With his board of challenges before him, Raven meditated.

The board of seven sheets stood as an obstacle. No… it stood as a monument. The next step in his vengeance. He just needed to see it done.

He sat on the floor and crossed his legs. He touched the tips of his middle fingers together and folded his ring fingers in, letting the raging storm of his thoughts calm to a zephyr. The familiar pose taught to him as a boy – Grand Harmony – served him well now as he dove deep into rumination. He knew five of the seven challenges; two more yet to learn. But defeating the masters of Nine Star was only a step. A ruse.

His scheme aimed much higher. But he needed Panka’s prize.

“What’s next?” Rue asked.

Raven opened his eyes, shaken from his meditation. He pulled Rue’s pandora from his sleeve.

“I attend classes,” he replied to the card.

“Not the answer I expected. I thought you had a bigger plan in mind?”

“Well, it’s not as if I knew the exact road that awaited me. There was no way to predict what the masters would challenge, beyond educated guesses. I made a reasonable gamble heavily stacked in my favor thanks to Moon’s Ark. And it succeeded. I know five of the challenges ahead of time. One year remains to learn the other two and devise a successful plan to win them all. And it starts by attending class. I will learn everything I can about the teachers. I’ll poke and prod each of them when necessary. I’ll scheme. I’ll lie. Whatever it takes to accomplish the task at hand.”

“And you’re sure you had to challenge all the masters? Not just one or two?”

Raven looked up at his board. The seven pinned leaflets shifted with each slight breeze from the open window. “Glorious Pinnacle.”

“I understand. But I’m worried. What if he doesn’t wait one year? What if he comes sooner?”

“I thought about that. And I can revise my plans if that’s the case. But he loves the grandest stages. And his obsession demands it. I am confident he will wait.”

A heavy moan interrupted their conversation. Raven looked to the bed.

Van slowly rose, propping himself up and grasping his head. He blinked several times and scrunched his eyes, looking left and right and appearing very lost. He moaned again, dragging his feet over the edge of the bed and dropping them to the floor.

“What… the hell… happened?” He shook his head. His cheeks were sunken and the undersides of his eyes were dark.

“I took your Hydra,” Raven replied.

“You… what?”

Rue giggled.

“I took it. Stole it. Pilfered it. I know your brain is addled at the moment, but I have to assume you understand.”

He looked at Raven, face contorted with utter confusion.

“Or maybe not.” Raven got up, making his way over and placing a hand on his shoulder. “I took your fresh supply of Hydra and transferred it to myself.” No response. “Let me use shorter words. You used to have a lot, and I had a little. Now I have a lot, and you only have a little.”

“But… how?” A bit of anger came over him as clarity slowly returned. “And more importantly, why?”

“Which answer do you want first?”

“The why.”

“Because I’m a Drymouth. You said you wanted to know the reason why I originally picked you as my comrade. I needed a source, and you are a citizen of Roespeye. You can drink from the pool any time you want to refresh your Hydra. If I were in Reyk Zaliance, I would have chosen someone from that city.”

“So… I’m just some sort of lunchbox to you?”

“Oh, don’t say it like that. You’re more like a… pantry. Full of good things.”

Rue laughed hysterically.

“Is it really that big of a deal?” he continued. “I took most of your Hydra this time so you’d understand the worst it could ever be. From here on out, I won’t take as much, and I’ll even tell you when I need it. You won’t pass out. We can conduct the transfer near the pool so you can immediately go and take a drink, and we’ll both have fresh spirits. Win, win.”

“This is really messed up, brother.”

“If it makes you feel any better, I have already started devising a plan in your pursuit to win the love of Valentine Chessex.”

“Really?” He sat up straighter. “Well… I guess when you really think about it, it’s only a little inconvenience in the scheme of things.”

“Jolly good.”

“So, now that I know what the heck is going on, how did you take my Hydra?”

“It’s another special gift of mine. I’ve always been able to do it. Very useful.”

“I’ll say! Never having to return home when you’re low. Never worrying about going dry. It’s incredible. Geez, I’d swear you’re from another world. Does anyone else know about this?”

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“Not in Roespeye. And I’d like to keep it that way.”

“Alright. Well, let’s talk about that plan then.”

“Business before pleasure. Tomorrow is the start of the school year, and we must prepare ourselves for the task at hand.” Raven pointed to the push-pin board. “The challenges.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Van said, standing up. “You just robbed me blind… again, and I’ve got nothing to show for it. It’s my turn, pal.”

“He’s right, Raven,” Rue said with one last chuckle. “Time to be nicer to your new friend. You need him.”

“Very well.”

Going back to the board, Raven took hold of the top and pulled it down. The panel swiveled, revealing the other side. On it, other sheets had been pinned to it, including a map of Reyk Lamgard, notes on the abilities of its people and their culture, and a genealogy of the Chessex family.

“Whoa,” Van said. “When did you do this?”

“While you slept.”

“You mean while I was knocked out cold?”

“Yes.”

He folded his arms. “This is pretty thorough, although I can already see some of your information is wrong.”

“I don’t doubt it. This was simply to lay the foundation based on what I already know. It will be up to you to fill in the gaps. The more, the better. Currently I know nothing about the heiress.”

“I can do that. So, what are you thinking?”

“The classic approach to the pursuit of women is chivalry and gallant displays of strength. The idea is to appear as a suitable mate capable of protection and provision.”

“Or to actually be that,” Van interjected.

