Baira woke up to a wooden ceiling overhead and grass that was molded into the shape of a mattress. It was unnaturally soft and glowed a dull green; a clear sign that told Baira it was created via Nature Aspect. The bed receded into the rest of the grass floor as she walked over to a wooden chair that had a change of clothes on it.

“Those are a spare I brought from the Embrace. Don’t even think about wearing it without bathing first,” Amani said from outside the structure.

Baira saw light leaking in from the right side of the room and pressed on a section of wood. Red leaves fell as the branches peeled away to reveal an oasis surrounded by wooden walls that were at least thirty-feet high. A river had been diverted into a small pool, surrounded by a garden of conjured flora not native to the Red Forest. It reminded Baira of a miniature version of the many pools of Golden Oasis, except the water was ice blue instead of gold and stunning lack of retainers waiting on hand and foot.

“I know, I know, reminds you of home right?” Amani was perched on a small stone overlooking the pool. “I admit, I did get homesick when I was away for Kolo Training, so I conjured this up to keep me centered.”

Baira ignored her sister, disrobed, and entered the water. It stung at first, but her Lesser Iron Soul Body drank in the ambient Tera that flowed throughout the water and began refilling all her cores. The healing properties of the waters from the Ceaseless Waterfall were extremely potent, even this far away from the source; though Amani had most likely filtered out all the useless Tera from it in order to speed up the healing process.

“Oh come on, Bairy, you can’t still be upset. I told you, there was a change in plans. It couldn’t have been helped.”

Last night, Amani had told Baira that it would be safer for Noki to travel separately from them due to the Silverbloods. Baira didn’t disagree, in fact if Amani hadn’t suggested that, she would have herself; it would place them at a huge disadvantage to have to protect both themselves and Noki. What had bothered her, was the fact that Noki was headed south of Watercliff, which put him closer to Blackhide City. Amani wouldn’t elaborate as to why she felt he’d be safer there, and that had made Baira even more wary.

Baira sank down into the water until she was visible from the nose up. Her black hair floated on the surface and Amani paid close attention to it. “Hey-”

Baira rose her head. “Listen, this isn’t just about Noki. Yes, he’s my friend and I want to help him, but I also understand the situation that we’re in. What I don’t understand is why you always have to keep so many secrets, Amani.” The words came out more hot than she expected, but Baira was tired of feeling out of the loop. “I’m not like the others, you can trust me, can’t you? I mean you did it at the village, so why not now?”

Amani’s expression grew distant as she mulled over what to say. Of course she had been keeping secrets, she was a Kolo and also a child of the Monsari’s; she wouldn’t have survived without keeping a few important secrets with her. When Amani did speak, her words carried a seriousness that she seldomly used.

“I do trust you Baira, which is why I’m keeping these secrets.” Amani could feel the confusion emanating from her sister. “If I would have told you the real reason why I came to the village, Jahn would have found out and everything would have been ruined.”

“The real reason?”

Amani sighed. She knew that she’d have to explain at least enough to satisfy her sister, otherwise it would draw her focus and she couldn’t afford that while they were still being hunted. “ It’s true that there had been reports of Wildling sightings, but there was more to it. We believe that a group called the Ten Shadows have been conspiring with members of certain villages and Kolos throughout the Embrace; and that they’re connected to the sightings.”

Baira sat back down and contemplated her sister’s words. “So Jahn is one of the conspirators, and you came here to investigate him? Is that why you arrived unannounced, to catch him off guard?”

Amani nodded. “Yeah. I spent some time in the Red Forest trying to find any hidden locations close to the village, but didn’t sense anything..until the day of the Divination Ceremony.” She let the words hang in the air so Baira could ruminate over them.

“The day Noki ascended to Earthen Soul Body. You’re saying that Jahn and the Ten Shadows are somehow connected to Noki?”

“I don’t know how yet, and thanks to Jahn, I won’t know for a while.” Amani slammed a fist onto the rock and split it in half, leaving a crack several miles deep and causing the water to slosh around violently. “I hate being outmaneuvered, especially by him.”

Baira shook the water from her face. “How were you outmaneuvered?”

“The mercenaries from last night,” was all Amani said before taking a deep sigh and returning to her normal demeanor.

Baira thought it over and after a moment understood what Amani was getting at. It was strange that a Silverblood at the level of Heran was sent after her; if they truly wanted to kill her then why not send a Greater Iron or a Golden Soul? It would have been a waste of their time, since the goal wasn’t to kill her but only make her think she was in danger.

“So then, Jahn staged that just so we’d separate ourselves from Noki.”

