“The path to power can be best described as a ridiculous climb up a perilous cliff, where one wrong move will leave you a bloody mess at the bottom.”

- Headmaster Rayna Felwirth, Halistair Branch

The mood of the cadets reflected my own as we finished combat training. We were all, without exception, sobered. What had remained of my idealization of this place was gone. In its place was a desperation to improve that I didn’t know possible. Fear sunk in, and no amount of distance or justification I came up with excused it from my mind.

I trudged out of the large field as the sun began to set over Halistair’s sturdy ramparts in the west. Thick shadows expanded before us and I didn’t speak to anyone as we returned to our respective dorm rooms. Even that Gwynneth girl appeared a bit shaken by today’s ordeals. I reflected on all of it, trying to get a grasp of what I got myself into.

In every single class, something had happened to shatter my understanding of how this place worked. That Peitrich boy had been singled out for insubordination and his arrogance that he was somehow an exception to the rules. Prince James and Azuris were twice the center of attention as their butting heads resulted in a revelation and beatdown both. Mitterbug, though unassuming, proved to be an invaluable source of knowledge. And Redmoor…

I shuttered, but forced my mind to consider what I’d seen. What I’d learned.

Status had no place here.

It was the only conclusion I could draw as I took each step toward my room on the fifth floor with belabored movements. I got to my door and walked through as its wards recognized me as the owner. I knew I needed a shower, but I was too tired. At the same time, I couldn’t sit still. I fell onto my bed, and sighed. Staring up at the ceiling, I came to a decision.

“I am going to die if I don’t wring this place dry for everything it’s worth.” It was a naive vow, I knew, but it felt ironclad in my soul as I slowly got up to a seated position. I glanced out my window and saw the combat field. As if my body already knew my intent, my hand brushed the metallic band attached to my wrist.

“It’s time I knew what you could really do,” I whispered to the device. “And why you’re such a pain in my ass for keeping.”

I got up and groaned at just how sore my muscles were.

“I hate this place so much,” I complained to the four stone walls of my room. Despite my protests, I exited my room and returned the way I came. I passed several students from my class, but none of them met my eyes as I went down the stairs again. Before I went to purposely bruise myself against inanimate objects, I stopped by the dining hall.

It was set into the main hall I had entered when first arriving, and expanded along several tiers. The vaulted ceiling was enchanted to shift scenes from across the globe, likely a symbol of unity between the various kingdoms. Tonight, it reflected the aurora borealis I knew to be native to the elven territory in the far north. The ethereal colors danced along the roof and ebbed as foreign constellations glowed beyond them.

Students milled about the various levels of the vast dining hall, and I wove my way through them to get to the food. Massive mahogany tables were set in most of the corners and thru-ways of the hall, and so it was easy to find a plate and serve myself up some of the most enticing morsels I had ever seen.

Like the night before when I came here to eat, food was piled high in various sections and styles from most of the kingdoms. Seasoned meat for the dwarves and humans. Roasted vegetables for the elves and orcs, and a wide assortment of side dishes that made me salivate faster than a gloomstalker in heat.

My stomach gurgled.

“Hey,” someone behind me in line spoke softly. I whirled and saw a familiar face.

“Hi,” I answered. Charles looked me over, and I did the same. He seemed…tired.

“Can I sit with you?” He asked meekly. After a moment, I nodded. Scenarios and arguments flooded my head, but I shoved them all down. Here was my best friend, and while I was still pissed at him for following me, I couldn’t deny the fact that he was still an Orion now.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“Let’s go,” I offered and turned to find a secluded table far from the more boisterous crowds. Second and third years yelled for their teammates from across the dining hall, clearly unperturbed by the attention it drew. Their rank and year were easily identified by the two and three orange lines down their uniforms respectively, where mine only held one. A few had runes emblazoned on the backs of their jackets, but I had no idea what they signified.

The groups yelled and laughed with abandon, some even going so far as to chuck food at one comrade or another. I shook my head slightly at their behavior, but inwardly envied their confidence. One of them seemed to notice us, but she looked away before I could get a good look at her face.

