As soon as Clair opened her mouth on our third lap through the woods, I wanted to preemptively shift the ground beneath her feet.

But, on the off chance she wasn't about to say anything about me for getting us a third lap, I held my mana.

“I think most of us grow up using honorifics with every adult we know,” Clair said, and I was jealous she didn’t sound out of breath. “What kind of privileged childhood do you have to have to forget to say ‘sir’ to a damn instructor. Or, does him liking you not even matter?”

“Clair,” Sam said. “Valeria is new to all this. She’s from—”

A yell cut him off from finishing that thought. The three of us still on our feet slowed our jog to turn back towards Clair, who was picking herself up off the ground. I didn’t know why she glared at me as if I could make the root she’d run over rise up.

She spat on the ground to get rid of the dirt in her mouth and tied together a spell to heal the skin on her grazed palms. It failed and dissipated at the last knot, much to her frustration.

“You were one of the people laughing,” I said and wanted to duck behind the nearest tree after I did. “I could be out here by myself.”

“Well said,” Isaac said with a clap of his hands. “Let’s put this mess behind us now, right? You said something, she said something. Everyone’s even.”

Clair lunged towards me, and I backed up a step without thinking. She stopped after the single movement and smiled sweetly. “Glad you can finally speak up for yourself.”

I gave her a lot of room as she moved past to start jogging again. My heart was already racing, my arms shook, and worry ate at me. I couldn’t take another confrontation.

We ran after her, yet the rest of the lap was a blur to me. It had been petty to trip her, and in the end, it only angered her more.

Any pleasure I had derived from getting back at her was washed away with anxiety for what it would cost me later if she figured out it was me.

The knights were practising close-quarters fighting and building infiltration across from us in an empty home of the staff village. So, we had the whole training ground to ourselves. Faraya was with them, along with the other captains, so we had Instructor Daniels’ undivided attention.

“Samuel, do you know what annoys me the most about you kids?” he asked.

“Umm, not calling you ‘sir,’ sir?” he said with a glance at me.

“Good guess, considering the extra lap. What about you, Munroe?”

“Not using the weapons you want us to, sir?” said a boy with a greatsword.

“I was going to say something else but that does annoy me. Pair up, you’re going to be using the weapon of the other and get some versatility beaten into you by your peers.”

I was intercepted on my way to Sam by Isaac, who spun me around by the shoulders and marched me towards Clair, preventing me from learning how to twirl a spear around.

“You two are pairing so you can deal with this little spat. I don’t want to listen to Clair whine anymore, and you sitting there and taking it frustrates me,” he said within earshot of the girl. “Clair, this is Valeria. She’s a little quiet and doesn’t have the physical fitness required for this training, but that’s okay cause she’s trying. Valeria, this is Clair. She opened her loud mouth a few too many times cause she wanted to ride the horses and is too stubborn to walk back her comments.”

“Now, make friends,” he said and left to Sam.

Clair was pulling her neck to the side and looked as happy as I felt. Her face twisted into a scowl that twitched on her face until it turned to a neutral expression.

“The oaf might have a point that you didn’t make us lose. But you still don’t belong here, taking up a space for someone deserving. I got recommendations, went through tryouts and tournaments, and spent my whole summer here training before work. Just for you to show up from the palace and get all the accommodation and care of a delicate flower.”

I stopped myself from wilting under her glare and leaving right then. “Would someone else be here if I left?”

She didn’t respond and moved on to touching her toes.

“I doubt you know which end of a weapon to point at someone, so it’s only my choice left, grappling.”

“Why don’t you use a weapon?” I asked and followed her into the ring, dragging my heavy feet. I looked over to Instructor Daniels, busy with someone else and didn’t think he’d save me from this mess.

“Not all of us have rich parents to pay for years of training. Get on the ground; the only experience either of us could possibly get out if this is teaching you to break out of holds.”

I knelt on the ground and let her stretch out my arm and lock her legs around my body. The first sign of her twisting it too far, and I was going to turn the ground over on us. “You do know I just got to the palace?”