“Yup,” Amani said, “and to top it off, he most likely let Noki overhear him giving Mion the kill order, all so I’d have to take you back home. I hate to admit it, but that bastard really thought this out.”

That had frightened Baira. She knew that Jahn was a calculating man, but that was absurd. How would he have known that the Silverblood would fail or that the other mercenary wouldn’t have killed her? He couldn’t have. “I don’t think Jahn was the only, only one who sent forces into the forest last night.”

“There must be a falling out happening between Jahn and the Ten Shadows, which is another reason why Noki can’t come with us,but that’s an explanation for later. It’s time for the next step.”

This caught Baira off guard. “The next step of what?”

“Your training of course. Surely you’ve noticed by now that you’re very close to having a Stratum Art. Your connection to your Water Aspect is exceptionally strong given your Soul Rank. You still won’t be able to fully handle it until at least Greater Iron, but we can start practicing now.”

Baira thought about asking how she planned on doing so, but no sooner did the words form in her mind than the water started to ripple. A staff of twisted roots emerged from the center of the pool and was dyed a deep blue. Baira could feel the overwhelming Water and Nature Aspect coming from it; it pressed against her spiritual sense like an elephant crushing an ant.

Stolen story; please report.

Amani raised a hand and the staff whisked to her. “Right now, this should be overwhelming your senses to the point where your Spirit Kulda feels like breaking; that’s a sign that you're not able to handle large quantities of Heavenly Aspect.” The staff bled its color, turning into an unnaturally white color. “I’ve drained it of Nature Aspect and left a sliver of Water Aspect inside.” She pointed to its tip and Baira saw a faint blue stain on it.

“So what am I supposed to do with it?”

“It’s better if I show you.” Amani slowly filled the staff with her aspect so that Baira, with the aid of Divine Sight, could follow. The staff turned a sickly, and then verdant green, all the while sprouting flowers and leaves. It coiled around Amani’s arm until it looked as if she sprouted a tree branch from out her shoulder. “It’s been suffused with two aspects so only those two will elicit a response. You’re to channel your aspect into this everyday until you can turn it blue from end to end.”

Amani withdrew her aspect and the staff returned to its previous state. She threw it at Baira and stood up from her seat. “Now get dressed, we’ve still got a ways to go before we get home.”

Jahn loomed over his brother’s unconscious body. Even in his current condition, Bain Okari still cut an imposing image. His Greater Iron Body kept his muscles from atrophying even while Jahn’s poison was eating him from the inside out. They had wrapped his entire body in green cloth and surrounded him with spiritstones in an effort to draw out the many conflicting Tera inside his body.

It would be wrong to say that Jahn hated his older brother, he just didn’t understand why he wasn’t as valued as Bain. Sure, his brother had reached Greater Iron while they were children and could already be a Greater Gold if he wanted to, but so what? Jahn had spent decades researching ways to shatter the rigidity of Soul Ranks. Thanks to Jahn’s own treatments he went from Stone Soul to Greater Iron in less than five years, nearly three times faster than normal. Now, with a Wildling soon to be in his possession, he was ready to take the next step.

“How fortunate for you,” Jahn whispered to Bain, “your life will no longer be in danger.” He pulled out a needle from his sleeve and injected a silver liquid into the back of Bain’s head. It was the antidote to the chimeric based poison ravaging Bain’s body. “Once it circulates through, your own Tera should be enough to drive the poison out, though you’ll be at the strength of a Lesser Iron for a few days. Consider this a going away gift.”

Jahn took his leave from the infirmary and headed up the stairs as the door shut behind him. When he reached the top, he was greeted by Instructor Gazin. She had on her usual silver glasses, but her hair was in a messy black bun and she reeked of elixirs. “Oh, Interim Head Chief Jahn, I didn’t know you were in the infirmary.”

“Yes, I was just checking on my brother. His vitality seems to be returning, I wouldn’t be surprised if he turned around in the next day or two.” Jahn’s green eyes flicked to a vial in Gazin’s hand. “Is that for him?”

“Oh this? No, it’s for me. It's a liquid version of the Tera Locus Pill. Ever since the Ceremony, I’ve been in my lab creating elixirs for all that were injured. It’s been a bit…taxing on my reserves.” Gazin took a sip of the elixir and restored her vitality. She reflexively straightened her posture and fixed hair. “That’s better.”

“Well,” Jahn said, “I must be going. I’ve received an Astral Missive from the family and have been summoned to the ancestral home.” It was the perfect lie. Astral Missives from a Vassal Family were delivered directly to a person’s Sanctuary so they couldn’t be intercepted; there’d be no way for anyone not from the family to doubt his claim. “I’ll inform everyone else of my absence, I’m sure they’ll find a suitable replacement.”

