In the blemish-free concrete hall, dark wood doors lined the left side, with silver lamps hanging above, their soft light reflecting off the marbled floor.
Scade dodged a few robed instructors, engrossed in their friendly talks.
The instructor’s robe is made of an earthy brown fabric, textured finely lined. The robe reached down to the ankles, flowing loosely as if the fabric thinned down to the legs. Its long sleeves thickened around the forearm, while keeping mobility. Beneath the robe, a clear white tunic peeks, with a neat collar that stands attention.
A particular young man, robed in black with red curling hair, walked alongside an elegant woman in her thirties with gray—no, platinum—hair, robed in inverse snow-white.
The freckled man in black was half a head shorter than Scade, setting his eyes on him. His fervent gaze transformed from warm to a frigid frown, cold and tempered as if frozen solid in a below-zero freezer.
His left hand made a sharp motion, a small spot on the floor dulled in its reflection.
Scade didn’t mind the look the aged, like man gave him and kept his focus on the aptitude test, following the directions the cute—although flat—one had provided. The world twisted on its side, his feet lifting into the air, and for a short moment, he became weightless before falling. The cold on his back permeated his skin.
That flicking hand… why?
He pushed himself up from the floor and watched him walk, turning left with a knowing, wicked smile. Scade clenched his jaw, sighed, and quickly shook it off, pushing the strange feeling away. An instructor came out of the doors behind next to Scade.
“Careful,” he pointed at the ice-glazed spot, “slippery floor.”
Scade finally spotted the sign reading 'Initiate' pointing to the right at the far end of the hall. While the girl hadn't been clear—or given a chance to be—Scade pieced together 'aptitude test' and 'initiate.'
He twisted the polished silver knob and entered.
The room was spacious and a shade darker, with red curtains edged in gold hanging from the ceiling, veiling the tall, narrow windows. The chandeliers, identical to those in the lobby, loomed steadily.
A twenty-something group surrounded the boulder-sized, salt-like crystalline globe on a tinkered device, emitting an internal light. Three golden hoops glided perpendicularly around the globe, each larger than the last, twirling around one another. Paired with it was an elongated crystal, reaching to the hip, three meters away
A girl with a brown ponytail, wearing a simple white shirt and jeans, stretched her hand toward the crystal.
The rings sped up silently, and a gentle breeze swept across the room. The globe began to pulse with internal light, shifting colors as it flickered to soft white, then vanished before morphing into a firefly-like glow bouncing around the globe. Another color began to flicker—this time a sparkling aqua blue—and the fireflies danced within the device.
“Air and Water!” said the tall, handsome instructor enthusiastically. He wore a snow-white robe, like the woman walking with that red-haired asshole. His short blond was styled spiky, his beard a stubble. The robe couldn’t hide the fact he was well-trained. His smile looked genuine, but if–
No, they're not all like that.
The girl cried, tears falling as she lowered her head. “Only two…” she sniffled.
“You don’t have to cry,” he said, once again genuine. The instructor held out both hands. “Look.” A flame flickered gently on his left, while wisps of lightning in his right. “Just because your affinity is for two elements doesn’t mean you can’t have a third. Observe.”
He brought the elements together and pressed his hands tightly, and lightning and flames erupted from the crevices of his fingers. The crackling flame and the clashing thunder resounded through the room.
Silence returned as he opened his hands, revealing a bright, blinding white ball with blue, netherlike fire. The crowd gasped.
“See,” he said to the girl. She nodded, wiping her tears away. “A huge warning, don’t try this, Just to remind everyone, what you witnessed was high level technique. It may look easy, but requires my attention and a shocking amount of mana. One, tiny, mistake and I would’ve leveled the guild.”
A guy in front of the crowd chuckled.
“I'm not kidding,” he said, his tone now serious. The guy froze, then retreated to the back of the group. “One mistake, and you’re lucky if you only lose both hands. Then again, it depends on the volatility of the elements.” The instructor walked past the initiates, scanning their faces. “Trying this at home with these elements,” he flashed the fire and lightning briefly, “could kill your whole family.”
He circled around the crystal device, its golden hoops spinning slowly.
“Now, I’m not here to scare you away or dissuade you from experimenting, but at least wait until you can control your elements. Even then, it’s highly dangerous. All this will be explained at a later date.”
He clapped his hands, “who’s next?”
A girl, shorter than average with wolfish but silk-smooth black hair, stepped towards the crystal. The layers of her skirt, shifting from black to gray to white, spread outward as she moved.
