Ayko rose to his feet and looked around. Flowers ranging from yellow to black garbed the hill beneath his feet, their colors running together like wet paint. He lifted his head to see the sky had done the same—ropes of red and green alma swirled above his head, coiling around one another like serpentine ribbons while the stars floated just out of his reach.

The young man murmured, attempting to curse, but only muffled grunts escaped him. His eyes flashed, and he pried at his sealed lips, but to no avail. Was this one of Chestplate’s practical jokes? A dream, perhaps? If so, why wasn’t clawing his skin jolting him awake?

This shit isn’t funny, Ayko thought, his nostrils flaring.

Whoever cast this foul hex or whatever it was would answer to him, that much he knew.

He whirled around and turned his head in all directions, his eyes gleaming as a light flickered in the distance.

Ayko exhaled, his face contorting into a frown. You just wait, you bastard!

He climbed down the hilly meadow, losing his footing and rolling until it flattened into a riverbank, one whose stream was as clear as freshly cut diamonds. His eyes darkened upon cupping the water into his hands; it felt like nothing. Neither wet, cold, or lukewarm, and the fish that swam the river’s length were black, shadowy wisps that vanished when he reached for them.

The fruit trees lining the river’s sides were the same—sweet enough to make him drool, but…wrong. He grabbed a particularly low-hanging rock fruit only for it to dissipate and reshape when he reeled his hand back.

Ayko smacked his lips and stomped away. This place needs serious help.

He strolled the river’s length, reaching its end: a ravine where clouds bubbled their way to the top. A bridge as pearly as Magistaire’s three moons stretched across the ravine’s ends, and behind it were…mountains?

No, a city, Ayko thought upon creeping closer. It had no gates or walls like the cities of the Frostlands, and its king-sized buildings were golden and encrusted with jewels.

Ayko’s nostrils and ears twitched. A warm breeze blew from ahead, smelling of freshly baked bread and cinnamon, accompanied by chattering and laughter.

A frown tugged at Ayko’s lips. The smell was overpowering, almost sickening, and the prattle was faint and distorted as if he were underwater.

Ayko winced as he continued across the bridge, his footsteps echoing and the flicker growing brighter until he saw the visage of a woman before him. Her skin emitted a warm, yellow glow, and her eyes burned like two suns. Her golden mane of wavy hair blew in all directions like flames in the wind.

The young man locked eyes with her, taking another step forward when she smiled at him, showing the magic symbols etched on her bone-white teeth.

…What? Ayko stopped in his tracks, his face twisting into a sneer when she spoke.

“Ninieve Nenelata Ichrach Zevelic Skyraza”

Ayko grunted, attempting to speak through his glued lips, to which the woman’s face fell.

“Ye with no name,” she said, her voice as soft as the cloud river below. “Depart from me!”

Ayko looked down, feeling a rumble beneath his feet, the bridge crackling and crumbling underneath him. Muffled screams fell from his lips as he plummeted into the ravine, followed by the familiar sound of one casting a spell.

Levariare…

********

Ayko yelped, jumping up to see the trio of Chestplate, Hazelmere, and Arzen standing over him, with the knight wearing a particularly cheeky grin. Violet sparks crackled in the palm of his hand.

He nudged Arzen. “Told you it would work.”

Arzen folded his arms. “I didn’t doubt it.”

“I thought you’d never wake!” Hazelmere gasped. She held out her hands, hoisting him to his feet.

Chestplate clenched his fist, dispersing the sparks from his gauntlet. “You collapsed right after spilling the beans,” the adventurer said. He cupped his chin. “I’ll add it to the list of bizarre shit I’ve seen.”

Ayko ran a hand over his face. “So that was a dream, then?”

Hazelmere and Chestplate traded glances. “What was?” the half-elf asked.

“That girl,” Ayko replied, his brow darkening.

His friends glanced at each other again before Chestplate shrugged. “Probably, but perhaps it was a vision—a premonition of what’s to come.”

“And what’s that?” Ayko asked.

“Your training, my little novice. We’re to rock your old man’s world, remember?”

Ayko smiled and nodded. “What next, then?”

“Repetition,” Chestplate said. He knelt, tracing a finger through the snow, leaving behind a magic symbol when he stepped away.

Canidis Felidis, the adventurer uttered. The symbol smoldered, and a violet glow flashed from between the trees.

