I rolled my shoulders, tightening the fittings of my vambrace and checking the runes for any damage. While I had not used it yet, there was a possibility I had made a mistake in the enchanting process that would cause strain.

When I felt content, I nodded to Neil. The guard stood a few steps away, holding his spear in one hand and a shield in the other.

It had taken me several minutes to assure him that no, I had not misspoken, and yes, I knew what I was doing. I could tell he did not fully believe me, but he had agreed to help test my vambrace, so his hesitance became a non-factor.

I dropped back in a guard, my right arm forward and left arm tucked against my side. Though I did not carry a weapon, it did not hurt to maintain good habits and form.

"Attack whenever you are ready," I said, nodding to Neil.

The guard frowned, "Are you sure you don't want a weapon?"

I shook my head, "Not needed, thanks."

Truthfully, I did not want to risk Girem or the Duke noticing and questioning why I was fighting with a spear. I had little doubt they knew about my martial training, but it would not help to remind them. This way, I could hide behind testing a magical item, at least for a little longer.

Neil opened his mouth, then shook his head and stepped forward. He closed the gap and stabbed, using only a little more force than an anemic child might use to swat an errant fly.

I treated the attack with as much respect as it deserved, stepping back just far enough that his stab flicked through the air a half-foot shy of my chest.

"A bit more strength, please," I said, holding up my forearm and smiling, "That one was a little too soft for my needs."

Neil snorted, "You got mouthy. Do you know that?"

"Yes," I nodded, gesturing toward his spear, "If you would."

Neil rolled his eyes but acquiesced. His second attack was stronger, with enough muscle to leave a nasty bruise, even with a blunted spear.

I pushed Aether through my arm and into the enchanted vambrace. The runes sparked, turning green, and mana poured out, gathering and merging. It transformed in the blink of an eye, forming an emerald shield attached to my forearm.

The translucent shield was hexagonal with elongated sides, large enough to protect my torso and entirely weightless. It was about a half-inch thick, perfectly formed with crisp edges, and precisely as I had imagined.

Neil's spear slid across the surface without issue, and I twisted, deflecting his strike away from my body. The guard caught himself and reset, raising an eyebrow as he stepped away from me.

"That's new," Neil remarked, nodding to my shield.

I held it up and smiled, "Enchanted vambrace. The shield it generates should stand up to most attacks from anyone at or below my mana density. I can also reform it when it is broken."

"Fancy. Any chance you can make one for a guard who always kept an eye on you?" Neil asked.

"No," I said, "Not yet, at least. Give me a year or two to figure out a workaround for non-mages."

"I'll hold you to that."

Neil's discomfort faded after the first couple of strikes, and soon, he attacked with almost reckless fervor. Other guards practicing nearby noticed our "sparring" and walked over to watch. Or join in, as it turned out.

Finally, as my mana began to run low, I held up my free hand and stepped back. My opponent, a wirey man several years my senior, staggered to a halt with his mace raised. The guards started trying out different weapons after the first few minutes, and the results seemed promising.

My new shield could block damn near anything without a hint of damage. The force still carried through, a flaw I would need to solve, but the vambraces would do for now. More importantly, I could detect no damage to the enchantment. It was a qualitative jump from my first design and would serve until my mana and skills reached a high enough point to render it superfluous.

"Thanks," I said to Neil, who smiled in response.

"No problem, kid. Always happy to help."

We spoke for a few minutes longer, mostly about how best to use a shield in combat. Eventually, I said my goodbyes and returned inside to get changed for dinner. It would not do to show up sweaty and dressed in traveling clothes.

My caution ended up being pointless. Duke Estton never came to dinner, sending word that he and Girem would be busy all evening. Leon had already spoken to him about the drake, and apparently, his father decided to make it a priority.

We decided to forgo a formal dinner and ate a simple meal before retiring to Leon's private suite. The five of us sat in a rough circle, facing a roaring fire, and shared a few bottles of something ridiculously expensive. Leon had brought it along, intending to drink on the edge of Ferren land, but we had never gotten around to it.

Amelia and I sat beside one another on the couch, sharing one of the bottles. I tried to ignore the feeling of her leg pressed against mine or the hammering in my chest.

"So," Leon said, "We have another day until we have to head back to the Academy. Tomorrow, I'll show you all around the estate. I know this one spot where the light catches just right at sunset."

