“It's been way too long since we've gotten together like this.” Thundar leaned back in his chair, his arms behind his neck. “Way too long.”

“I agree, Thundar, I know.” Alex went to reach for his satchel, his hand pausing partway. In the past, when they would meet on this balcony in Generasi’s castle, it was to study together, or plan for an event like the Games of Roal. Out of habit, he’d just reached for a textbook. He shook his head. “Way too long is exactly right.”

“A lot has changed since the last time we four came together like this.” Khalik lounged in his chair—Najyah perched on the back of it—gazing over the campus grounds. The prince looked pensive. “It seems that these days our time is spent thinking of ways to save kingdoms and defeat maniacal monsters, or working with the Heroes…or doing other vital things. We’ve had a great weight to bear. One that I never would have imagined when we first met in the beastarium or when we met again in the Barrens of Kravernus.”

A small smile took Khalik’s face. “It was chance that brought us together on that day, but little did any of us know just how significant our meeting would be. Our quest to the escarpment was only the beginning of our path together.”

“By the elements, it feels like our meeting was so terribly long ago.” Isolde marvelled. She began muttering under her breath, doing some mental math. “Can you believe that nearly three years have passed since we first met?”

“It doesn’t seem that long, does it?” Khalik said. “It feels like we met yesterday…and yet…”

“…it feels like we've known each other all of our lives,” Alex finished his friend’s thought. “It's hard to imagine life without the three of you now. I don't know how the hells I managed to get by in Alric. I had a few friends back home, but we were nowhere near as close as the four of us are.”

Thundar scoffed. “Me and my buddies back home used to roughhouse—we were the youngest in the herd for a long time—and you know what they said to me when I left?”

“What was that?” Alex asked.

“They said they didn't want that ‘fancy school’ changing me. But it sure as hells has,” Thundar admitted. “I was a really different guy before I met the three of you, Baelin, Grimloch, Kybas, my friends from the dorm…”

“Truly?” Khalik cocked his head. Unknown to him, Najyah was mirroring his movements, her head tilting to the side as she looked at the Minotaur. Alex barely resisted the urge to laugh. “That could explain a lot,” the prince continued. “When we first met in the Barrens, you seemed much more reserved. You gave the image of a disciplined and valiant warrior.”

Thundar winced. “I did, didn’t I?”

“Come to think of it, yes you did.” Isolde raised an eyebrow. “You were far more poised than you are today and do not tell me that we were a poor influence on you, either.”

The minotaur scratched his head, looking a bit embarrassed. “Promise you’re not gonna laugh.”

“Nope,” Alex said.

“Out of the question,” Khalik said.

“I would not want to lie to you.” Isolde drew a deep breath, so that her impending laughter would have plenty of fuel.

“Traitors.” Thundar glowered at them, but continued all the same. “Alright, look. When I first got here, I had it in my head that I wanted to reinvent myself. I was kind of an idiot in my herd, and I…” He paused, looking at Isolde. “Well, that's not true either, now that I think about it.”

He leaned back in his chair, looking up at the sky. “When I was really young, I was what you'd call ‘the smart kid’. I'd be the one going on about random things that I'd learned, the teachings of our elders, and any sort of magic I could get my hands on. All the others around my age thought I was weird: they kept calling me names. When I was twelve, I decided I didn't want to be called names anymore. So, I started goofing off: I'd be the one jumping into lakes teeming with leeches just because someone dared me to. I stop talking about magic. I learned to smash skulls with my mates, and found out my skull was tougher than theirs. I got popular, with the boys at least. The girls still remembered me as being this weird kid, or thought I was too braindead to be cool.”

“Right,” Alex said. “Then what?”

“Well, I decided to change myself when I got to university. No more weird kid. No more big, dumb idiot either. I thought I'd come in and be the honourable warrior type. That I'd be respected, that way. People would take me seriously. I'd besomebody.”

“And what happened then?” Khalik asked.

“Well,” Thundar said. “Folks in the dorm thought I was stiff. Then, when I got to know you guys better, I just relaxed. Went back to being the big oaf I’d become when I was a teenager. I don't know, the weird kid never really came back. Guess I have more fun this way.”

“So you mean to tell me that the noble, valiant warrior that we met in the Barrens was an act to make yourself more popular?” Isolde asked.

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“Well…when you put it that way it does sound kinda pathetic,” Thundar said.

“I don't think it's pathetic. I think we were and are just trying to find the right roles for ourselves, to figure out how to change ourselves to fit in a world that's changing around us, ” Alex said. “Is who you are now ‘the real you’?”

“I think how I am now and that quiet kid is the real me,” Thundar said. “You know…come to think of it, the quiet kid comes out a little more when I'm with Drestra. It’s just something that happens.”

“We’re all a little different around different people,” Alex said, Hobb’s speech about roles returning to his mind. “I'm just glad we get to see the real you, and Drestra gets to see another side of the real you. I like that better than you putting on an act all the time.”

“Yeah, it's a lot more comfortable,” Thundar agreed. “I know this is mushy…considering things might get ugly but…I'm just glad I met all of you.”

“As am I,” Khalik said. “You all are some of the finest friends that anyone could ever have. There are no others I would want as my cabalmates than you three.”

