The following day, Adrian stood outside the towering gates of the Whitewynn estate, his breath visible in the crisp morning air. Galtier waited for him, the black armor catching the pale light of dawn.

"Are you ready for this? We're going to see her shortly. " Galtier asked.

Adrian drew in a deep breath, forcing calm into his tone. "I’m fine. Where are we supposed to meet?"

"In a certain alleyway here in South Tusk. Lysander gave me directions."

The alleyway in South Tusk was a narrow, shadowed strip of cobblestone flanked by towering brick walls smeared with grime. The stench of damp and decay hung in the air, clinging to Adrian’s senses.

As they neared the meeting point, Adrian’s gaze locked onto a figure standing motionless at the alley's end. A mask obscured her face, porcelain white with streaks of crimson cascading down like tears of blood. A Mourne Mask.

The figure raised her hands and, in a fluid motion, removed the mask. Beneath it was a face Adrian never thought he’d see again, though it was one he had etched into memory a thousand times over. Seven.

Her skin was pale as moonlight, a sharp contrast to the cascade of jet-black hair that fell to her shoulders. Her eyes were the color of smoldering embers, flickering with an intensity that refused to be ignored.

She smiled as she spoke, "Adrian, it really is you."

Adrian blinked, his throat tightening. She’s alive. She’s actually here. Words felt impossible, tangled in the flood of disbelief and relief crashing over him. Finally, he managed, "Seven… I thought—" His voice cracked, and he stopped, swallowing the emotion threatening to surface.

She chuckled lightly, the sound both familiar and foreign after so much time. "You thought I was dead. I thought the same about you, to be fair."

Before Adrian could respond, Seven reached into the folds of her cloak and retrieved a small vial filled with a shimmering, golden liquid and extended it toward Galtier. "This should help your sister. It’s potent, but make sure she takes no more than a single drop at a time."

Galtier reached for the vial, his gauntleted hand closing around it with surprising care. For a moment, the knight lingered, his helm tilting as if studying her. "Thank you."

Seven nodded, a faint smile touching her lips. "No need to thank me, but best of luck."

Galtier stepped back, his gaze shifting to Adrian. There was an unreadable pause before he spoke again. "I’ll head back to the Whitewynn estate. It seems the two of you have a lot to catch up on."

Adrian looked at him, wanting to argue, but the words wouldn’t come. Galtier gave a brief nod, turned on his heel, and walked back the way they had come.

The alley grew quieter in his absence, leaving Adrian and Seven standing a few feet apart. The silence was heavy, but not uncomfortable—more a collision of unspoken questions and emotions.

Adrian inhaled deeply, steadying himself before speaking. "I don’t even know where to start."

Seven stepped closer, her smile softening into something more genuine. "Then you could start by telling me why you’re so much taller now."

Adrian snorted, some of the tension easing from his shoulders. "Maybe because it’s been years. You look… different, too."

Seven’s smirk deepened at Adrian’s response, but her expression soon shifted. She stepped back slightly, resting her hand against the wall of the alley. “I should apologize, meeting here like this isn’t ideal. But I’ve got to stay on the down low. There are… complications.”

Adrian crossed his arms, tilting his head slightly. “It’s fine. But I have to ask… why the Mourne? Out of all the places you could’ve gone, why there?”

“Did Selena explain anything to you?”

“She told me there are factions within the Mourne, and that you’re aligned with the one led by someone called ‘the Prophet.’ But I want to hear it from you. Why?”

Seven’s expression softened, though a hint of weariness lingered in her eyes. She pushed off the wall, standing straighter as she spoke. “The Mourne isn’t as united as people think. It’s split into factions, each pulling in a different direction. Some want chaos for the sake of power. Others just want revenge on the world that wronged them.”

Her gaze flicked briefly toward the distant exit of the alley before returning to Adrian. “But the Prophet? He’s different.”

Adrian raised an eyebrow. “Different how?”

“He has visions. Powerful ones. And so far, they’ve been right every single time. He predicted the fall of Grayridge a month before it happened. He even saw us meeting again.”

Adrian’s chest tightened at the thought. Meeting again… because of some vision? Or something more? “So you’re willing to stake everything on his words?”

Seven’s gaze didn’t waver, though her tone softened. “I trust him because he’s never been wrong. Not once. His visions don’t just show what could happen. And the Prophet believes you’re… important, Adrian. Central to something bigger than either of us.”