“You’ll be hunting again.” Chestplate’s eyes met Hazelmere’s. “Outside of the Ursa’s neck of the woods.” He eyed Ayko. “And this time, something you can actually kill.”

“Tch!” Ayko looked away and ran a hand through his hair.

“And just what did you conjure up for us?” Hazelmere asked.

Chestplate smirked at her. “A man’s secret, I’m afraid. You’ll know it when you see it, or perhaps you won’t.” He winked. “It’s all up to what’s in your little head.” He thumped Arzen’s steel-clad chest. “This gentle giant here will be accompanying you. Think of him as your babysitter, your opponent, or even both. But you, my little novices, are to outhunt him. Should he find the beast before you do, I can’t claim you as my students anymore.”

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Ayko scoffed and cocked his head. “Challenge accepted!”

“Well, you heard the man!” Chestplate said, patting Arzen’s back. “Give ‘em hell!”

Without a word, the giant unsheathed his claymores and leaped away, vanishing into the brush.

Chestplate briefly stared after him before facing the bewildered adolescents standing before him. “You fledglings have till sundown.” He stepped aside, slumping against a nearby tree. “Don’t hesitate, knife ears, and you, my boy, keep a firm grip on that sword.”

Ayko nodded and looked straight ahead. Thin strands of light seeped through the trees’ clustered branches while Arzen’s crater-like footsteps formed a straight line through the snow.

A satisfied smile crept across the young man’s face. Perhaps this would be easy, after all. “Don’t have to tell me twice,” he snorted, sprinting ahead with Hazelmere following closely behind.

Chestplate folded his arms, watching the pair vanish into the shadowy tree line. His smile twisted into a scowl. “Poor hopeless little insects, you.”

**********

Ayko jumped from the crowded branches only to gasp. Arzen’s footsteps had vanished, swallowed by the flurry of snow and ice raining down upon him. His shock only furthered when Hazelmere tapped his shoulder, pointing to the sky. Lightning trickled across the charcoal-colored clouds.

Hazelmere sniffed the air, her green eyes darkening. “Oh no!” She gasped, terror riddling her face as she watched the snowflakes grow in number. The hurtling pellets painted her blonde, ankle-length hair white.

“Hmm?” Ayko glanced at her. “What’s up?”

The half-elf covered her nose. “This snow…it’s too much! I can’t smell when it’s like this!”

“You can’t…?” Ayko scanned his friend’s face. She always covered her nose when it rained as well. What fragile people elves were.

“You still have eyes and ears, right?” Ayko touched her shoulders only to pull his hands back when her face grew red. “We–We’ll make do with what we’ve got,” he stuttered.

“Which is…?”

“Each other, of course!” He pointed to himself. “I’ll lead, and you’ll be my eyes and ears like last time—honker or not, your senses are better than mine!”

Hazelmere slowly nodded her head. “I suppose. Just be more mindful than last time.”

Ayko winked and nodded, whirling around before Hazelmere caught him by the arm.

“Ayko,” she said warily. “No killing anything but what we came to.”

The young man stared into her eyes, her face stern like a mother scolding an unruly son. He groaned. “Fine, Haze. For you, I’ll be mindful.”

Hazelmere flashed him a thin smile and shut her eyes, setting her hands on Ayko’s shoulders as he walked ahead. Her dagger-shaped ears swished in the wind, to which she hummed to herself. “Hooves…” she muttered. “Gnashing teeth…” She raised her eyebrows. “...Scratching…?”

The half-elf tapped Ayko’s shoulder. “Left!”

Ayko nodded and did as she said, cutting through a mass of overgrown roots clawing at his legs. Strands of fur loosely clung to a frosted tree at his side, the young man taking it into his hand.

“Coyolope again?” He huffed, glaring at the chestnut-colored tuft of hair. “Could Chestplate not have conjured something else?”

“Shh.” Hazelmere pressed a finger to her lips, shutting her eyes again. Her ears wriggled up and down, and she opened her eyes, her pupils swelling. “This way!” she said, taking Ayko by the hand.

Ayko sprinted to keep up with her galloping, eyeing his friend quizzically. She was surprisingly assertive when she wanted to be, not to mention fast.

The young man held his free hand before his face as tree branches scraped his skin. A few leaves clung to his tongue, too, causing him to sputter. He ripped his hand away when Hazelmere knelt, the half-elf gesturing for him to do the same.