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My meeting with his father and Girem was tomorrow. There, I planned to tell them both that I would not be returning to my training. The best I could hope for was banishment from the estate.

This might be the last time I would have the chance to speak with my friends like this.

I took a long drink from the bottle, feeling it burn down my throat as I wondered if I was about to make a mistake. If I said the wrong thing, what would they think? What would they say? Would they hate me?

Finally, I cleared my throat and asked, "What did you all see during your Awakenings?"

My friends looked confused, glancing at one another without speaking. Eventually, Leon sat forward, leaning his elbows on his knees, and replied, "What does it matter? They're just dreams, right? Things to strive for, but nothing important. Just a quirk of magic."

I could not help but burst into laughter. Leon and Simon both seemed thrown off balance by my reaction, but Sophia's eyes narrowed, and I felt Amelia lay her hand on my forearm. Maybe she heard the undercurrent of grim amusement, or maybe she was worried about my reaction. I could not say.

"If only," I said, shaking my head, "But call it a curiosity. I have read accounts of other Awakenings but have never heard about one in person. Besides, we are friends, yes?"

Still, no one spoke. The only sound was the crackling of the fire, and I wondered if I should drop the subject.

Finally, Amelia sighed and shrugged, "I can go. Mine wasn't anything exciting. I dueled another mage. Beat him, too. I was using a staff and froze him solid. There was another vision —a celebration, I think, but all I could make out was that the room was massive, and I was in a dress."

Leon tilted his head to one side, "Is that why you use a staff?"

Amelia shook her head and smiled, "No, I just like it. Helps that I knew it'd work out, though."

I nodded and glanced around at the others. Leon and Sophia said nothing, but the dam seemed to have broken.

Simon coughed, "I saw myself in an alchemy lab. It was the largest one I'd ever seen, filled with instruments I didn't fully recognize. And...I think I was running it. Can you imagine? Me? Running a whole lab?"

Leon snorted, and I followed his lead, chuckling as I replied, "Of course I can. You are better than most adepts already. I can only imagine what you will look like twenty years from now."

If we made it, of course.

Simon's face reddened, but he accepted the praise with a smile and a nod.

The clearing fell silent again until Leon sighed, "I'll go next, I suppose. I was hunting a magical beast using a bow and arrow. I didn't see what it was, but it was pretty easy to figure out. And then I was older, thirty or so, sitting on a horse shouting commands to people. The last one I looked in my fifties or sixties, and I was walking with a boy who looked like me, but younger.

"Your son?" I asked.

"Or nephew, maybe," Leon shrugged, "Honestly, I have no idea."

Leon turned to his sister with a grin, nudging her with one elbow, and mumbled, "You're up."

Sophia ignored him and the rest of us for a few seconds. She stared into the fire before finally sighing and rolling her eyes.

"I was training alone. Then, I was somewhere dark and cramped. Then, I was fighting things made of metal that looked like spiders."

"Sounds like the Tinkerers," I said, "They often use automatons patterned after animals."

Sophia shrugged, not bothering to reply. I wondered who would point out the obvious and did not have to wait long.

"We've all shared, Vayne," Leon said, "Except you. What did you see?"

I paused, taking another long pull from the bottle before handing it to Amelia. She took it, setting it down on the table beside her before placing a hand on my arm.

"I saw myself begin my training," I finally said, "My first few visions were...spotty, but I could make out enough. I progressed faster and got further than I ever planned. That confused me, but not as much as what came next."

I looked up and smiled, though it felt brittle, "Archmagus Vayne, the Aether Blade. Not the most creative title, I have to admit."

Simon's mouth opened, and Leon's eyebrows crept towards his hairline. Sophia stared, envy clear on her face, and Amelia reached over to pick up the bottle. She tilted it towards her nose, inhaled, and shook her head.

"Doesn't smell that strong," Amelia smiled, "You really must have seen yourself become an Archmagus."

"Is that so surprising?" I asked, feeling oddly defensive. Then, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before saying, "Sorry, that was...just please, let me finish first."

I opened my eyes, continuing, "I stood on the coastline at a fortress. The King was beside me, and we watched as ships approached us. But they did not look like any ship I had ever seen. The King and my future counterpart spoke, and then he—I attacked the fleet."

