Val gulped handfuls of air, struggling to calm her breathing as she returned to the physical plane.

There wasn’t any course in high school named ‘Guide to Strange Arcane Phenomena’ to help her out. Was that supposed to happen? By the saints, what of that liquidy portal, or the random flight of stairs?

Stairs!

Things occurred so quickly she didn’t have a chance to decipher which was what. Grilled on awakening since the day she stepped foot inside Vexal Prep, it was obvious the happenings of the moments weren’t normal. It felt like Deduction Day all over again and it took everything within Val not to shout in frustration.

“Congratulations!”

“You’re a metal mage!”

Master Winsford and Fiona casted a type of sense-related spell, gaze sheathed in a faint blue glow.

“She looks okay to me,” she appraised. “I think your awakening went well.”

“I believe the same.”

Val stifled a scoff, covering it up with a muffled, “Thanks.”

In a motion to get up, something on her lap shifted. Glancing downwards, the past disappointing minutes mattered little.

She beheld a saber placed horizontally on her thighs, the object like hardened ink carved into an infinitely sharp weapon. A solid hold on the hilt—dark particles shifting to account for her grip—she inspected the inscriptions carved on the blade, the cursive print shimmering a purple-blue.

Holding the slightly over arm's length weapon, she numbly rose to her feet and fell into a state of focus. Oblivious to the people around her, she lashed out with a horizontal strike, twirled, and finished with a vertical swipe.

In that undefinable moment, something clicked within her. This weapon was hers and it would follow her wherever she walked. A little weird to pair a one-handed sword with nothing, but I’ll make it work.

Her lips curled up as she found herself once again examining her Aether Artifact, lost in the mysterious print.

“Ahem.”

Val broke out of her trance, chuckling and turning towards the two. Hesitant for a moment, she placed her artifact on the chair and stepped back. “I’m banned until the first day of university, right?”

Fiona’s lips twitched. “It’s not the end of the world, you know.” She tapped a gloved finger on Val’s forehead. “Pocket.”

Val’s Aether Artifact disappeared without fanfare and a dark ring covered in foreign characters wrapped around her index finger. “Woah…”

“This belongs to you.” Winsford dangled a pamphlet. “Instructions on how to use the auxiliary functions allowed to a zero-class Crown.”

She stretched a hand to receive it and winced, a sharp pang striking her head. “Ow!”

“Just as we thought,” Winsford muttered.

Forcing her eyelids open through the pain, Val managed to glimpse a series of enchantments wrapping the sheet of paper in the Artificer's hands. Aether.

“Let me guess,” Fiona began, “you experience a series of headaches when surrounded by people, which differs depending on said people and the amount. Or, in other cases, sharp instances of pain when the presence of aether is detected, among other things.”

Val’s mouth opened and closed. She felt… understood, for the first time in a long time. “...how?”

“We’re led to believe you experience these bouts in the midst of energy,” he said, “and we know why. The ability to sense aether coupled with the lack of the ability to protect oneself is a terrible combination. Rare, but terrible nevertheless.”

Fiona sighed. “It isn’t a lie to say PASTs and ASCs are connected. High bronzes tend to have more aether strands than low bronzes—it scales. The chances of results being on polar ends are negligible so, once again, your case is rare.”

“Even then, pain at the cause of aether hasn’t been recorded in humans for decades...” He must’ve seen the alarm in Val’s expression, since he added, “Don’t fret, your condition solves itself once the disparity between magical aptitudes even out. The energy you cultivate will begin to grow a protective aura of its own as it gathers within you, enough to protect from the surrounding aether.”

Val inhaled a handful at the statement. My problem is fixable. It hardly sounded real and it definitely wouldn’t feel anything close to real until it happened.

“On a better note.” Winsford smiled. “I’m offering you a spot in Age of Atera to both you and Miss Hayes. I don’t know if you’ve heard of it since it’s located in the First Halo.”

“Heard of it?” Val echoed. “Of course, I’ve heard of it.”

Age of Atera was among Ciazel’s best guilds across any term, carrying all sorts of record-breaking feats from clearing the most rifts to possessing the lowest mortality rates.

“As long as you accept, your transfer to the halo is free of charge,” he said. “To specify, I’m recruiting you to apprentice under me as an enchanter.”

Val blinked, never believing the words would be said to her, a pickpocket and someone born in Quintar. As tantalizing as the offer was—like, asking her to work under the Prime Minister tantalizing—she shook her head. “I’ll only accept if Caro does.”

“Funny,” Fiona puffed air through her nose. “She said the same thing.”

A warm sense of pride bloomed inside Val’s chest.

Fiona smiled at her. “While no longer under tight censorship, we ask that you be circumspect in telling others of your ownership. At least, not until you enter university. Doing so helps protect you before you’re ready to protect yourself.”

