Feeling far more refreshed than she had the previous day was a good thing, Edeline knew. No more fatigue. No more headaches. Just her ready and able to face whatever the day brought.

There was just one problem though - it wasn't day yet.

She'd awakened to the night sky high overhead, with stars sparkling and glowing against a dark tapestry. It was the very essence of Aether, destined to fade and decay over a span of time far beyond any of their lives. At least, that was what the writings and priests of the Aetheric Order claimed.

Thinking about it always left Edeline feeling hollow and cold. The idea that everything she and her family had done would inevitably vanish eventually was unpleasant. She preferred to focus on other matters, rather than some distant grim fate that could not be stopped. What she did had to mean something, regardless of what a long-dead scholar claimed.

But with everyone still asleep, there was nothing else Edeline could do except look up at the sky, waiting and pondering. While she could see well enough to make out the shapes of people laying around covered in blankets, she did not trust herself enough to not make a noise if she got up to walk around.

Wait a moment...everyone she could see was asleep. Myron wouldn't have...no, Edeline was sure of it. Her brother took their safety very seriously, even though there were a few times it was clearly not necessary. Which meant if no one was standing watch...

...something was wrong.

Feeling around for her sword, Edeline finally found it. She rose to her feet, and with a careful tread made her way through the camp. If it hadn't been so dark, she would have taken a moment to strap her sword to her belt. Perhaps she could put a little distance between her and the camp, then use a light spell.

Either way, Edeline was going to patrol around. She hoped this was just a case of the person on watch going to sleep without waking their replacement. Assuming that, however, could be a terrible mistake. Time to keep her guard up, and make ready to use her spells if it came to that.

This should be far enough away, she thought. "Phosphaira," she spoke, calling forth the familiar light from her hand. With it, she was able to secure her sheathed blade at her side. Edeline quickly dismissed the spell, checking around to make sure no one had seen it.

No one was stirring in the camp, but in the brush in one direction, Edeline could make out the faint gleam of a lantern. Being stealthy was not her realm of expertise, but she could at least try to sneak up on whoever it was. Still, she was painfully aware of every noise she made, every breath she took, as they all seemed far too loud.

However, above those was the sound of low hurried voices as she made her approach. "...and you're sure of that?"

"Of course," another man's voice said, "The elf used healing spells on me. She's definitely a healer."

"So the big man and the healer are the threats. Understood."

So it was someone who Nela had healed, likely while Edeline had been asleep, and this was how he repaid that kindness. Nela was going to be furious when she learned about this.

"We told you all we know." It was a woman's voice this time. "Now let us go, as you promised."

"There's a problem, though. You let that elf heal him, didn't you?" Even from where she lurked, Edeline could hear the malice in those words. "If you were really loyal, you would have refused...right?"

"No, we..." As the man's voice trailed off, Edeline decided the time for lurking unseen was over.

"Corpus volt!" Calling forth the energies for the spell, Edeline strode towards the group. There were four in total - the man and woman backing away from a pair of the knights.

"What in Aether-" one of the men managed to get out before Edeline was in striking range, her sword extended. Empowered with sparking light, her blade went right through his breastplate with a metallic screech.

A tug pulled her sword free. She looked up to see the other knight stumbling as he attempted to flee. Not that she was about to allow him to get away.

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She ran, barely slowed by the underbrush and branches between her and her target. Four paces back, two paces back, and...slice. Catching the back of the man's leg, her swing sent him tumbling to the ground. Before he could even think of recovering, of getting back up to flee again, she had thrust her sword in to finish him off.

Now to deal with the other two.

Returning back the way she came, Edeline saw the man and woman huddled together. On seeing her, the man moved so he was between her and the woman. "Please...spare her."

She wasn't going to kill them, so why...of course, the spell was still active, and she still had her sword drawn. To them, she had to be a terrifying figure in the predawn gloom. Focusing, Edeline let the spell dissipate, leaving the only light being the dropped lantern. She kept her weapon at the ready, wary of there being more knights nearby.

"Why did you try to do that?" she asked.

"I...I thought..." the man stuttered, words apparently failing him.

