Syn guided Daph to the back entrance, exiting the house through the clearing. The usually empty racks of dry clothes were filled with towels and clothes that had helped tend her father, and some still had blood on the edges.

Looking away from the racks, Syn turned to face Daph. The girl had her hand extended, and two thumb-sized stones rested in it. One of them was a shiny, reflective green stone with flawless edges that sparkled whenever the sun caught it. The other was rough, grey and with deep blacks that seemed to suck the light in—her stone.

Syn blinked in surprise and inclined her head doubtfully, staring at Daph. The girl brought her hand closer. "Take them. They're yours," an apologetic smile on her face.

"T-thanks," she said, tentatively reaching for her stone. "But only this one is mine."

"Take the other one too," the girl insisted, her eyes softening with genuine concern as if sensing Syn's hesitation.

Syn narrowed her eyes. Where was the catch? "I-is that one a mana stone too?"

The girl nodded. "Yep!"

"T-then I don't get it. W-why are you giving me one of your stones?"

"Oh, it's not mine. It's Jax's," she answered casually, stepping forward and placing the second stone in her hand.

Syn inspected the stone. Unlike hers, this one was beautiful. More than a mana stone, it looked like a jewel to be worn, its glossy surface reflecting the light with a shimmering green glow. Syn tilted the jewel and observed as the light danced across its flawless edges, captivated by the mesmerizing display.

"Consider it like a sorry gift for all the trouble Jax caused you," Daph said with a mischievous glint.

Syn eyed the stone warily. "Jax gave you this? As an apology?" she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.

"Heavens, no! He..." Daph hesitated for a moment, a sly grin forming on her lips before shrugging innocently and adding, "Lost it."

Syn raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued.

"At least that's what he'll think when he sees it is no longer among his belongings," Daph said with an evil smile and a wink. "Take it with my apologies and pawn it. Use the money to prepare. That's what I'd do If I were you."

Syn's face furrowed. "Prepare for what?"

"Duh, for the academy," Daph replied matter-of-factly. "I'm sure Taizhen will try to help you, but I would avoid depending on him, and you'll need all the help you can get."

"F-for the academy?" said Syn stepping back, her heart suddenly racing.

"Yeah, I can't see how you would not come with us. I'm sure Taizhen was already planning on bringing you, even without a Green card." replied Daph, "Now that you have one, there's no way he's leaving without you."

"Without m-me?" Syn replied, her jaw slightly hanging open. "A-are you serious?"

"Yep, you seem to have something he wants." Daph shrugged, "My father said he's one of the most stubborn people he knows. He'll do whatever he can to get you."

A heavy silence fell between them, punctuated only by the distant sounds of birdsong and rustling leaves.

A mix of excitement and fear swirled within Syn's chest. Attending the academy felt like a dream, but at the same time, the uncertainty of what would happen there and whether she could succeed there weighed heavily on her heart.

"You okay?" Daph asked, her voice softening.

"Y-yeah," Syn stammered, her eyes darting left and right. "I'm... I never expected this to happen so soon. I-I just... I'm not even sure I actually thought it would happen."

"When you want something, the universe conspires to help you achieve it," said recited Daph calmly as she lay on the grass. She reclined, resting with her arms behind her head. "Don't worry. If it is anything like I've heard, you won't have much of a problem fitting in. They like bold, crazy people like you," she said, smiling impishly.

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Syn looked down, feeling a warmth in her chest that surprised her, given her initial interactions with Daph's group. "T-thanks, you're... k-kinder than I thought you'd be, you know?" she said as a faint smile formed on her lips.

"I know, right? I work pretty hard on making it look like I'm a jerk. The size doesn't help, but the blue hair does sell it." Daph teased.

Syn chuckled, "No, sorry, I meant because you're a noble."

"Aah," Daph nodded knowingly. A hint of shame showed in her eyes, but it disappeared so quickly Syn thought she might have imagined it. "You're damn right. Nobles are the worst."

A look of surprise and amusement crossed Syn's face. "You are one... aren't you?"

"Only in name," Daph admitted, shifting comfortably on the grass. "My father is a merchant before a noble, and he lets me escape the boredom of acting like an adult. Every now and then, oopsie, I pick the wrong fork or forget to address people with honorifics. It's good for teasing and keeping them off my back."