“Manafold mentioned that.” Clair pushed me to the ground with some amount of care. Her legs now went over my neck and stomach, with my arm being pulled between them. “Poor thing, parents sent you over to try match with the duke’s son, only to be ignored and have to settle for the second son of a chief.”

“Huh?”

I twisted my head to look at her, as much as the leg on my neck allowed. “I don’t have any parents, and I came here to work in the stables. Didn’t even know the duke had a son till a few weeks ago since I’ve lived in a forest all my life.”

The growing tension in my arm and the weight on my neck and stomach lessened. She had been moments away from getting dirt in her mouth again. “Huh?”

“Sam didn’t tell you?” He talked to her a lot after each of her complaints, so it made sense to me that she’d already know.

“No, he just said you’re a guest of the duke, and I should be careful what I say to you. Why didn’t you tell me?” she said.

“How am I supposed to know I have to say any of that? I still don’t know why it matters that I’m here since you couldn’t answer if someone would be able to take my place. I showed up, just to exercise, and you complained about me to Sam over and over. I didn’t even do anything.”

“Are you two going to stop chatting?” Instructor Daniels said as he walked past. “Show her how to get out of that hold and move on.”

She sighed. “It’ll be easier to show you if I’m the one in the hold.”

She got in a similar positon I was in and directed me where to put all my limbs. “The point of this is to control the person’s casting hand and point it away from you. If you control the elbow as well they can’t roll away, like this.”

She rotated out of the grip I had on her and demonstrated it again for me. Since she was being helpful, I told her my excuse for getting us the third lap.

“I forgot to call him ‘sir’ earlier because I’ve only ever had to use the word ‘mother’ to refer to someone. But you can’t even be mad at me for that cause you laughed.”

Clair drew my arm around her neck and had me hold it there with my other hand. “You said you didn't have parents?”

“She died a few weeks ago,” I said, trying my best to prevent her from slipping out of my grip.

“Oh.”

We spent the following few arrangements in silence, except for curt instructions. Every time she put pressure on me, I tried to do it back. However, I ended up tapping out when we escalated it too far, beyond where I could hope to compete.

Instructor Daniels didn’t think I had anything valuable to teach Clair about recurve bows, so we spent double the time going through the grapple techniques I didn’t think I’d ever use.

I pulled water from the air and splashed it over my face, then rinsed my mouth out. It had been my turn to eat dirt when Clair pinned my arms behind my back and sat on me. It wasn’t as bad as I feared would happen when I’d tripped her, though eating dirt was never enjoyable.

Others did the same, and I noticed how difficult it looked for them to freecast. A few, like Sam, knew the proper spells, though they were in the minority.

“No practice tomorrow, but I still expect you to go through a routine on your own time. Mana exercises with Instructor Hays the days after that. She’s come a long way for this, so any disrespect and we do nothing but laps for the rest of the fall.”

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

“Yes, sir.”

“You’re both still alive,” Isaac said when we regrouped.

“Shut up,” Clair said and whacked Sam on the shoulder. “You never told me she was an orphan.”

“Ow? Why would that matter?”

“I have to get ready for the bakery to open. Leave me alone.”

Isaac looked happy with himself and clapped Sam on the shoulder, trying to talk him into picking up the sword instead of the spear. I followed Clair around the corner of the bastion and found her waiting against the wall.

“I still don’t like you.”

I didn’t like turning my back to people who didn’t like me, so I kept eye contact as I backed away. “Okay.”

She scowled. “Being impassive just makes me not like you more.”

I shrugged and turned around when I deemed myself out of harm's way. No spell came at my back, and I glanced behind to see her heading to the outer gate.

Faraya stood with her arms crossed as she watched five knights line up outside the building they were using to practise. I walked over to her as the lead with a shield tossed a light spell inside. The remnants of a bright flash exiting the door seared onto the back of my eyelids and took more than a few blinks to get it away.

“You get used to it,” Faraya said.

“I don’t see how,” I said, rubbing my eyes as another spell was cast. “Is there any point in me going to the mana training happening next week?”