She wore a sleeveless black blazer, tailored to fit her hourglass waist, her milky arms soft, subtle, and lacking definition. Dark leather boots stretched tight over her calves, almost reaching her plump thighs. She moved like a princess from a villainous empire—bold, dignified, yet delicate.
She confidently put her small hand on the crystal and closed her violet eyes.
The rings spun faster, and the crystal globe flashed rapidly through colors. Scade squinted at the light as a dark-shadowy firefly jolted around the globe. This is different. Twirling, the rings accelerated, the wind blowing his hair back. Some whispered mutterings, followed by shushes from the awed. Paper, pens, and small trinkets fell off the table, rolling and being pushed across the room by the wind.
Another firefly bounced, this one purple.
The hoops slowed to a halt, then reversed direction–not a gust blowing, but a vacuum sucking. Scade planted his feet and looked at the girl. Her hair fluttered, and the silver chain, which had been nestled unnoticed, now drifted toward the globe. His toes groaned as he slid slowly toward the blurring hoops. A flailing arm skimmed past his face; a mumbled “sorry” came from the guy next to Scade. But she remained unbothered, standing anchored as if the crystal shielded her.
Black fly with dark blue and violet specks flickered in the globe.
The hoops suddenly stopped pulling, and Scade balanced on one foot, preventing himself from tipping over. The bi-colored fly centered itself, with the other two orbiting around it.
It spun once more, this time less intense—like the first girl. The globe shifted elements: Earth, Metal, and Lightning, before morphing into flies that joined the others, orbiting around the bi-colored fly.
The instructor clapped, and Scade, unsure whether to follow, left his hands at his sides. “The days keep surprising me,” he said towards the crowd, “it’s been a long time seeing almost perfect element efficiency.”
From behind the crowd, heads bobbed in front of Scade, blocking his view. He carefully maneuvered toward the middle, Her eyes snapped open, ethereal violet irises piercing through the sway of the crowd.
Void,” she uttered, absent of emotion. Her walk, veering off tangent, carried a mystique, as if her confidence shattered the moment she spoke. She settled at the front.
“Void is one of the rarest elements,” said the instructor. “The prerequisites beyond heritage require a specific combination of set elements. But the details are for another day.”
“Next”
One by one, the initiates of the aptitude test approached the device to awaken their elements. Scade had considered going earlier but decided against it. This was a perfect opportunity to gather information and identify potential team members for the first assignments. For his plan to succeed, he needed a reliable team; after all, he was risking his life in the Wasteland for coin. And he imagined the quest given by the Strider Guild would be at least fraught with danger.
Most of the initiates had a combination of three elements. The ones who stood out, aside from the girl with piercing violet eyes, was a dark blond guy wearing leather armor. He awakened the basic elements—Air, Water, Earth, and Fire—along with an additional element: Wood. A short, shy, skittish girl with ivory half twin-tails wore an oversized charcoal shirt, soft creamy cotton pants, and boots. Her awakening was peaceful, the rings spinning gracefully. She awakened Light and Fire, along with two rare elements: Gravity and Spirit.
They had planned the same as Scade, bored now that the majority awakened the crowd and left the room to wait. The instructor nodded to the waving hands. Few stayed, one was the ivory skittish girl.
Scade approached the device, a molt of a hand no larger than his was imprinted on the crystal. His hand hovered above, uncertain of what was to come, as if it were unrealized, out there. There was a possibility, though small, that he had no affinity for any of the elements. All would have been in vain. 250 gold coins wasted, the hundreds of hours plus spent working at the bar, and the countless terrible odd jobs done just for a chance.
His dark eyes closed, lowering his hand down the crystal, it fit like a glove. The surface was cool and electrifying. The crystal reminded him of a sweating beer stein turning lukewarm, cold yet sticky.
The globe device spun its rings faster, faster, the light inside pulsing with arrhythmic colors, in a way that mimicked a dying heartbeat. The winds began to rack, gusts swishing through the room, while the rings spun with such incredible speed they appeared frozen. Yelps came from the few who were flying, then slammed against the wall. The instructor struggled to stay on his feet. The rings whirred sharply, dark smoke swirling like ink in water inside the globe, blotting it fully black in an instant. A dull flame whickered at the center, spurts of energy licking the dome of the crystal globe.
A lash at the globe split a small fracture on its surface, and splinters gashed across his forehead. Scade winced as drops of blood crossed his cheek. The whirring and gusts stopped. The initiates ran, but the frail girl stayed. Fireflies emerged, ranging in all colors, bouncing around until a deafening crack shattered the globe in half, its fragments scattering.
