The cold water struck me as I sat there in a chair, while gritting my teeth. The icy prickling on my bare skin was hard to ignore as Lady Lura'mi stood there with the bucket. She was as calm as ever as she set the bucket back down and said, "Keep holding it. Now, where is it we get magical energies?"

I took a deep breath as I tried to keep the energy as I said, "It was...the place between the worlds."

She waved her hand over the bucket and slowly water began to form slowly above it and drop into the bucket. Holding the power was a practice to be like that bucket. It had been a few days since the tutoring had started and she had kept me doing so in the room with all the runes. They were the only light still and had been explained as a safeguard against the demons. The elven woman asked, "When does the energy become dangerous?"

The energy that I kept in me waned suddenly and I was suddenly hit with more water. I let out a hissing breath as she said, "Again. Then answer."

The bucket itself hadn't been explained, but I was starting to get some ideas. The circles acted as a way to draw magic itself and did one specific thing. It all had been explained before in the most basic terms, but having been given the effects repeatedly was helpful to understanding.

I took a deep breath and "reached" out for the power. The process was oddly simple. Having experienced it repeatedly through Veline had given me a bit of a head start, apparently. Still, the energy was chaotic and it took all my attention for it to not just slip away. I said, "When it's formed."

Lady Veline continued refilling the bucket as she said, "Wrong. It's always dangerous."

With a flick of her hand, some of the water shot off and struck me in the face. I gritted my teeth and barely prevented the magic from slipping away. She let out an almost music humming before saying, "Mind that it's less so like that. It is always dangerous. Even if demons disappeared, the nature of raw energy is still capable of arm if you exceed what you can hold. If you aren't careful, it could form without your knowledge as you hold it. It could always do something. Forming it into a spell may be far more taxing, but never forget the fact it can skill do damage if you aren't careful."

I sat there silently with the energy contained as best as I was able. It was like trying to hold water with my bare hands. No matter what I did, small bits still seemed to seep out constantly. Once it had drained, I was once again hit with a cold torrent as Lady Lura'mi said, "Enough. Today's progress is clear. A couple more weeks and I suspect we can move to forming. Have you learned the differences there yet?"

I took a deep breath and said, "Forming is...creating the spell but Formed magic is...the circles right?"

She stood there for just long enough to cause me to brace for water. I relaxed as she said, "Forming is the creation of magic sigils. Raw is using the energy yourself and shaping it without them. Try and remember the difference. Forming is taught first because shaping it yourself can kill you quite easily. Especially, humans have a low tolerance for magic being channeled through the body."

I rolled my shoulders, trying to get a feeling back into them, as I asked, "So I get the short end of that stick then?"

Her pale hand stopped it's movements as the stream of liquid ended. This time she left it to sit there as she said, "No. You have the unique capacity to die repeatedly. That gives you access to spells potentially far beyond even us elves. Life itself is a powerful ingredient, even if it is not magic in itself. Sacrificing one as a sort of fuel can be quite useful."

The cold and matter of fact way she had said that sent a chill down my spine far more than the water had. Despite her being a shocking patient of a teacher, I couldn't relax completely around her. No matter how much I tried to tell myself she was helping me and wouldn't hurt me. She slowly reached for the bucket, only to stop just at the handle as I twitched. Lady Lura'mi's eyes stared at me with intent as she said, "One last question. What is the worst outcome?"

The question was something she hadn't asked before. I blinked confused for a moment and asked, "Of using magic? Becoming possessed?"

She stood silent still for a moment and replied with, "Interesting. By the way, I have set up a few things for you to do today. No. I don't care for your input on it. So don't bother complaining."

I now braced myself mentally for whatever nonsense she had signed me up for. Since she had started teaching me, I didn't do much else outside my room. No doubt her statement was brought by the frown I began to make as she spoke. Her hand hovered over still over the bucket still as I asked, "Well, what is it you've forced me into?"

With flawless motion, she flung the water in the bucket on me again, causing me to tense and gasp out. That time was far colder than the others and I jumped to my feet, glaring at her. She said, "Hmm. What did I say about your emotions?"