“I agree,” Isolde said. “Some of my other friends thought it was foolish of me to join in a cabal with students a year younger than myself. Yet, to me, it was—to date—the best decision I have ever made. And I pride myself on making good decisions.”

“Like redheaded men—” Thundar started.

Isolde jabbed her finger at him like she was pointing a dagger. Her face turned flaming red. “One more word, Son of Gulbiff. One single word.”

“Right, shutting up now,” he cleared his throat.

“Yeah…” Alex said. “You're the best cabalmates and friends ever. I'm glad we got this chance to meet up, right where we used to spend a lot of our time before.”

“Speaking of a meeting,” Isolde looked at Alex. “You called this meeting, but you did not say for what specific purpose you wanted to meet.”

All eyes were on the archwizard.

Alex paused for a long moment, then turned to Isolde. “Listen, I was originally going to have this conversation with only you, Isolde, but the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to hear from everybody else too.”

“Sounds serious,” Thundar said.

“It is,” Alex agreed. “It's not really about the Ravener…well, it sort of is. I want you guys to know that I plan on talking to my professors about signing off on letting me do Exams for credit for my classes so I can graduate early. I have to use time strategically since it’s not exactly an infinite resource and…” He paused, searching for the right words.

“You can cast ninth-tier spells and absorb information like water wicking into cloth,” Khalik cut in. “You do not need to attend undergraduate studies anymore.”

Alex felt a bit embarrassed. “Yeah…that’s about it,” he admitted.

“So you're gonna be graduating with Isolde?” Thundar gave him a sad look.

“If everything goes right,” the young archwizard said. “How do you guys feel about that?”

“It feels like something’s missing,” Thundar said. “Kind of imagined us three graduating together…but I also never imagined that I'd be spending a lot of my time in university fighting monsters in your homeland. So it all evens out, I guess. As long as you keep making me rich, that is!”

“It is fine by me, Alex,” Khalik said. “We are all walking the same road, but life is a winding path. And we are still walking together: just because you have to take a quick detour does not mean we are not still side-by-side. I will be happy to watch you and Isolde graduate, as long as you two watch me and Thundar next year.”

“Unless I'm dead, I wouldn't miss it for anything,” Alex said emphatically.

“I, for one, would be glad to see you walk across the stage ahead of me, hopefully you will not trip and fall,” Isolde smiled, pleasantly. “You will go first, since the first letter of your surname comes before mine. But, besides that, why did you want to meet with me alone, initially?”

Alex focused on her. “I wanted to ask you something. What are you gonna do after you walk across that stage?”

She raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, after the war is over,” Alex said. “What plans do you have for your future?”

“Assuming that I live through the war…” she said. “Graduate studies, of course. I have had several offers from my different professors to join them as a graduate student and I have chosen to work with Professor Jules, and Professor Monroe, she specialises in lightning magic.”

“Two graduate specialties?” Thundar asked.

“I do believe I can handle them both,” Isolde said.

“I'm not saying you couldn't, but even doing one’s a lot of work, from what I hear,” Thundar said.

“I do not shy away from that,” Isolde said. “Expanding my knowledge, and giving back to wizardry through research will be worth the effort.

“And what about after that?” Alex asked. “After you finish graduate studies?”

“After?” she asked. “I will obtain a position as a court wizard.”

“Really?” Alex asked. “Are you sure about that?”

“Yes, indeed,” Isolde assured him. “The Imperial court of the Rhinean Empire could use less vipers and more competence. I will work with my grandfather to provide that.”

“And you've never thought about doing anything else?” Alex asked.

“I have,” she said. “But that is what I want to do. I'm not quite like you, Alex. I must admit, I do enjoy the rush of conquering one’s enemies, but to me, combat is a means to an end. I joined Baelin’s class for the purpose of learning to defend myself and to make a connection with the chancellor. I joined the war in Thameland, to support my friends, gain credits at the university, and partake in the research of a new and exciting magical substance. But I find prolonged battle exhausting. Excitement can quickly turn to fear over whether we will live or die…”

Her expression darkened. “Or if we will lose a close ally again, just as we did at Uldar’s Rise. No, I do not think I wish for that to be my life. If I feel the need for excitement, I will take a sabbatical from the court and go on an adventure or hunt a monster. But to travel far and wide, constantly risking my life…that is something I would have no interest in doing.”

“I think a position as a court wizard would suit you,” Khalik said. “It would allow you to use your intelligence, your political savvy, and your magic.”

“Thank you.” She nodded at him. “My grandfather would be most pleased to hear that.”

“And how did you know that’s what you wanted to do?” Alex asked.

“It has always been in the back of my mind,” Isolde said. “Of course, I opened my mind to other possibilities when I progressed through my studies. Last year, I thought about being a professor for a time. Yet, as much as I enjoy academia…I think I miss the court more. And I do not think I would be the best teacher. I also thought of becoming an alchemist, or opening a business like you, Alex. But I have seen your eyes light up at the thought of mercantile enterprise, in a way that mine do not. In the end, I returned to what I set out to do from the beginning. I find that fits me best.”

Alex had to resist the urge to laugh, remembering Professor Jules’ story.

“That is me, though,” she said, then looked at the others. “What about you? What do you three wish to do after the war and graduation?”