The internal light and its flies died.
Some frightened people gasped in confusion, their heads peeking through the door, watching to see what had happened.
“Woah.” said the instructor.
“That wasn't me!” Scade said, panic racing in his heart. His eyes shifted from the instructor to the girl, who was shaking as if she thought she was to blame.
“Easy… what is your name? I’m good with faces, but I don’t remember you from the introduction part.”
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“Scade. A bit late because I had an errand on the way.”
The instructor nodded and walked to the table, only to sigh as he searched the floor near the shattered globe. Under a crystal shard, he shoved it aside to reveal a notepad.
“Scade, was it?”
Scade nodded but frowned, his head tingling—not from the slash, but from the anxious stress. To save Lyra’s bar and pay the debt fairly, he desperately needed a solution. If it had been an option, he would’ve chosen the mage guild, but those expensive pricks were asking for a thousand gold.
His finger trailed down the paper. “Ah, yes. Scade Rover.” and regarded Scade. “Don’t worry. You're not in trouble, it’s not my first device breaking. It's a small problem, the guild just… I have to make a deal with the Mage guild for my replacement.
“If the Master asks…” he thought deeply for a moment. “Say Instructor Leon demonstrated… mana expansion in inanimate objects. The blame will be mine.” Leon smiled. “Alright, I’ll see you both tomorrow at 9 am. I need to explain things to the others.” Leon walked away, leaving them alone among the scattered crystal pieces.
The girl twisted her ivory hair, and pulled at her oversized shirt. “I…I…wanted to ask to form a team in the future.”
“Huh, why? I broke the awakening device. I don’t even remember my elements clearly.”
“Because you…” she eyed Scade up and down, “because we’re the only coinless in the group.”
Scade gazed downward at his clothes. They were bland, extremely casual—bordering on a drifter look. The ends of the short sleeves were frayed, and the shirt's whitish color had washed to gray. His jeans were patched with stitched-up holes and tears. His shoes were scratched and worn, the leather layer nearly bare.
He had been spending all his coin to keep the Moonlit Ruin afloat; he hadn’t really cared for himself, to be presentable at least.
Why didn’t Lyra say anything?
The girl was serious, her oversized shirt and odd choice of pants, which looked oddly comfortable. She was fair skinned and thin, too thin. Her cheeks were sunken, and her collarbone protruded, visible around the wide neckline of her shirt. But upon closer inspection, her features were striking: misty gray eyes, naturally long lashes, straight brows, and rosy lips. If she filled out…
Scade thought about smashing the head against, it was already bleeding anyways.
“Yeah, sure, we can team up. I mean, the poor aspect aside, it doesn't matter much. You got two rare elements. You can pick any team, they want you. I want you… in my team of course.”
“No, I'd rather be with you. I know their type, judgmental and arrogant, they won’t forgive us for racking enough coin and stand as their equal.”
“Alright. Anyways it’s getting late. I will see you tomorrow…”
“Amari,” she fiddled with her clothes. Scade nodded and began to walk.
“Scade. You got a place to stay…?” Amari paused. “I spent all of my coin just to get here.”
Scade’s mouth dried as he immediately imagined Lyra’s reaction to him bringing Amari with him. Staying until payday was harmless—she was light enough and wouldn’t make too much noise. Another thing was to convince Denise, but Amari was cute enough, that probably would be a problem.
“You can stay with me. My aunt Denise is in Driftveil for work, so can I set you a nice place to sleep…” He hesitated and checked her, “and some fitting clothes. It’s quite a walk, though, maybe we can catch a ride for free.”
She nodded with a radiant smile, which eased the tension Scade had been feeling.
The sky darkened as the light of the farthest stars in the expanse reached Solace. It wasn’t clear to Scade what that space truly meant. In books, stars were described as giant fireballs, burning enormous reservoirs, much like the Sun, and the earth beneath as a planet. He had once seen a planet through a telescope, a purple, blurry marble. Yet, Scade struggled to grasp the purpose of its existence, or that of the stars, beyond their beauty.
And beautiful it was, the trip took longer than expected, so he passed the time by viewing the sky. Amari's conditioning was subpar, and Scade was forced to take breaks because she was exhausted. Whenever he glanced at her, her chest heaved with deep breaths, her cheeks, and neck flushed, but she continued without complaint.
And that was the problem–she didn’t complain, or rather, draw a line. Honestly, he could ask about her, but there was peace in their silence, something he had longed for a while.