I bit my lip as I moved away from the chair to a set of towels sitting on the table. As I dried myself off, I heard her mummer something that caused me to pause and slowly look back at her. I couldn't be sure what she said, but I didn't ask. After a few seconds Lady Lura'mi continued, "Well, Baron Montiquen wanted to have tea with you. He seems to find you more interesting than some of his events. And I've grown tired of waiting for you to talk to my daughter, so you'll be forced to join us for dinner. As for the third thing? I've arranged a fitting for some more proper clothing and armor."

As I set the towel down and began putting on my shirt, I felt my heart drop. I had hoped I could continue avoiding Misana. It had been a shock to find out just how many months had passed while I was in that room being purged. I asked exactly what happened, but no one was outright willing to say. My anxiety was partially my own guilt, but the words Salvester was in my mind.

I looked to the elven lady as she turned the bucket upside down on her table. The seal at the bottom glowed lightly till she ran her finger around the edges of the circle. It was much simpler than most of those about the room. She said as she stood there, "Misana asked me to invite you."

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The first immediate thought that came to mind was potentially some form of revenge against me. It's not like killing me was much of an actual issue beyond the days I'd be dead. Still, after a few moments I decided that was not so likely with her. I didn't know her, certainly, but she was far too kind. I thought, *perhaps too kind.*

I hesitantly asked, "Why?"

Lady Lura'mi shifted slightly in her stance and said, "You should understand by now why I can't answer that."

I frowned as she turned her attention back to the bucket, having not even changed her speaking cadence. Outside, she left without another word to me. Anna leaned against the wall and nodded for me to follow, saying, "So, a meeting with the Baron. My, aren't you important."

I rubbed my arms as we walked, trying to regain feeling. The guard said, "No retort to that, then. Oh. So what made you annoyed today?"

The look on her face was that slight sort of grin she liked to wear lately. I let out a small sigh and asked, "Are you ordered to needle at me?"

She let out a fake laugh as she said, "Nope. Now what is it?"

I ignored the question as we left the underground, considering what the Baron might want. I had seen him a few times around the place since he broke me out of the church's jail. The most notable thing I remember was when I saw him outside in the middle of the night dancing in the training yard. Whatever it might be, I worried that I'd not understand at all given that.

Anna cleared her throat, snapping me back to reality. She gave me an exaggerated frown as she said, "So, no answer huh. Sad. Ok then, let's talk about that schedule. Dinner obviously will be later. The fitting first. Then tea time with the...big name."

There was something about that last sentence that gave me a moment of pause. She seemed almost unwilling to follow me to the meeting. I decided to not ask, sense it wasn't any of my business.

The Baron sat with one leg crossed and the cup dangerously held in between a pair of fingers. The smile and the way he eyed me was just skirting being unhinged. Anna stood behind me, quiet and proper looking for once. Baron Montiquen said, amused, "Ah, a beautiful day. I had hoped to have tea sooner with you, my good friend."

We sat in the garden as the sun shined down, looking to be some time around three in the evening. I said, "I must admit your view of me is...far better than most, your highness."

He let out a soft huff and sipped from his cup. He had arrived alone and I couldn't even see any weapon on him. He was utterly at ease as he sat there and that felt completely wrong. He said, "Please, you might as well drop the title. Nothing says 'we're friends' like performing an escape from a prison together, no? My apologies for the time it took to get to you."

I bit the inside of my lip, suppressing the annoyance at being apologized to. I took a moment and said, "Please, no need to ever apologize. I don't understand how the laws are for such a thing, but they are probably complex."

He looked up to the sky and shrugged, saying, "More than most may think. My brother's degree is that the clergies' council and us of noble title are to be on equal footing. What rules we play by is different and the interactions are wildly complex. Boring is a better word, but keep that to yourself. Now, my friend, I suspect you want some explanations?"

I looked down into my tea cup, pondering what would be fine to ask. The royal man was acting friendly, but I reminded myself that such people often were used to putting on acts. I knew generally what everyone but his interest was also. I sipped from my cup, staring at his face and decided. It may have been the worst thing to ask, but I didn't feel like playing their game. I steeled myself and asked, "What is your angle here?"