Adrian blinked, her words sinking in like cold water.“And what does he want from me exactly?"

"For now, to survive. The Prophet's visions aren't constant you see, it just sort of happens randomly every so often. But, he's seen enough to know that you need to live and become stronger."

“That’s a lot of faith to put into one person’s word. How can you be so sure he’s right?”

“I know it’s hard to believe. But I’ve seen his visions play out, Adrian. Over and over again. They’re not guesses. They’re not dreams. They’re… truths.”

“And what happens if he is wrong?"

Seven flinched slightly, the question hanging in the air like a blade. Her ember-like eyes dimmed for a heartbeat before she squared her shoulders. “Then I’ll deal with that when it happens. But for now, I’m doing what I believe is right.”

Adrian exhaled slowly, the knot in his chest loosening just enough for his words to flow more easily. “You’re putting a lot on the line, Seven. I just hope it’s worth it.”

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"It'll all be worth it in the end, you just have to trust me." Seven said.

"To be completely honest, that's asking for a lot. But… I'm willing to at least accept your words, for now."

"That's good enough for me."

Adrian shifted his weight, his arms crossing as he studied her expression. A faint smile tugged at his lips, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I… bet you can’t stay for long, can you?”

Seven let out a soft laugh, the sound both amused and a touch regretful. “You’re right about that, but before I go, there’s something I want to ask you.”

“What is it?”

“I want to spar with you.”

Adrian blinked, momentarily caught off guard. “Spar? Why?”

“To see how much stronger you’ve become,” Seven said simply, stepping closer. “The Prophet told me about some of the threats you might face in the future. If you’re going to get through them, I need to know you’re ready.”

Adrian sighed, running a hand through his hair. “You’re really not going to let this go, are you?”

“Not a chance,” she replied, her lips curving into a smirk that was both familiar and infuriating. “Come on, Adrian. Just a quick match. "

His shoulders relaxed, and he exhaled through his nose, the faintest hint of a smile creeping onto his face. “Alright, but don’t expect me to go easy on you.”

Seven chuckled, flicking her cloak over one shoulder as she gestured for him to follow. “Good. I wouldn’t want you to.” She glanced around the alleyway before motioning toward the far end. “Let’s find a better spot, though. Somewhere a little less… claustrophobic.”

Adrian followed her lead as she weaved through the winding streets of South Tusk. Finally, Seven stopped at a secluded clearing on the outskirts of the district, where the ground was packed with dirt and the surrounding walls provided a measure of privacy.

“This’ll do,” she said, shrugging off her cloak and tossing it onto a nearby crate.

Seven shrugged off her cloak, revealing a sleek outfit beneath—a lightweight black tunic with thin leather reinforcements stitched along her shoulders and chest. The material hugged her frame while allowing full range of movement.

“You’ve upgraded your wardrobe. I see you haven’t outgrown your taste for dramatic flair.” Adrian said with a light chuckle.

Seven arched an eyebrow, placing her hands on her hips. “Says the one walking around with flames sprouting from his hands. And for the record, this is functional, not dramatic.”

Adrian chuckled, letting his hands ignite with soft blue fire as he stretched his arms. “Sure, but don’t forget, I’m the one who taught you magic. I think I’m entitled to a little judgment.”

Seven returned his smirk, her eyes narrowing with mock defiance. "I’ve learned a few tricks since then. Don’t think I’ll be so predictable.”

Adrian rolled his shoulders, his expression sharpening. She’s confident. That hasn’t changed. But if she’s learned new magic, I can’t take anything for granted. “Let’s see how you hold up now."

"Get ready Adrian, here I come."

In a split second, Darkness coiled around Seven's fingers, forming tendrils that writhed and twisted like living shadows. With a flick of her wrist, the tendrils shot toward Adrian.

Adrian reacted instinctively, his flames flaring as he sidestepped and raised a wall of fire to intercept the attack. The shadows hissed as they collided with the blue flames, dissipating into thin wisps of smoke. Seven was already in motion, darting to the side and hurling another wave of shadow magic at him.

Shadow magic? She really has learned a lot the last time I saw her, Adrian thought as he parried the attack with a sweeping arc of flame.

Seven twisted around her like living creatures, forming protective spirals and coiling into dense projectiles that she hurled with precision. She’s faster than I remember. More controlled.

