“At your service” Saule smiled. The large Black Panther stepped forward into the bright sun, revealing his sleek black fur that covered every inch of him.

Kelani stayed back, watching from the shadow of an entranceway. Papa forbade them from interacting with the Guardian, but no one told her exactly why. And why did the Mages in this kingdom distrust him? She tasted a mystery on her tongue, it was too tempting not to pursue. Every fiber told her to leave. To obey Zander’s command. But she needed answers. Answers she wouldn’t find in a book.

“What would you like to do first?”

“I need to see the Headmistress. Sadly, time is short. I have wasted enough of it as it is.”

“So, this is business?”

“No other reason would warrant my return. Now if you please, I must have an official escort throughout the Academy.”

He continued on his way, seemingly knowing the layout of the building already. She grabbed her staff, and ran to catch up with him. Kelani followed, hugging the columns to conceal her presence. Between his padded footsteps and Saule’s boots, sat an uncomfortable silence. His hips and tail swung from side to side. The tip of his tail flicked with each step. But Saule walked with her staff to her chest, cherishing it like it was a sacred memory. Her eyes watched the floor.

“Are you enjoying your time here, Mistress Mage?”

“Yes, I am having a wonderful year,”

“You are not spending your vacation on the continent?”

“No, I didn’t want to. Although my friend is. He's sent letters about his adventures and all the things he learned. I’m a little jealous, I think next year I will go for sure.”

“It is a great experience to have. You become so isolated here. A new perspective and change of scenery can cause a momentous improvement to one's wellbeing. Especially if you dream on being a Council Member.”

“Me? I don’t know about that.”

“But you will begin the testing for the Council Elect position, will you not?” he looked up; seeing her nod he continued, “then you are halfway there.”

She gave a weak smile before changing the subject, “How is Mistress Avalon? Is she well?”

“She is in good health, adjusting to being home after so many years abroad.”

“Yes, I can imagine how happy it must be to be home with her family again,”

“She is adjusting to the routine accordingly.”

He stopped in front of a heavy polished wood door. The size dwarfed the others on the opposite wall. Its commanding presence meant it had to be the Headmistress’s office. The final authority of the education of the next generation of Mages. The one who safeguards Papa’s teachings. An important position for the worthiest of tasks. Polished amethyst and other stones decorated the doorway; catching bits of light from the flickering lamps. Above the door was an inscription in the languages of their forefathers. It was familiar on her tongue, the school’s motto: 'First Among Equals'.

“Is she inside?” he asked.

“Of course, she’s expecting you, where else would she be?”

He didn’t answer. Saule approached the intimidating door placing her hand on the gold ring handle. Pulling it open she bowed as the panther entered. She remained in the hall; choosing to stand instead of sitting on the uncomfortable bench beside the office. She tapped the base of her hawthorn staff; the sunstone resting inside a nest of twisted wood. She ran her hands over the polished surface admiring the soft but strong texture of her faithful friend.

Kelani’s palms began to sweat. She finally had her alone, but now what. She had rehearsed what she would say, was up late into the night finding the perfect words. Standing a few meters from her though, caused all the words to fail her. Her ascension dependent on helping someone. And she chose Saule, but she never considered what if the mortal refused? She shook her head, took a deep breath, and gathered her nerve to step from her hiding place.

“Good afternoon, Saule.” She stood tall, trying to sound more confident than she felt.

“Oh, you’re the one from the fountain yesterday. Is your book okay?”

“Intact, but still wet in some parts.”

“Maybe open the pages and let them dry in the sun, that’ll do the trick.”

Leave Jhee out in the sandy desert, with the sun fading my precious illustrations? Ridiculous.

“I wanted to convey to you that the Oracle had received your offering.”

“Oh, thank you! I hope you didn’t have too long to wait in line.”

“No, not at all. I reached the front in short order.”

Saule studied her, noting her strange clothes and lingering on the charms hanging from her bag. Kelani shifted under her gaze; this was the longest interaction she had with a mortal. Every extended second was a possibility to make a fool of herself.

“You don’t seem to be from around here. What’s your name?”

“Kelani, I am new to this kingdom.”

“What brings you here?”

Her throat closed shut. Revealing too much to mortals could have unforeseen consequences. But she needed to say something. Saule cocked her head to the side. Mortals, she was told, could be unreasonable if taken off guard. So, she settled for an explanation she would likely understand.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

“I love to read, and I wished to visit the library here.”

“You must really like reading, if you came all this way.”

“I must confess my ulterior motive. I came looking for you,”

“Me?”

“I was hoping to repay you for your assistance yesterday.”

“Oh no, don’t worry.” She waved her hands to dismiss the thought. “I was just doing my part. I’m sure someone would’ve done the same.”

“But they didn’t. You were the only one who stepped from the line to help; giving up your place to help a stranger.”

“Oh…” She clutched the staff to her chest again, making herself smaller.

“Please let me help you. I want to give you what your heart desires.”

“That doesn’t seem like something anyone can give someone.”

“If you have faith in me, I promise I can. All you need to do, is tell me what it is you want.”

Behind them the door slid open, and the door handle slammed against the wood. A woman in white robes with short grey hair wore a scowl on her face as Lord Orbit slunk from the office. He paused, turning to face the Headmistress one last time.

"One more point before we depart. What is your opinion on Eyden's Passage?"