She opened her mouth to speak yet ended up looking away in thought. “You don’t have a mana reserve to grow, can’t make mana threads, no spell formations to practice, so no. I don’t think so. It would make you stand out, which we don’t want, so I’d go so far as to ask you not to go.”

I nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

She scoffed and lazily shooed me away.

I walked away and turned to watch as another group entered the building. The lead knight threw a handful of iron spikes in before swinging into the doorway with an empty crossbow raised.

The children of the village were gathered a safe distance away, peeking through gaps in their fingers whenever one of the flash spells might go off. Bailey, the aptly named shepherd dog that ran around the lower bailey, wove between them, getting hands combing through her thick fur.

Haily wasn’t anywhere on the way to my room, and I was glad there was no opportunity for any invitations for lunch or meetings. I showered, changed into my overalls, put a handful of silver and bronze in my pocket, and walked back out the door in short order.

My eyes darted around the foyer on my way out the inner gate. I expected them to stop me on my way out of the castle, but it was the same guards I’d brought lunch for, and there was no reason to stop me besides my thoughts. They stopped their inspections of the line of people waiting to get into the castle for a moment to say hello.

My smile felt slightly strained as I talked with them, but it was quick.

I retraced my steps from the other night and found myself at the intersection with the pub on the corner. According to the sign, it was still open for business in the morning. Besides the rough edges of a stupid idea, I didn't know what I was doing, but breakfast sounded like a good start.

One or two of the patrons looked like they’d been in the same seats since the night before, while others were rubbing sleep from their eyes. Several wore overalls, and I felt like I fit right in with my outfit choice.

I looked around while picking at my fingernails. Unlike the other places I had been to, there was no counter to order from.

“Sit anywhere you like, dearie,” a woman in an apron said, handing me a paper with a list of food and drink on it. She went off to an occupied table and took out a pencil and pad to write down what they pointed out on the sheet.

I did as I was told and sat at the two-person table near where I was, and looked through the list. It had a lot of descriptive words next to food items that I didn’t think deserved them.

The barkeep came over in her ruffled brown blouse and white skirt covered mostly by the leather apron. “Yes, dear?”

“Can I have this one? And black tea?” I pointed out the one with flatbread and only one kind of meat that I could push to the side.

“Any alterations?”

“Oh, can I not have the lamb?”

“I’ll double up the fried veggies for you then?”

“Yes, please.”

I looked around the room to the group of construction workers scarfing down their plates as a bell went off in the distance. There was a table with people wearing military uniforms similar to those leading the formations, slowly sipping from teacups. A boy in white robes sat alone with a little folded sign reading ‘cure 50 roe.’

One of the more haggard patrons went over to him, slapped a few coins down, and held out her arm.

A healing spell slowly formed, dissipated, and formed again. The woman sighed in relief and snatched back one of the silvers before walking away.

“H-Hey, you can’t do that.” He stood up but didn’t approach the retreating woman. He looked over to the military table, and one stood up, but his friend dragged him back down.

She turned and shrugged at him. “ Can’t take back your mana, can you?”

She didn’t notice my leg stuck out behind her.

I already felt terrible as she slowly crashed to the ground. The coin clattered to the wooden floor and rolled around in a circle before taking forever to settle down in the now-silent pub.

The boy quickly walked over to pick it up and backed away from the woman who was sitting up. I was considering moving away and finding another table when she towered over me a moment later after realising the coin was gone.

Her hand was on the back of my chair, and the other splayed out on the table next to me. “You just cost me a sil, girly.”

I leaned away, more from the smell of her breath than the growl in her voice.

“Brenda, get away from her, or I will start only serving you water. And you four, can’t you put down your cups for a single moment and help?”

“Sorry, ma’am,” the military uniforms chorused. “Can’t arrest civvies,”

I still had to endure many more breathy seconds before Bresda backed off and left out the door. Sending me teeth-bearing scowls all the way.

“Sorry about that, dear. Here’s your tea.”