He ducked low, a tendril of shadow slicing the air where his head had been moments before. Rolling to the side, he thrust a hand forward, releasing a concentrated burst of flame that roared through the narrow gap between them. Seven countered by thrusting her palm outward, a shield of shadow manifesting in an instant to absorb the attack.

The shield dissolved, and Seven retaliated with a flourish of her arm, sending an arc of shadow energy slicing toward Adrian’s midsection. He twisted his body, the edge of his tunic singed as he narrowly avoided the strike. With a sharp inhale, he drew the flames back into himself and lunged forward, closing the gap between them. His fists blazed as he swung at her, the fire trailing like comet tails.

Seven pivoted and parried his fiery strikes with conjured blades of darkness, their sharp edges clashing against his burning fists. Sparks and embers scattered into the air with each collision.

Adrian shifted tactics, planting his foot firmly into the ground and releasing a wave of fire outward in all directions. The blue flames licked at the earth and surged toward Seven like a tidal wave. Instead of retreating, she leaped upward, her shadows coalescing beneath her feet to propel her higher. From above, she twisted mid-air and launched a barrage of shadowy spikes down toward him.

The boy raised both hands, summoning a dome of fire that swallowed the incoming projectiles. The spikes evaporated in bursts of smoke and heat, but the effort forced him to dig his heels into the dirt, his flames flickering as the energy drained from him. He dropped the barrier just as Seven landed gracefully a few feet away, the shadows around her writhing in anticipation of her next move.

"Not bad, but you’re still holding back." Seven said.

Adrian clasped his hands together. "Fine, I suppose I'll take things up a notch."

His hands burned with blue flames as he clasped them together, fingers locking in a gesture that drew the fire inward. His entire form pulsed with energy, the glow around him intensifying to the point where the air itself rippled.

He inhaled deeply, chest expanding. Let’s see if you can handle this, Seven.

With a sharp exhale, Adrian unleashed a torrent of fire from his mouth, a roaring blaze of blue that illuminated the shadowed clearing like the break of dawn. The flames surged forward in a concentrated beam, twisting and coiling as they raced toward Seven with unrelenting force. The dirt at his feet scorched, and the air filled with the crackling roar of the inferno as it swallowed the space between them.

Seven stood her ground in the sudden gale of heat. Her ember-like eyes locked onto Adrian’s, steady and unflinching. As the fire closed in, she raised her right hand, her fingers splayed as though grasping an invisible thread. The shadows around her sprang to life, swirling upward like a dark cyclone and solidifying into an impenetrable barrier.

The fire slammed into her shield with a deafening roar. Light and shadow collided, the force of the impact creating shockwaves that rippled outward, scattering dust and loose debris. Adrian poured more energy into the attack, his jaw tightening as the flames brightened, their intensity threatening to consume everything in their path. I know she can handle this.

The flames finally began to wane as Adrian’s breath faltered, exhaustion creeping into his limbs. When the inferno cleared, Seven stood completely unharmed, the remnants of her shadow barrier dissipating into the air. Not a single strand of her hair was out of place.

Her smirk soon returned. “You didn’t forget, did you?” she asked, lowering her hand and brushing off an imaginary speck of dust from her tunic. “I’ve always had a strong affinity for abjuration.”

Adrian exhaled, letting the last embers of his flames die away as he straightened his posture. “Of course I remembered. I only dared to do that because I knew you’d be fine.”

Seven laughed lightly, shaking her head as she stepped closer. “You’re either brave or reckless. Maybe both. But I’ve seen enough. You’ve improved, Adrian. More than I expected.”

“So, sparring’s over?” he asked, wiping the back of his hand across his brow.

“It’s over,” Seven confirmed, her smirk softening into a genuine smile. “You’ve proven yourself. If the Prophet’s visions are anything to go by, you’re well on your way to becoming what this world needs.”

Her gaze lingered on him for a moment, as though searching for something unspoken. “But don’t get complacent. There’s still a long road ahead.”

Adrian tilted his head, a faint grin tugging at his lips. “When have you ever known me to take it easy?”

“Fair point,” she replied, her amusement flickering once more. She bent down to retrieve her cloak, tossing it over her shoulders with a practiced motion. “I should get going. Staying here too long isn’t safe for me. You understand.”

Adrian’s smile faded slightly, though he nodded. “I get it. Just… don’t disappear again, alright?”

“I’ll try, but things are complicated. If we meet again, it won’t be by chance.”

“Then I’ll look forward to it. Sooner rather than later, I hope.”