neler said, giving her friend an exasperated look.

Kamar just shrugged. “I feel like those two will always be like this. Even after all the etiquette lessons.”

“Gods, Marcy is going to lose her mind teaching those two,” Neler commented, making Kamar bark a laugh.

***

“Zerine,” Marigold said, walking up to sit in a cushioned chair next to her.

It was after dinner and Varino had gone off with the others to meditate in affinity rich environments. They had created one just for Varino, who was ecstatic to be in a room full of storms. Zerine had moved to the small library and found a balcony that was open to the forest, which was where she choose to be where she would read before bed.

Zerine glanced up from a book about runes.

“What’s up?” Zerine wondered.

“I wanted to discuss something with you about your time here and a question,” Marigold said, looking out to the forest.

“I’m all ears,” Zerine repli3d.

“First, we are going to have to make sure you know etiquette for proper conversations with those that out rank you. And what the fairies and dragons expect. You're too used to Ava’s and Cal’s lax rules. But that will happen in a few days after you're done with the dragons for the week.”

Zerine had winced at Marigold’s slightly sharp tone when she talked about etiquette, but winced when she said after the dragon training. Dread rushed through Zerine for a moment. The training was hard, incredibly hard, and she would have to do that again tomorrow.

Seeing her reaction, Margold smiled knowingly. “This talk will be quick, so you can go to bed early, especially after all the potions and healing you’ve had today. Your body needs the rest and recovery.” She pulled her legs up to sit in the chair crosse-legged. “But first I’ll tell you about the training. Vinessa will train you combat. Marcy will teach you etiquette for both ours, dragons, elves, and mystic cultures. Oh, and other languages as well.”

“I can speak four languages,” Zerine said, confused.

“I know,” Marigold said brightly. “But you need practice. And dragons and fairies have their own. And I would recommend you learn them. Especially when I take you on some diplomatic trips.”

Zerine stared at Marigold, a mix of excitement, nervousness, and a little of fear.

“You’ll have to impress both Marcy and me to come on those trips. But Kamar is going to be brought to the fire sect in the Burning Plains for her trial of adulthood. A trip I know you’ll want to come along with, as it will be the last time you’ll see each other for some time.”

A twinge of panic shot through Zerine as another friend would be gone. But after shoving aside the panic, she took a breath in and let it out slowly. She would go away soon too. And it wasn’t like the others were going to spread out as well. They would all be going their separate ways for…years. An event they would have to prepare for so they could keep in contact.

“That sounds like a fun trip!” Zerine said after regaining her composure.

“Good, so that is your incentive to do your best with etiquette, something you barely passed in the temple,” Marigold said, which made Zerine wince. Her mother must have told Marigold a lot about where Zerine was lacking.

“How long will these trips be?”

“A week or two at most. You’ll still have training on them as well, so don’t worry about getting behind. A part of this year and half is for you to get exposed to more of the real world and to socialize. Even if it’s in a formal setting.”

Zerine fought back a shutter. She really wanted to go on those trips, even if they meant large gatherings and formalities. Even if she hated formalities and etiquette, she would bear it for those trips.

“Now I have one question,” Marigold said, leaning forward. “What drives you?”