“Thank you.” I had been expecting a reprimand for tripping her, but for the second time today, I got away with it. The boy mouthing me a ‘thank you’ from his table. I nodded to him but kept my head down and stopped myself from looking at the others to find out if they saw.

When my food arrived, I tore at the flatbread to pick up the greasy vegetables. My breakfast was more relaxed than many of the others rushing in and out. However, it got more and more busy as I finished up and I had a new problem, not knowing how to pay.

I didn’t have to panic for long because the same barkeep came over to take my plate and roe. I left three extra bronze coins like Haily had taken for the trouble I’d caused and slipped out after asking where the closest market was.

I wove between the crows formed of men, women, boys, and girls in different kinds of uniforms or casual clothing. Everyone moved together and across streets occupied by carriages without worry or much thought. I almost bumped into every other person and had people reading papers walking around me as I waited for the street to be clear of carriages the whole way up and down.

The open square with a clocktower jutting out from one side was already covered in tents with tarps and cloth-covered tables displaying goods. Vendors loudly hawked their jewellery, pottery, bread with steam still wafting off it, baskets of veggies, pastries, and items I had no clue the use for.

One jewellery vendor had a bracelet made of amber that scattered yellow light across their white tablecloth. I dug my nails into my arm until the urge to take it passed.

There was a vendor selling masks and helmets. It surprised me that I found it before someone selling cloaks. There was less traffic in their area, so I could stand away and look at the painted pieces of wood depicting animals, overexpressive faces, and random messes of colours and glitter.

Finding the vendor had been the first part of my idea that I hadn’t thought I’d accomplish. But now that I was standing in front of my goal, I didn’t know what to do next.

Walk through the street holding a mask and cloak and knock on their door? What was the point of a unique mask if the person who sold it to you saw your face? Was I going to put on the mask before meeting Fergie and the others, only to take it off?

My plan was falling apart, and I moved on before someone bumped into me.

My next idea was pretending to be a part of the benefactor’s group they wanted to impress but that unravelled just as quickly.

I did end up buying a hooded cloak with wool lining the inside that I saw a lot of women wearing. If for nothing else, it would keep me warm.

I went back through the market and considered what to do. The easiest choice was to leave and forget everything about the gambling house, which I didn’t want to do. Next was to tell Jeremy about everything and convince the duke to stop the fights—doubtful considering last night.

The most worrying option I had been toying with was the one I wanted to do most: join the group and steal—rescue—the animals.

My next lap around the square found me near the jewellery vendor again, and I walked up to look at the bracelet. It reminded me of the doll’s eyes, and I was relieved that I could look at them without cowering away and averting my gaze.

“Oh, look how well it matches, love,” the vendor said, holding it up to my eyes with wrists jingling with his own product. “I’ll knock it down to thirty-five roe, just for you.”

“Sure.” I didn’t feel like haggling, and it was a lower price than the paper next to it. Bronze change was tipped into my hand from the silver I paid, and he helped tie it onto my wrist. He tried to persuade me that I needed a matching ring, but I was adamant that I didn’t and thanked him before being talked into more purcahses.

While I twirled the bracelet around my wrist, the beginning of another idea came to me, and I started walking back to the abandoned building. It wasn’t any better than the last few, but it was the simplest.

After a few walks past it, I was confident only two people were inside, one mage and one not. The front street was too crowded to go up to the front door, so I walked about until I found the street that led to an alley between that row of buildings and another. It left a gap between them that had greenery growing between the cobblestones and broken furniture scattered around.

Along the way, a tree let me borrow some bark that I slowly formed into the shape of my face. I smoothed out the inside and hollowed out slits to see from. I didn’t have any string to hold it with, so I used mana to make it stay.

No one else was in the area, so I slipped into my coat and pulled up the hood.

I raised my fist to slam against the door, talked myself through what I was going to say, took a deep breath, and banged against the wood. The two inside slowly came down and stood still for so long that I worked up the courage to knock again.

The mage came to unlock the door and cracked it open, scowling at me from the dim light. “What?”