"We just wanted to be safe," the woman said, voice frosty, "We didn't think we'd be safe here."

Edeline stared at them in disbelief. "So you would try to side with the people who tried to kill you against the people who saved you, and your fellow villagers too? Indeed, you did not think."

A sudden sharp pain made her look down. She was squeezing the hilt of her sword far too tightly. A good way to hurt her hand, Edeline recalled. Glancing around one more time to make certain they were safe, she finally sheathed her sword.

"We're sorry," the man said.

Edeline stopped, considering for a moment. Deciding what should become of these two was not something that should be left to her alone. She'd had her fill of that sort of decision-making, of trying to step into a place that was not fit for her. Not fit to be a lord, not fit to be a lady, just Edeline.

"You can apologize to your fellow villagers," she said, "They can decide what to do with you, come the morning."

They exchanged a shared look, then silently nodded. Slowly rising to their feet, they turned back towards where the others were sleeping.

"Are you...are you a witch?" the man hesitantly asked.

"Thaumaturge." Edeline could not imagine anyone who would willingly take the title of witch. Part of her knew the others would be angry she was being so open about it, but for once it felt good to not have to hide her talents. She already had to hide her bloodline. Could she not have this, at least?

"But that's-" All three, Edeline included, froze as they heard more rustling nearby. Someone was coming.

A moment later, Hamond emerged from the darkness, looking slightly out of sorts. "What's going on?" he asked, glancing between each of them. "Wait, you two?"

Edeline felt herself relax. "I'll explain. You both should get back and get what sleep you can." She let her voice harden. "You'll need it."

The pair hurried past Hamond. He turned briefly to watch them go, then faced Edeline with a confused look.

"They thought they were better off with the knights than us, and could make a deal with them. Us for their lives." Edeline shook her head, still not able to understand what strange logic led them to that. "The knights disagreed. Thankfully I was there."

"Have they found us?" Hamond's confusion gave way to concern.

"A pair of knights were here, but I dealt with them." Edeline took a deep breath, glancing down at where one of the knights now lay. "I did have to use a spell to fight them though."

"I take it they saw it," Hamond said, "Unfortunate, but we couldn't hide it forever."

"Someday we will not need to." It was a hope, a dream Edeline had, finding a place where she and Hamond could openly study thaumaturgy together. A place the two of them could call home, without having to worry about being hunted down.

Rather than say something, Hamond instead pulled Edeline close. Returning the embrace, Edeline felt warm comfort in their shared touch. To think that she had once dutifully expected an arranged marriage to some distant imaginary nobleman. Now, there was only him for her, and her for him.

"So, did I wake you?" Edeline asked gently, ending the tranquil silence.

"I don't know why I woke up, " Hamond admitted, "It just was sudden, like...something felt wrong."

Part of her, the romantic who loved the old tales and poems, wanted to claim Hamond had somehow known she had been in danger. To be honest, it probably had something to do with him sensing the spells being cast. Their studies together had revealed Hamond had an uncanny talent for detecting thaumaturgy at work, even if he could not see it.

Wouldn't it be nice if it was the other way, though.

"So I looked around a little, and saw the lantern's light. Thought it had to be whoever was standing watch, so I went over to speak to them."

"From what I can tell, no one was keeping watch." Edeline frowned, "Did Myron really not arrange it?"

"I'm not sure." Hamond rubbed at his eyes with one hand. "He asked me about doing it, but I wasn't feeling that good, so I told him he'd have to handle it without me. You, of course, were already asleep."

"Unfortunately." Edeline found herself seething. Being little more than a burden, even if it was only for one day, was supremely frustrating.

"We can ask Myron tomorrow, although I'll bet it's something simple like the person he asked to take the watch just sleeping through it."

Her brother trusting some of the villagers to do it would make sense, although Edeline herself would not have just yet. Certainly, going by what just happened, they could not assume any kind of loyalty. Even if they had helped to feed and protect them.

"I hope you are right," Edeline said, stepping back from Hamond. "I guess we have to be the ones to stand guard now."

"Let's do it together then." Hamond extended one hand.

Taking the hand, Edeline smiled in spite of everything. "Together."