“Understood,” Val said.

“I suggest you get some rest, hmm? You can decide at a later time.” Fiona tapped her back. “Once again, we’re sorry about the mind traps and all. I’ll make it up to you.”

“Then, maybe you can teleport me back ho—?”

“That is a hard no.”

“Aww,” Val shrugged. “Worth a try.”

----------------------------------------

A few moments earlier…

“Great.” Winsford smiled, glancing the captain’s way before recreating eye contact with Valory. “On three. One, two—”

Captain Rhodes never liked this part.

In the event that manifestations of a budding mage could harm themselves or others, she needed to be on guard and at the ready. Despite her greatest efforts, there was always one that went ballistic, ruining her day in seconds.

Inconsequential feelings on the side, she may have added an additional percent of vigilance to the person dear to Brad.

“Usually I can guess what element one might have in the first few minutes of meeting them.” Winsford laid his tong inside the empty briefcase. “In Valory’s case, it’s like her true nature is veiled, leaving me lost on what’s to come.”

“I think it’s the same for her as well,” the captain answered, backpedalling a bit as she sensed a disturbance. “I suggest you take a step back.”

Master Winsford moved, a coldsteel spike spearing right where he was standing.

“She’s got the Elemental Gate of Metal?” the captain muttered to herself, rods of all kinds of shining materials rising to form a cage around her. And she’s bound to the gate itself instead of one of the secondary elements in the realm? That’s… odd.

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

As the metal hutch winked out of existence and the magical phenomena faded, Captain Rhodes found herself thankful for the rather simple process. Out of all the Aether Artifact-induced manifestations, Carielle’s proved to be the most difficult.

At a moment’s notice, sand particles scratched at unprotected eyeballs and magma enveloped the ground. Those unable to protect themselves from the awakening dual-bound mage fled the scene in haste. Fled a disaster, to be fair.

Right as she was going to retake her position, a dark void permeated Val’s far-off gaze as purple and blue light thrashed to expand into space. Hardened radiance took form in an array of connected lines, sketching creatures of untold power. Far from an expert stargazer, the captain still believed the event resembled constellations. Could it be?

The last time she’d seen such an element was during her first year in the University Games. That was nearly a decade ago!

Captain Rhodes didn’t have time to be surprised as an imperceptible intention nudged one of her States of Being, though she couldn’t discern which one. It was quick even by her levels—a fraction of a sliver of a second.

Whether it was the State of the Emotional Body, Physical Body, Spiritual Body or any of the others, she might never know.

What she did know was that if she remained idle, Valory might never walk out of the building alive should word of whatever else she was awakening reached the wrong ears.

Possessing a feeble backing like hers, the wrong ears were all ears except for family and friends. The stubborn geezers stuck in their old ways and the stuck-up scions of the First Halo wouldn’t think twice about snuffing out her light due to where she’s from.

Time was running out, and quickly.

Fiona blinked, activating Spatial Awareness. The natural way in which she observed the world traded out for translucent lines. Now seemingly in a hollow cube, it would’ve been as if she were floating black emptiness if not for the creases where the walls met.

The chair Valory sat on was an amalgamation of hollowed shapes, Valory herself a complex maze. The light gathering behind her were specks, moving increasingly fast and wasting the little aether the girl possessed. In her mind, the captain outlined the small pieces she needed, initiating Spatial Shift and warping them in front of every hidden camera.

Currently, from their point of view, it seemed as if Valory’s manifestation had gotten out of hand.

“Winsford.”

Weaving the parts of the aura-based art needed, the Captain projected her thoughts and intentions straight into the Master Enchanter’s head.

“You’re seeing this, correct?”

Expecting a nod for an answer, she was partially surprised to detect a reply projected back.

“Indeed I am.”

There was a pause before he added, “Shocked I can use projection? It’s a technique under aura manipulation and though any Artificer is more inclined to the Five Aether Arts, enchanters are—”

“We don’t have the time, Winsford.”

“Time for what?”

“To hide her.”

“For what reason?”

“She’s a rare talent. Too rare of a talent.”

“All the more reason to let her shine—I mean, can you imagine where she’ll go?”

Rhodes inhaled a deep, calming breath. Wrapped up in the comfort of luxury, some people didn’t realize talent without the right things in order was a spell for death.

It was a shame the one person she needed to get onboard for her plans was part of the few. “You’re part of a clan here in the Second Halo, no? What happens when someone shows promise surpassing that of the heir?”

“Well, they would be bound to the heir, ensuring they never sought to usurp his place. It’s different in other clans, where power demanded rights—”

“Okay,” the captain interjected. “What happens if the person is outside of the main family.”

“Damned to servitude, and if immensely talented, is made to be the right hand of the heir.”