I heard Anna's breath catch. The Baron's grin didn't falter as he said, "Ah, I see living with Lady Lura'mi has metalled you a bit. Or perhaps you've lost some ability to fear, knowing that not even death may hold you long."

He set the cup down carefully and dropped his gaze to me as he leaned forward. His grin slowly shifted to a smile as he said, "Or perhaps you have learned just how imposing and important you are. The fabled immortal herald who will hound the world sits before me, then. My goal is simple with this. I want to know who's side you are on."

I let out a sigh, still wondering if I was screwing myself over somehow, and said, "Right. So, my side is my own. I find the idea of causing chaos and destruction frankly stupid. I want to study magic and not die every other week. The prophecy can frankly swan dive off a cliff and take all the bullshit with it."

Baron Montiquen let out a chuckle and said, "I suppose I can see why. I...do have a bit of a question on that." I raised my eyebrow and his face turned a bit sorrowful. "What was it like?"

I blinked a few times, surprised by the question. He was now staring off at the flowers, carefully picking up his cup. I said, "I can't really say. If the Penitent Sorrow doesn't grab me? It's like having been asleep."

He drank from his cup, his face turning a bit more morbid. Shaking his head, the Baron said, "I guess you don't know much about what the clergies say happens, but I can see the gods not plucking you up sense they'd know you'd be sent back. Still, interesting to know."

Then, with a sudden flourishing movement of his arm, the Baron turned his attention fully back to me. It was honestly a shock he hadn't managed to accidentally throw the entire cup as he brandished it about, returning to that grin he had at the start. He said, a cheery tone suddenly back in his voice, "Anyways, my friend, I did mean for you to ask on matters relating to the general situation and not the nature of me personally. I must admit it wasn't exactly the question I thought you'd ask beforehand. So, any burning needs to know?"

It wasn't lost on me that the man hadn't actually stated what his full intent was, only merely implied his interests. There was no point in trying to push the point, though. Herald or not, the man had influence and power enough to ruin my life if I got on his nerves. Either way, he had given me some indication to what he was after. I'd have to settle on it being vague, so I asked, "The Captain of the City Guard had said I must have had friends when I was talking to him, so was it you?"

Baron Montiquen chuckled and gave a golf clap. He said, "A good guess. I am indeed the one. Now I'm guessing, but I suppose you want to know how I even knew of your existence. A smart question to ask next. I like to know when something interesting in the city happens, especially when the church dumps a body and it shows up walking around again....and not attacking people."

I frowned for a moment and took a drink of the tea. It was starting to be clear that I was tangled in the web long before I even knew it existed. Other questions came to mind to ask, but I couldn't shake the feeling that the man was dangerous. So I slowly shook my head and said, "That makes enough sense. I don't really have much else to ask-"

Suddenly he said, his grin present, "No, you have more. You just don't want to ask."

I sat quietly as the Baron stared for a chilling couple of seconds. I was certain then that my feeling was correct and I had come up to a line I really shouldn't cross. Anna suddenly put her hand on my shoulder causing me to nearly jump out of my skin. She let out a small chuckle and said, "Master Moores, we are unfortunately out of time for this. You need to get ready for dinner."

The Baron's grin was strained as he stared at me but gave a nod. He down his tea, got up in a swift movement, and said, "Ah, the time sure does fly. Very well, my friend, do give my greetings to the two ladies."

As he walked away, I felt Anna's hand gripping my shoulder still. At first I thought she had grown angry at me, but turning to look at her, I saw a face fare paler than it ever should be. She was shaking slightly and she muttered, "I...we should go now."

I slowly got up and gave her a questioning look, but she quickly led me away with her hand still on me. She muttered as we got further away, "I-I know you don't want apologies, so take this as a request. Avoid the Baron."

I looked back at the Baron who was watching us go, that grin still on his face. I realized suddenly that it wasn't me his eyes were on, but Anna. I let her lead me away and I said, "Ok."

She gave me a look that was somewhere between fear and anger, yet never said anything else as she more or less pulled me along. I vaguely wondered if I had crossed a line I shouldn't have, but it was clear to me. Whatever Baron Montiquen wanted was something I should avoid.