Jahn gave Gazin a polite, if not impatient, half bow and made his way to the door.

“The shadows we cast are long and dark,” Gazin said in a sing-songy voice.

Jahn’s blood went cold and he immediately began circulating his Tera. He shut the door and snapped back to Gazin, his green eyes ablaze with anger and fear. “Why did you say that?”

“Oh Jahn, did you really think they wouldn’t have anyone keeping an eye on you?”

“The Shadows,” Jahn said through clenched teeth, “ so felt the need to not only spy on me, but also undermine my efforts?” In truth it had been fortuitous for Jahn that the Ten Shadows placed a bounty since that put extra pressure on Amani to get her and her sister as far away from both Noki and the village as possible.

“If it wasn’t for us, would you have known of Kolo Amani’s arrival and moved your research elsewhere?” Gazin adjusted her glasses. “Speaking of which, where is he? I didn’t see Mion return.”

Jahn wondered just how much Gazin knew. He didn’t want to reveal his hand so he chose his words carefully. “By him, do you mean the Null Boy? He’s still in the wind but it’s only a matter of time before he’s caught. His execution has only been delayed.”

“You know as well as I do that core removal becomes increasingly difficult the longer it stays in the body; your execution plans died the moment he made it into the Red Forest.” Gazin paced around Jahn, moving and readjusting her glasses the entire time. “Oh, that is interesting, it appears you’ve given Bain the antidote to your poison. Of course I already created an antidote of my own, but yours seems to have a different Tera Wave than mine.”

Jahn was certain that Gazin wasn’t from a Vassal Family and didn’t have any exceptional insight in regards to Tera Analysis, but then how would she have… “Your elixir, how much of it enhances your Mental Tera.”

“Oh, so you’ve caught on then?”

“Of course I did, you aren’t even trying to hide it.” Gazin having glasses made no sense; all physical impairment is erased once you ascend, barring catastrophic damage to the Body Kulda. Jahn knew the glasses must have been enhanced in some way, but now he was certain of it. “It must be quite tasking to run an Ethereal Art continuously. I assume it is one that allows you to both discern and locate different mixtures of Tera?”

“Oh it does more than just that, but it’s rather boring to get into; especially when there’s a Wildling just waiting to be dissected and studied.” Gazin gave Jahn a sly smile and leaned against one of the empty beds. “That is where you’re headed right? Mion must be keeping guard, which is why he hasn’t returned, so that’s why you’re resigning from your post; you’re running.”

Jahn reached deep into his Spirit Kulda and began awakening something. His green eyes started glowing and his pupils became thinner.

“Relax,” Gazin said, “ I haven’t told the Shadows anything about that, and I won’t tell anyone…if you’ll cut me in on this.”

Jahn released whatever technique he was preparing and stopped circulating his Tera. Gazin was a brilliant woman in her own right, able of crafting elixirs he himself couldn’t and had a comprehension of the biology of scour and chimera beast s that rivaled his own. Still, he didn’t like the idea of being blackmailed into working with someone, no matter how useful they may be.

“What is it you think I’m trying to accomplish?” Jahn needed to know that their interests were fully aligned, that way there was less chance of betrayal.

“The same as you I suspect,” Gazin said, “harnessing the power of a Wildling. Just imagine all the things we could accomplish. Elixirs that can rival the power of the Grand Spirits and Ascendants. The power to raise one’s Soul Rank at a moment’s notice. The creation of completely new Corporeal and Ascendant Arts.”

Gazin continued to ramble on until Jahn interrupted. It was clear to him that Gazin would not pose a threat to his much grander plans, she was thinking too small. “Gazin, that’s good enough. It’s clear that our goals do indeed line up, but the Ten Shadows will know something is awry if both of us disappear.”

“Who said anything about me leaving? I’m just going on an expedition for more resources, it’s perfectly within my rights as both an instructor and an affiliate of the Shadows. I have every intention of returning here, there are things here that I can’t access anywhere else.” Gazin moved up to Jahn, looked him in his green eyes, and opened the door. “Let’s get a move on, I want to make sure the specimen is fresh.”

She walked out in front of Jahn and didn’t stop to check if he was following, but spoke in such a manner that only he could hear. “Oh and before I forget, Baira Monsari is off-limits. If you or Mion harm her, not only will I tell the Ten Shadows everything but I”ll be sure to slip an elixir into your food that is undetectable.” Gazin laced the words with her intent, just be sure that Jahn knew this threat was a promise.

Jahn regarded her for a moment, sorted through his contingencies and filed one away before following Gazin.