“And the person is outside of the clan in general?”

“On our list to be recruited or, unfortunately, hindered so they become a minimal threat.”

“And if, say, the person held no lineage or status or background and is considered a threat to all families, houses, and clans. What happens then?”

“They…” A mental sigh reached the captain, realization dawning upon him. “At best, the threat swears never to be a mage. At worst… well they vanish.”

“Precisely,” was all Rhodes settled on to say.

“I see why we’re conversing like so.” Another sigh from him. “I let my excitement get the better of me. It’s a feeling I rarely get these days and it seems like this old man's forgotten how to deal with it.”

“I’m glad you understand,” Rhodes projected back. “I need a favour from you.”

“It involves building a defense around her that stems from Valory herself, doesn’t it?”

“Yes. She needs to climb without the help of her elements to allow growth in a safe environment. A daunting task made possible by a little outside help.”

“Without the help of her—are you going to do what I think you’re going to do? Without her permission?”

“I just have to hope she comes to appreciate the sentiment. I’ve worked too many missing cases after the Tripartite Trial. It’s high time I remove a file before it hits my desk.”

“I agree,” he projected. “You know how to do it?”

The captain nodded as she shifted in front of Val, erecting a thin barrier of solid aether. Surveying the gathering elements behind the girl knocked out on the medical chair, Rhodes couldn’t hide the excited grin that landed on her lips. She’s going to give Alizeé a run for her money.

Expending half of the energy residing in her Aetherial Vessel, amounting up to thousands of aether strands, the captain uttered an incantation under her breath and lifted a hand about Val’s forehead.

The pad of her finger grew luminous and she began to mark a line down her brow. Her spellcasting faltered as another rune appeared on her cheek, broken down and in decrepit shape. Was this done before?

Looking at the condition, it was poorly made and likely by someone who lacked experience, a person who held no inkling of the art. The captain shook her head. Kids are so bored these days they play with runes? Times have changed.

She finished her runic character with two following horizontal hashes. “Banish.”

The manifestation ceased at once, though Captain Rhodes kept her self-built cover on the cameras long enough for her to return to a normal stance.

A sweet sword now relaxed on Valory’s lap. The endurons settled into a dark sable hue, characters glimmering on the weapon’s spotless surface as if under the starry skies.

Winsford glanced at her nervously. “Did it work?”

Captain Rhodes honed in on the waking girl and focused on the magnitude of a presence currently hanging over her. She sensed only one gate behind her. It’s appalling how easy that was.

“Believe so,” she sent, pulling up her tablet and connecting it to the newly made artifact. Plugging in a few commands, she brought up the artifact's Quality.

'Atypical Quality: Temperament of Runes,' it read, raising the captain’s eyebrows.

Atypical Qualities weren’t by any definition rare, popping up every other awakening. On the other hand, the name suggested it held connections to Runic Abjuration. Though the subset of fortification was impeccable, it worked best for mages on the Path of a Bulwark.

The shape the endurons settled into implied Valory walked on the Path of a Hunter or Striker, possessing specialties that highlighted speed or flexible offence.

Neither catered to the defence inherent to Runic Abjuration, but time will tell why the xenosium developed in such a way.

After all, the girl herself was a mystery.

Although courageous like no other, her valour possessed a type of translucency. Stick the sixteen-year-old in front of an aether creature and she’d face it head-on; however, prod at her insecurities and she’d hunch over and ignore it—worse when eyes are on her.

Was it the attention itself or the subsequent expectation that came with it?

“Your handle of runes was great,” Winsford's projection torpedoed her train of thought. “Care to become an enchanter?”

“Recruit Valory instead. I’m busy.”

“Already within my plan.”

“Remember,” she projected right as Valory startled awake. “We keep this quiet, we keep this between us.”

“Again, already within my plan,” he projected back right before saying, “Congratulations!”

“You’re a metal mage!”

----------------------------------------

In the comforts of the Lenson Estate, the Seer shot out of her queen-sized bed, opening a pair of blind eyes. At a first glance, the threads of fate appeared no different. It twirled around the ever-present darkness. A double-helix of myriad colours, flowing as time did.

The golden threads of the clan versed in commerce remained, an ominous shade of green at its center, promising unforeseen failure.

Fuchsia-pink coated the red and black of government operatives, hidden secrets wrapped in glamour.

Crimson dyed the ends of numerous golden strings, healers bloodied and dusted.

Thankfully, the seed she planted in a vexed cadet had finally germinated. A viridian-green cable sprouted across the plane of destiny, attaching to bundles of yarns. From pink to crimson, straight to the baleful coalescence of deep emptiness, it did wonders.

Some colours were eliminated, others added and a few entirely changed.

“It has begun.”