Syn sat next to her, unable to help but smile at Daph's openness. She felt a connection with Daph, realizing they both shared a similar perspective on the world.

"Not every noble can be like Lyra. It's like she studies for it," Daph continued, her gaze pensive.

Syn's eyes sparkled at the mention of the name. "Lyra, is that the golden-haired girl from your group?"

Daph winced. "Yeah. She's like the personification of noble etiquette," Daph said, pulling her tongue. She rolled her eyes, adding, "But she's also kind and sincere. I have no idea how she does it."

Syn smiled, finally learning the name of the girl who had helped her. Lyra.

They lay there for a while, enjoying the peace of the clearing and the sun's warmth. Syn looked up at the clear blue sky, wondering. "So, what are academies like?"

"I've never been there myself, but from what I've heard, it's both thrilling and terrifying. Intense training, fierce competition, lots of studying... you know, a lovely place," Daph said, pausing with a sarcastic smile.

Syn swallowed nervously. "Sounds intense."

"It will be, but it'll also be an opportunity to grow stronger," Daph said, turning to face her. "Everyone's around our age, so we should fit in easily. But I heard there are some... factions, let's say, that might not be so welcoming to commoners like you," Daph said somberly.

"I see." Her heart sped up at the thought, and a knot formed in her stomach. Save for Nyk and a few others, almost everyone in Talorin was an adult, and the idea of navigating a cutthroat environment without the invisibility that being a kid granted her unsettled her.

"Taizhen did warn us that we'd need to build alliances there to grow. He shared a few stories, but his ego did most of the talking. Politics, training and studying was the gist of it."

"Alliances..." said Syn as her face darkened. "I don't know if I'll have what it takes to succeed there."

"I wouldn't worry," Daph reassured her. "You must have some talent. I had never heard of someone stopping a binding, and you didn't see how Taizhen reacted when I told him you had broken it. He moved earth and heaven to figure out who you were, tracked you here and dragged me to ensure he'd find you."

Syn shifted, uncomfortable in her seat.

Daph paused for a moment before speaking. She gently placed a hand on Syn's shoulder, her gaze sincere. "It may not be much, but I'll try to give you a hand. Who knows, you may even fit in the team. I could speak with Emery, the big guy in orange; he seems like one of the good nobles. He may help you."

"He didn't seem like it during our last encounter," Syn said.

"I can't fully vouch for him, but he feels genuine," Daph suggested, "But be careful, there are others at the academy with less noble intentions, and they'll be watching you closely."

Syn hesitated. "Like your friend with purple glasses? Or will you try to convince me he's good?"

Daph snorted and rolled her eyes. "HIM? Absolutely not. He's a grade-A jerk." Sitting up, she warned, "Be careful with him; he belongs to a powerful house, and any lower noble would be happy to backstab you to get an inch closer to him."

Syn winced; she had inadvertently made a dangerous enemy and a horde of followers. "Not you?"

"Gods no," Daph smiled affably, "Let me tell you a trick to survive in this world," she said, her tone solemn, "The key is to find out who you can trust without ever lowering your guard," Daph warned. "At the academy, that's easier said than done. Some people will do anything to manipulate others for personal gain."

"There's no other option? Like, people wanting to be nice?"

Daph laughed bitterly. "Hell no, people always want to use you or want you to owe them. Always figure out their motives and proceed with caution before accepting any help." Daph's gaze pierced Syn's, "Why do you think I'm helping?"

Caught off guard, Syn's mind suddenly raced for an answer. Daph's words stirred a mix of comfort and skepticism within her. Why, indeed? The concept of trust had always been difficult for her to grasp. She hesitated before guessing, "Out of... kindness?"

"Seriously?" Daph said, staring at her with disappointment all over her face. "I'm sure you can do better," Daph prodded.

Syn thought hard, but nothing came to mind. Daph had lost a stone, no, two stones, only to befriend her? "No idea. You had the stone; why not keep it?" she admitted, "Did Taizhen ask you to help me?"

Daph shook her head. "Taizhen has his own agenda."

"Then... why?" Syn asked, her curiosity piqued.

A wicked smile spread across Daph's face, and her eyes sparkled with mischief. "I helped you because Jax will be fuming when he sees you recovered your Mana Stone."