A farmer they met on the road was compassionate toward Amari and gave them a ride to Firststand. Scade said his thanks, and guided Amari to his home.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Scade sighed with relief, which led to Amari shooting looks at him. The first floor of Lyra’s house was dark. They lived next to each other, and she had her signs at home–on the second floor in her father's room, a light near the window was turned on. They hadn’t agreed on a system, but after years as neighbors, patterns were easily noticed.
Scade opened his well-oiled fence and snuck through the front yard with Amari; she got the gist of it. He turned the key, led Amari into his home, and carefully closed the door behind them.
“Welcome to my domain,” he whispered, flicking on the living room light. He took off his shoes, and Amari followed, placing them on the rack.”
The walls inside were painted beige, and cabinets and furniture that Denise inherited, crafted by a master artisan, were placed around the house. The unique, shiny black finish was created using lost techniques and materials. The unnatural faux wood was more flexible, though at the cost of durability. He thought it worked well with the walls.
The mint-green cotton sofa, aimed at the unlit fireplace, was accompanied by a table with a glass top. His half-full coffee from this morning was still there.
Amari strolled around the living room, studying the splatters and smears of color—paintings Denise called abstracts. She gleamed, while Scade tilted his head, puzzled by what captivated her. He had tried to extract the alleged meaning, but often dismissed it as a waste of space, uninspired and a corrupt interpretation of life.
I am… Scade caught himself staring, Amari was just done with her viewing and gave him an intense gaze, “You…got something to eat?”
Scade felt his stomach rumble.
Two meals coming…’ He moved to the windowless kitchen, which had an L-shaped counter, a double sink, a fridge, and a small dining table for three. He slid open the cabinet and reached for the spices, “how do you like herbs spiced eggs with bacon?”
“Sounds delicious! Although, at this point, everything does.” Her stomach let out an embarrassing growl.
He switched on the mana stove, the blue fire heating to red. Hastily, he grabbed the frying pan and clanked it onto the stove. From the fridge, he pulled a half dozen eggs, bacon, and some butter. With a knife, he sliced a generous amount of butter and scooped it into the heated pan. As it melted, he tossed the pre-cut bacon in, letting it sizzle and fry. He cracked the eggs into a bowl, added the herbs and spices, and beat them into a mix with a fork. Once the bacon was crispy, he poured in the eggs and stirred until done. With a few chops, he scrambled the eggs into bite-sized chunks, splitting them into two equal portions.
Amari patiently waited for the food, though her twitching face betrayed her hunger.
“Here you go,” Scade handed her plate with a silver fork and knife.
Amari began to devour her food like a starved dog, barely chewing before swallowing.
“So how does a girl like you end up on the streets?”
She paused her munch.
“Sorry, I’ve just been wondering about that.”
Amari swallowed, “It’s just another sad story.”
“Fine,” Scade said. “I’ll go first. No mom or dad. I don’t even know where I’m from. Luckily, though, as you know, I have an aunt. In name, not real family, but I gave up on that anyway.”
“Mine,” she said. “I lived with my mom and dad at Gearhold, until they passed. Didn’t have an aunt, but I had an uncle. He was a bitter asshole, probably even more so now since I stole back what was mine and took off. Wandered from place to place for months, the coin quickly ran out without any income, so I had to pawn my parents' jewels, and in the end, I gambled everything on this.”
“Wow, well you worry about place, I’m not asking for coins.”
“Anyways Scade, how did you save enough for the Strider Guild? This place looks cozy and fun, but 250 gold worth? It cost everything I had, even my parents' wedding rings.”
“You know, some odd jobs here and there. I work at a bar a few times a week to help my neighbor,” he coughed. “And yeah… I took out a small loan… pretty much gambling everything I have. This…” Scade waved around, “all of this isn’t mine, but my aunt’s.”
Amari and Scade chatted for a while. A relief washed over Scade, he finally had someone to talk about what goes on in life. While Lyra… Lyra and Denise would be disappointed in him. Amari wasn’t judgmental about this extra loan he had with LaRose.
The protein had digested, and he felt hungry again, as if a hole had opened in his stomach. If he suggested getting seconds, Amari certainly didn’t look like she would oppose. He cooked another portion, this time using cheese instead of bacon. Denise was a bit frugal with cuts, and since there was only a handful left, he kept the bacon for her. They ate their fill, and Scade swiftly scrubbed the plates before placing and put them in the sink.
Scade fought back a teasing yawn and glanced at the clock. It was around 10 p.m.—sleep would be a luxury in the future, so taking the opportunity to rest and recharge his mind was the smartest choice. He would need it tomorrow.
“Amari, I'm heading upstairs. If you want to use the shower, it's beside your temporary room.”