We found a spot beneath a stone carving of a sycamore tree, though this variant had blossoms the size of my face along its limbs. I gazed up at the incredible detail it possessed and marveled that it was nothing more than a mere ornament in a place like this.

“It doesn’t feel real, does it?” Charles asked as we sat down across from one another.

“No.” I didn’t know what else to say. It was like everything I wanted to tell him was all clogged behind the lump forming in my throat. His bright green eyes caught the flickering light of the candles and sconces surrounding us. I remembered not for the first time how many dreams of mine contained those gemstones affixed in his happy complexion.

The happiness was gone now.

“Thay, what’s happening between us?” Charlie eventually asked. I took my time to chew my food before swallowing hard and meeting his eyes.

Damn, this food is good, I admitted to myself as I procrastinated this conflict for a second longer.

“I don’t know, Charlie. I—It’s just—” I sighed and said what was on my mind. “You’ve seen what this place is like. It’s dangerous just to be here, much less try to reach the top. I don’t want to see you get hurt, or worse.”

“Oh, and so I’m the one who just has to sit back in safety and watch my best friend get slaughtered by some animal?!”

His word choice unsettled me, but I pressed forward.

“That’s not it. I’m not just here for some stupid enchantments or glory or whatever. It’s so that I can help my—” I drifted off as Charles’ hard look softened into something that resembled pity. “See! Right there! That’s why I don’t want you here.” I leaned back, all of my appetite having evaporated in the span of a single movement of the auroras above us.

“See what? Thay, you’ve got to give me more to go on!”

“HELLO! I am Elio Swiftshadow! I am a humble monk of—” Charles and I whirled at the newcomer who’d arrived at our table without a sound.

“What’s your problem, man?” Charles interrupted the scrawny and short boy with closely cropped hair. Elio blushed slightly but didn’t let Charles’ clearly frustrated tone deter him.

“I am here to seek allies for the upcoming venture into the wild! I noticed that you have an enchanted gauntlet, and so naturally am inclined to trust your wisdom!” He declared loud enough for a few of the other cadets in the far corners of the hall to turn our way.

“What are you talking about?” I humored the short monk. He grinned knowingly at me, as if we just shared an inside joke.

“Pugilists need to stick together, after all. I saw how you pummeled that Azurethorn Kraken! You are fierce and brave, like the great Shadow Lord. Join me, and we shall honor the deadliest monsters with gruesome deaths!”

“For us or them?” Charles inquired sarcastically. Elio didn’t seem to catch on, and only smiled wider.

“Yes!”

I chuckled softly at his unyielding earnestness. Then an idea struck me.

“Hey, Elio, right? You said pugilist? What is that?” I was fairly certain I knew, but I needed confirmation from this strange and loud man.

“Pugilists are only the bravest and most cunning warriors in Eridia! We use our fists to pummel our enemies into the ground, no matter how many strikes it takes! We must be the fastest and know how to find and exploit the weaknesses of our glorious foes!” Elio said all of this like it was the most epic concept ever uttered by a mortal.

“Great. So, can you teach me?” I asked before either man could butt in.

“You’re not serious, Thay. The cadets amongst the nobility are determined to get that gauntlet back. And why would you want to get in close with a monster? Do you seriously have a death wish?” Charles’ tone was admonishing, but his echo of my own words to Kaelan only spurred me on.

“Yes,” I pinned Elio with a determined stare, ignoring my friend.

“I can’t believe you. Who are you?” Charles got up from his seat with a look so defeated I nearly gave in then and there.

“I have to get stronger, Charlie. Even if you can’t believe my reasoning, you have to trust me that I know what I’m doing.” I told him as my neck angled up to meet his gaze.

“No,” he answered softly. “You just think you do. Goodnight, Thea.” He walked away, leaving me with Elio, who finally seemed to catch on that he had interrupted something best left alone. He inched backward, but I held up a hand to stop him.

“You aren’t going anywhere. Eat, and then we’re going to the training field,” I promised him. He got a wide grin and then plopped down next to me.

“Good idea, ally. We shall train until our hands bleed!”

I couldn’t help it. I laughed. The brief flare of joy soured slightly as I saw Charles’ retreating form never look back in my direction.