“Mmm, yes. However, I believe neither is the most suitable approach for Valentine. I will need time to study her personally, but I’m willing to believe it’s not her heart that needs to be won. Rather, it will be her mind. Her unstable psyche is the fragile prize she guards with utmost care. Therefore, by reasonable conclusion, it will be the way to her affections. Assuming she considers herself to be available in the first place.”

“Let’s say she does. How would I try to ‘win her mind?’ You’re not gonna make me attend lectures and start reading textbooks in my spare time, are you?”

“Possibly, but I doubt it. I’ve been thinking of a much darker scheme. However, I hope you can refrain from any bouts of stupidity in her presence while I work out the details of our little caper?”

“I make no promises. Luckily, I have her in only one class this season – Seals Epo.”

“Perfect. I’m planning on taking the same class. It will be just the opportunity I need to develop a sound plan based on her persona.”

“Develop a sound plan based on her persona,” Van repeated comically. “Raven, never become a dating consultant.”

He leered at him. “You asked for my help. I have no problem dropping this right now and moving on to more important things.”

Van raised his hands. “Apologies. I appreciate it.”

“Try to be invisible tomorrow during Smith’s class. Trust me when I say that every word I utter and every action I take will be deliberate.”

“Should be interesting.”

“Now…” Raven flipped the board again. “The challenges.”

Van came alongside him and gave the seven sheets a once-over. He inhaled mightily as he read them and shook his head dubiously. But to Raven’s surprise, he folded his arms and said, “Okay. Where do we start?”

Raven produced a bag of caramel almonds and took a handful before passing the bag to Van. He then took a three-span long switch attached to the side of the board and used it to point to the first sheet.

“Rook Czeslaw’s challenge: Solve Panka’s Riddle.”

Van stuffed a handful of the almonds into his mouth. “Impothible,” he managed to reply.

“We shall see.” He pointed to the second sheet. “Simeon Turngood’s challenge: Destroy the Sleeping Devil.”

“Doesn’t that conflict with your intentions? To free her?”

Raven took back the almonds and popped a few more. “My intention is to save her. If I restore her soul, she will no longer be the demon she is imagined to be. The Devil will be destroyed.”

“Sounds like you’re hoping to win on a technicality.”

“In matters of disputes like these, Panka is always the final judge. Whose side do you think he would take?”

“Fair enough. Next?”

“Bartholomew Bastille’s challenge: Restore the Star Tome.”

“What is that?”

“No idea.”

“Boy, I gotta tell ya… these are really hard challenges. The masters didn’t mess around.”

“I expected no less. Next, Alabanie Smith’s challenge: Defeat him in a game of seals. Followed by Fanny Fyre’s challenge: Defeat her in a game of Parchen. And of course Finitum Cooley and Selim Forir’s challenges are blank, because I could not discover them.”

“If I have enough logic in me to sort this out, it looks like you’ve ordered the challenges by degree of apparent difficulty.”

“Correct.”

“But if I’ve learned anything about you in the last two days, it’s that you’re a couple steps ahead of the game. So why don’t you reorganize these by degree of personal concern.”

Raven reached to the board and began to unpin the challenges, shuffling them around. Soon, Forir’s blank page was first, followed by Cooley and Bastille. Panka’s Riddle and Sleeping Devil were fourth and fifth, respectively, followed by Fyre’s challenge. Master Smith’s was dead last.

Van nodded. “That’s better.” He took a sweeping intake, then turned and swiped the almonds from Raven’s hand. “Smart to make Forir first. The man is not to be trifled with.”

“If I had to guess, it’s probably a duel of some kind, but I don’t work in hunches. I want the truth so I can prepare.”

“Then, he should be the priority. Same for Cooley.”

Raven tapped his nose. “Precisely. Which is why I will be taking their Epo classes first.”

“What other classes are you taking?”

“Seals Epo and Hydra-Pandora Epo. Four classes total – I’m starting light.”

“We share two classes. I’m only taking three, and Fyre’s class is notoriously easy. Figured it would give me the best start.” Van suddenly yawned wider than a lion. “Oh man… I am beat. What time is it?”

Raven glanced at a large clock beside his bed. “Noon. You should go drink from the pool and then get your rest. The start of term tomorrow marks the beginning of our grand schemes.”

“How do we leave?” He looked to the one door. “Are we really gonna have to traipse through the entire path we took every time?”

“Nothing to fear. A second doorway opened at the bottom of the staircase today. It leads to the opposite side of the Sleeping Devil’s Court. Panka granted us easy access.”

“For now,” he replied heavily. “What if he tries manipulating the staircase again?”

“I would learn to appreciate this school for what it is. I think bemoaning Panka antagonizes him. He wants his students to laugh in the end, not complain. You may just find relief.”

Van hummed before tossing the empty almond bag at him and then clapping him hard on the back. “Alright, thanks for the advice. Later, partner. I’ll meet you by the pool tomorrow morning. But just remember something…” He opened the door before turning back to look at him. “You may have a lot at stake here at the school, but so do I. So let me give you a piece of advice in return. Don’t force me to make a choice I have no choice but to make.”

“I understand,” Raven replied.

Van left, closing the door behind him.

“I like him,” Rue said.

“Yes, he is a suitable companion.” Raven failed in stifling his own yawn. “Well… it looks like my work for the day is satisfactory.” He looked around the room, putting his hands on his hips. From the bed to the armoire, coffin to scarecrow, and push-pin board to apothecary, all was as it should be. Top to bottom, he was ready.

“Everything starts tomorrow.”

“Everything indeed. But for now… it’s time for a long sleep.” He yawned again, and then smiled. “And when I open my eyes again, I hope to see something new.”