Ayko crouched beside her. “What’s this about, Haze?”

“Shh.” Hazelmere put a finger to her lips again and parted the bush before them. “It’s not a Coyolope,” she whispered.

Ayko leaned forward, his cheeks nearly touching Hazelmere’s as he peered through the leaves, his jaw dropping to the ground. The creature’s chestnut fur was striped black from its head to its tail, and its snout was longer than a Snow Cat’s. Sticking from its mouth were two tusks the size of long swords.

Ayko’s eyes swelled as he reached for his sword. “A Wolfcat!”

He quickly glanced at Hazelmere. “Sorry, Haze,” he said, rising to his feet.

His friend’s eyes flashed. “Ayko, don’t you dare!” she hissed, reaching for him only for Ayko to slip free from her grasp.

With a roar, Ayko burst from behind the bushes and reared his sword above his head. He cleaved at the Wolfcat’s rear only to slice the air when it whirled around.

Ayko clenched his jaw. Fast as shit! He thought.

The Wolfcat snarled and hunched down while Ayko twirled his sword.

Readying his blade again, Ayko lunged the Wolfcat’s way, only for his feet to remain on the ground. He tumbled forward, his sword jumping from his hand when he crashed.

“What in the inferno?” Ayko growled, whirling around. His feet and legs were encrusted with ice. He tugged at each limb but to no avail. Could animals even use magic?

He turned around and tried to rise, his heart sinking into his gut when the Wolfcat sprinted his way. The creature was a blur, its weight knocking the air from Ayko’s lungs when it pounced on him.

“Bastard!” Ayko grunted. He rammed his forearm into the creature’s neck and shoved it away, its gnashing fangs mere hairs from his face.

The wind shrieked, and the Wolfcat vaulted backward, allowing three dagger-sized ice shards to spear an adjacent tree. Unsheathing its claws and gritting its fangs, the Wolfcat darted its head to its left, hissing when the trees rustled. The Crimson armored giant emerged from them, a claymore in one hand and sky-colored mist coiling in the other.

“No you don’t!” Ayko scrambled for his sword, dragging his frozen legs behind him, only for Arzen to raise two fingers.

Ice crystals climbed up Ayko’s thighs, covering his arms and stopping at his neck. He spewed an assortment of curses as he tried to move his stiffened limbs. “It’s mine!” he squawked.

Arzen ignored him and silently tore his blade through the air. The air shrieked again, and an arch of sky-blue wind shot the Wolfcat’s way.

The Wolfcat’s ears twitched, and it leaped to the side, leaving a blur in its wake. Ice crawled up the trees at its back, painting them white before they shattered.

The creature eyed the frozen bits of wood at its feet and then at the behemoth of a Cryomancer stomping its way. Shaking its head, it skittered into the brush, the sound of its footsteps lagging behind its movements.

Arzen unsheathed his other claymore and turned to Ayko, cocking his head at him before giving chase.

“Arse!” Ayko spat, Arzen’s galloping fading into the distance.

“That makes two of you!”

Hazelmere burst from the bushes, her face blocking Ayko’s view of the forest canopy. Her lips were shriveled, and her eyebrows were practically touching each other—he had pissed her off, which was rare even for him.

“Would it kill you to mind your urges at least once?”

Ayko winced in pain. The ice was starting to sting. “I had to act!” he argued.

“Not without a plan, you didn’t!” Hazelmere snapped. She sighed. “You bullhead.”

“Says the one who didn’t back me up!”

“If you saw Arzen watching us like I did, you wouldn’t have charged in like an idiot!” Hazelmere threw up her hands. “Oh, what am I saying? Of course, you would have!”

“Tch!” Arzen turned his head, ann unexpected lump forming in his throat. Hazelmere’s chiding hurt him worse than any pounding he received from Elies or Yarrow. “I’m sorry, okay?” he finally muttered.

Hazelmere heaved a sigh and sat on her knees. “I forgive you again,” she huffed. “But we won’t be going anywhere for quite some time.” She scanned the shell of ice surrounding Ayko’s lower half. “All we can do is wait and hope that behemoth doesn’t catch it before we do.” She stormed away, tearing branches from trees. “I’ll start a fire.”

Ayko squeezed his eyes shut. “Horsepiss!” he groaned.