She tugged her oversized shirt to her nose for a sniff, “also some other clothes please, these are a bit too… I can’t wear this again for tomorrow.”
“I will grab some, want something particular?”
“Any is fine.”
Scade scaled the stairs and entered his aunt’s room. He opened the wardrobe and juggled between a few options. His selection ended up being a blue shirt with gray sweatpants and set of pajamas. Denise wouldn’t miss these, right?
Scade was shocked to find Amari leaning against the wall, though his poker face didn’t reveal it. Her steps had been eerily silent.
“I’m no fashion wizard,” he said, offering the set of clothes, “Is this fine? I don’t even think she will miss this.”
She nodded but had a hesitant stare, “I also require something else…but, um…” her eyes darted to the hall.
Realization struck, “Oh, yeah. I will be in my room.” and left Amari alone.
Scade sat on his bed, reminiscing as he gazed at the empty shelves and tables. Growing up, the trinkets and toys he had collected or been gifted held a special place in his heart. Selling all those reminders of memories was a terrible experience, especially that colored cube he got from Jerren.
If it weren’t for… no.
Kadrian was not his murderer. From friend to killer—that’s what he had become—his killer. If he hadn’t shown up at Moonlit Ruin that day and poisoned Scade’s mind with endless questions…” He sighed. Maybe, if he had dropped the push for answers, Jerren would still be alive.
By now, Amari was done with her shower.
Scade ears twitched.
A wrinkle of bunched keys, metal sliding against metal, followed by a soft clink as the lock turned. A wrinkle of bunched keys, metal sliding against metal, followed by a soft clink as the lock turned. He blanked out for a moment, then ran to Denise's room and entered. Amari was about to get in bed, the sheets neat, perfectly still made.
“Amari,” he whispered.
“Huh, what are you doing here?” she asked, with a frown.
“She is here.” Scade said, she shook confused, “My aunt.”
“But I tho–” Scade interrupted.
“Okay. I lied, I couldn't leave a girl in need.”
Scade propped against the cream baluster, and listened. Her bag plopped on the floor as she walked to the kitchen, the plates, and cutlery clattered as removed them from the sink. Water rushed as she washed her hands. A minute later, she checked by the door and went to the stairs.
“Scade? Are you alone?” she called from below.
Yeah?” his voice cracked
“Who's with you? I saw a pair of shoes by the door, awfully small to be yours.”
Scade glanced at Amari who was about to open her mouth but Scade shook. He can’t have Denise know a girl stayed over, she would tell Lyra.
“I bought them cheap at the store.” He just spewed whatever popped in his mind.
“About that thing you had today…” she paused. “Did it go well?” she asked with a sliver of worry.
“Yeah. Tomorrow I need to leave early, I was just about to sleep.”
“Oh.” She started climbing the stairs. “So you wouldn’t mind me checking?
Scade snatched Amari’s folded clothes from the bed, grabbed her hand, and dragged her to his room before launching her lithe body onto the bed. He crawled in, laid on his and threw his light blanket around them.
Denise was in the hall, her steps growing louder with each one.
“Did I leave my room op…?” she spoke her mind. “Goodnight, Scade,” she sighed. “I’ll be gone early in the morning for a few days extra. Just came to pack a few things.”
“Goodnight.” he said.
Denise closed his door and walked to her room.
For that short time, as he hugged Amari, he felt her soft breath graze his neck. She wasn’t wearing a bra under her pajamas, and her ample chest pressed against his. Her damp, ivory hair had loosened, flowing freely and carrying a sweet, flowery scent. Though she was skinny, she still had a soft, feminine curve.
“Sorry,” he whispered, releasing her. “I wasn’t thinking.”
“Your heart is beating so fast. If you're that afraid of getting caught with me in your house, I can find somewhere else to stay.”
“No, stay. It’s just,” he whispered hurriedly, “you’re a girl and… it doesn’t matter. I can sleep on the floor if you’re uncomfortable.”
She avoided his gaze, with her misty gray eyes and unbound ivory hair, she looked ethereal, and for a moment, he drank in her beauty. Her whisper woke Scade from his stupor.
“We can share the bed,” she said, turning to face the wall. “I’ll just take this side.”
Scade nodded and did the same, facing their backs to one another.
He tried to shut his eyes, but his thoughts were only of Amari. They had just met today, and he already had her in bed. Though the circumstances were different, he had done with Amari what he had wanted to do with Lyra—and then some, of course. After half an hour, his rock-hard member softened and finally succumbed to the darkness.