"I have no recollection of such a place."

"As helpful as always."

"Farewell Lord Orbit." She slammed the door behind her.

"I guess it didn't go well..." Saule whispered as he approached. "Apologies Lord Orbit, she isn't the friendliest person."

"Do not apologize for the like of her my dear. She will answer for her choices at the Gate like everyone else."

He paused again, this time noticing Kelani standing beside the Mage. She knew of his kind, but it was the first time she was so close to one. From the panther's large claw tipped paws to the jaw that can bite through a prey's skull he was a top predator. But it was his aura that gave her pause. It was ancient magic, older than hers. It felt heavy, a weight of millennia of knowledge, experience, and victories. It radiated from his body, but Saule didn't seem to notice. The Guardian must've seen her face, he stared as if she was a letter to decipher. She found herself shuffling under his gaze. If anyone could discover what she was, she knew it would be this Guardian.

"Have we met before?" he asked.

"I am new to this kingdom."

"Her name is Kelani, she's here to visit our library." What ever thought passed through his mind, his face didn't reveal it. But Saule continued before he asked for more details. "If you don't mind, but why are you asking about Eyden's Passage?"

"I desire information."

"Should we go to the library next?" Saule's mood grew happier the longer he spoke to her.

"I'm afraid what I need is not in the library. But I appreciate the offer. It is time for me to leave." He continued down the hallway, forcing the girls to keep up.

"If you need to, I can take you there." she said finally, and the panther stopped.

"You know where it is?"

"I have an idea, of a likely location of the entrance. I'll be happy to take you there." Kelani saw the concern on his face. His ears folded as he was contemplating his options. "Please, let me be of use to you. It's the least I can do after everything you and Mistress Avalon did for me."

"Saule... it's too dangerous. Not to mention I must finish my official business before I seek out another."

"What if Kelani comes with me? Two is better than one. You conduct your official duties and we will survey the area and return with the information you seek."

"Are you a Mage Mistress Kelani?"

"I assure you I can keep her safe."

"Yes, perhaps you can." He paused again, glancing at Saule who struggled not to bounce out of her boots. "A survey mission. Nothing more, understand?"

"Of course. There and back. What is it that we should be looking for?"

"You will know it when you see it. And remember, no one must know. Not at this time."

"Don't worry Lord Orbit, we won't let you down."

After he left, Kelani pulled her mortal aside. Every part of her brain was telling her it was a terrible idea. That she was disobeying Papa. She was supposed to stay away from him, not volunteer for his mission. What was so important about that passage anyway.

"Saule are you sure about this?"

"You asked me what I wanted more than anything. Well, it's simple, I want to be better. Have you ever felt blocked? Like there’s some heavy rock blocking the flow of your magic?”

Her body shifted under the Mage’s gaze. She had never expressed the sentiment before, but she understood the question better than anyone. It was difficult to explain, especially to her sister. For a while now, Kelani had sensed something was wrong with her magic. Everything worked and succeeded as it should, but she had recently felt stunted. Like her abilities reached a limit, and no matter what she did, it never got better. She never grew stronger, her abilities never developed past where they were. She knew she was capable of more, but something held her back.

Then Papa told her about the Pantheon. Her and her sister would not reach their full potential until they were accepted to the Pantheon. Not that Osanna really cared about the fact. Her abilities were always the strongest. But for Kelani, having the limit was holding her back. If that was what Saule was feeling, then she understood how important being “better” meant.

“I’ve trained every day to keep my body healthy. I meditate, pray, even consult my instructors; but none of them can help me push past this block. You see I picture what I want, every detail, as vivid as possible. My body has memorized the movements, but it always falls short.”

"How is helping the Guardian going to resolve this?"

"Because rumours say Eyden's Passage is a rich training ground. Full of beasts and obstacles. Simply travelling there could help hone my skills tenfold. Yesterday I failed at a manipulation, and I can't let it happen again."

“You seem preoccupied with this manipulation. Why are you focused on this one, there are many others you no doubt have mastered already.”

“Because it’s the one I can’t master. Look at this place, look around you; every student comes from a rich and powerful family. I don’t. My dad’s a simple carpenter. I entered the initiation trials and won my place here. Receiving one of few tuitions paid by the Academy. If I can’t remain competitive or top of my class, then I lose everything I worked so hard for.”

Is that what Eevi meant yesterday, when she said Saule’s type didn’t belong at the Academy. The hostility from her rival left Kelani unnerved. She never experienced such raw rage. Even Osana, as extroverted as she was, never became unhinged. She made a note to add an amendment to Jhee. It was clear there was a hierarchy between the Mages. Not just political but economical as well. Another complicated layer, especially for Saule.

“I’m afraid my friends will outperform me. I’ve worked hard to make my family proud. And now I’m worried that I’m so close to reaching the top ranks I might not. I need to figure out what is wrong with my magic.”

“Consider it done.”

“You can help me, really?”

Yes, she was sure of it. She had found a mortal with an honorable heart and she was ready to commit. Together she would guarantee her mortal’s success. And when she did, she would be welcomed to the Pantheon alongside her kin. Fully capable of reaching her full potential as well.

“I Kelani, the eldest daughter of my tribe, will do everything in my abilities to see to it that you Saule, daughter of the carpenter, unleashes your full magical potential.”