Mana swirled in my hand, and I formed it into a rectangular shape. It was a poor simulacrum of my sword spell, but functional.

I raised one hand, then brought it down like a hammer, "I created a sword taller than the Academy and carved into their numbers. I must have killed thousands, if not more. But it was not enough. A man with purple hair and impossible strength survived. We fought and..."

"You lost," Amelia filled it, her voice tight with concern.

I nodded, "Yes. He drove his sword through my chest. And I died."

My hand rubbed at the phantom wound, and I debated sharing the rest...then decided against it. It felt too...personal. I knew it was hypocrisy to ask my friends to share their stories only to leave out part of my own, but I also doubted they would believe me."

I shook my head after a few seconds, "That is why. That is why I have to train like this. That is why I cannot—will not sleepwalk to my death. And that is why I am leaving the Academy."

"What?!" Leon shouted, standing up. Simon looked similarly stunned, and even Sophia seemed confused.

"I am leaving the Academy," I repeated, my resolve crystalizing, "I have to. There are secrets out there, mysteries of Aether that I will never solve in a classroom. If I am to survive, I have to go."

"Wait," Leon said, "You can't be serious. You can't just leave. What about your training? Your duties? Us? We're your friends, Vayne. Hell, Sophia and I are practically your family. We grew up together."

I smiled and knew it would look brittle. When I met Leon's eyes, I saw the confusion, hurt, anger, and other emotions I could not place.

"Leon," I said, "We are not family. We are not even really friends. I am your servant. I wish things were different, but that is the truth. And if you want things to change, I have to leave."

I looked around again, "Think about how strong we have gotten in a year, even within the confines of the Academy. Imagine how far we might climb without them. How far can we go if we work together, pushing one another to our limits? We could become the greatest mages to ever live."

Leon opened his mouth, possibly to counter my claims, but I pushed on. This was the thing I had turned over in my thoughts, an idea I had hatched months earlier, back when I first thought of abandoning my formal training.

"And that is why I want you to come with me. All of you."

The only sound that met my words was the crackling of the fireplace. I had expected someone to say something, but no one reacted.

Simon was the first to break. He coughed, glancing up momentarily before lowering his eyes to the floor, "Vanye...I want to, but I can't. I understand why you're doing what you're doing. But my family spent a fortune sending me here. There's so much to learn still. And besides, your vision might not even come true. I just...I'm sorry."

I had expected at least one refusal, but his words still stung. I nodded, looking between the others to see if anyone else would speak.

Finally, Leon took a deep breath and met my eyes. I could see his face shift between a frown and a glare before he settled onto something hard. Stern. Cold, even.

"No," Leon shook his head, "My family needs me. My country needs me. I swore to become better, and abandoning my responsibilities to run around with you is breaking that oath. Your visions sound ridiculous, and I will not betray my duties because of them. I would've thought you'd know better, Vayne."

Leon's voice was cold, and I realized I had been wrong in the past. This was the Duke's heir, and unfortunately, I was the target of his ire.

I inclined my head, accepting the implication without protest before turning to Sophia, asking, "And you?"

Sophia stared at me for a few seconds. Her eyes looked colder than even Leon's, and she stood. Without a word, she walked to the door and exited, not sparing me a single glance as she passed.

I stared at the door for a moment. Sophia had been the most uncertain of the four. She was the most ambitious, but ambition could easily lead to envy. I hoped she might reconsider, but that seemed a distant possibility.

Only one person had not spoken yet, and I dreaded her response the most. I mustered my courage and turned, looking at Amelia.

The ice mage had pulled away at some point and now rubbed her hands together as if trying to warm them. It was a show of nerves I had never seen before, and I realized what she would say at that moment.

"Amelia?" I asked gently, reaching out to place my hand on her leg.

She winced, then took in a breath before looking up to meet my eyes. There were tears there, and I suddenly realized I could not hear the words.

"Please," I forced a smile and ignored the burning in my eyes and throat, "I understand."

I coughed, swallowing the lump in my throat as I looked between the remaining three apprentices. Leon's face was hard, Simon refused to look at me, and Amelia seemed a heartbeat from crying.

"For what little it is worth," I finally said, "I am sorry. For keeping this from you. For lying. And..."

There was no 'and,' I realized. There was now a distance between us, and nothing I could say would fix it.

The burning in my eyes returned, and I turned, leaving the room and my friends behind.