The glass-skinned girl dug her nails into my forearm.

I yelped in pain and tried to pull away.

The murmurs of the other students faded as her presence dominated my senses. Her voice, heavy with an unfamiliar accent, grated against my ears.

“I ask you again,” she hissed, her pupil-less eyes locking onto mine. “You know what twin soul means, yes?”

I tried to pry her hand off my arm. My heart pounded, blood rushing in my ears. “I don’t understand what you’re saying,” I said shakily.

She leaned in closer, her porcelain skin shimmering in the rising sun. “A twin soul,” she repeated slowly, her raspy voice enunciating every syllable. “How did you accomplish this? Who did this?”

Before I could respond, Hopsander appeared from behind her and placed a firm hand on her shoulder. He leaned past her, gave me a wink, and tightened his grip.

“Ayeee! Skruuzmah!” She twisted and cursed up at Hopsander in an unfamiliar language.

With my arm released, I stumbled back, rubbing the cuts her nails had left. I sucked in air through my teeth and sidestepped away. The burning pain made my arm throb.

“Miss Fan, thank you. Let the boy go. It’s okay.” Hopsander’s voice was calm, easing some of the tension.

Fan spun around to face him, frustration etched across her glass-like face. “A twin soul is forbidden! It’s a crime. Taboo even! Someone needs to report this.”

Hopsander rested a reassuring hand on her back. “We’re aware, Miss Fan. The staff will handle it from here. Don’t tell anyone else.”

Waelid’s enthusiastic voice interrupted the tense atmosphere as he popped his head out of the door. “Is something wrong?” He glanced at Fan, his bright eyes narrowing. Fan grunted, shaking her head with her arms crossed. When she moved, her skin sounded like the scraping of pottery.

“I won’t tell anyone,” she muttered to Hopsander before turning her gaze back to me. “But, I’ll be monitoring you.” She pointed at me with one of her white nails, now a faded red from my blood.

She left abruptly, leaving me rubbing my arm. Hopsander handed me a gauze wrap, and I bandaged my left forearm. He stood beside me, his presence reassuring. He looked over at a nearby tree and sauntered over. The frog-man pulled out a small folding stool and set it down against the tree. Hopsander sat and kicked out his legs. He looked over at me and waved me over.

“Young Erik, how are you feeling? You haven’t had a chance to catch your breath,” he said quietly. He pulled out a ridiculously long, twisting pipe and looked around suspiciously before lighting some ground-up green leaf. “None of you have had a chance to breathe. Typical life for a Cinder.”

“I… I’m fine. What was that all about? What did she mean by twin soul?”

He looked up at me and puffed a long trail of smoke.

“Lad, surely you can’t think we are that dense, right? Burnings save me, son. You sit there and stare off into the distance, completely checked out from the present. I assume you’re talking to whoever is in you?” He pointed at my chest.

I felt my face redden, my stomach twisting. “I—I… wait, I can explain. I did nothing! This… this happened to me! I shouldn’t even—” I stuttered, trying to defend myself.

—Was this it? With my secret out, will they allow me to be as I was? Will they see it as some form of blasphemy? The things I could do, the speed I could fight with—did all of this make me stand out too much? Was it because when I talked to Fern, I checked out in real life?

I felt myself spiraling. My finger picked at my thumb, and my breathing quickened. Glancing around, I desperately searched for an escape—from Hopsander, from the Cinders, from whatever I needed to run away from to survive.

Then, large webbed hands snapped in front of me.

“Lad. Lad!” Hopsander sighed. “Great gods, young Erik, take a breath. Nothing bad will happen to you. But work on your dreadful attempt to act normal.”

I opened my mouth to ask questions, but Hopsander raised a finger to his lips.

“Go on,” he urged softly, gesturing toward the House Anu dorms. “You don’t want to fall behind. As for the twin soul stuff, come meet me after you have settled in. I will be here.” The large frog-man kicked back on his stool under the tree and took another puff of his curly-straw-looking pipe.

I nodded and ran away. Anxiety crept up my neck and shoulders. I had a thousand burning questions, but I’d have to play by their rules for now.

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When I entered House Anu’s dormitory, my jaw almost dropped. After all the hours and days of trudging through dirt, being chased by monsters, and barely surviving, I finally found my nirvana. Realizing how different House Anu’s dorm was compared to the harsh corridors and grand rooms of the Academy, I couldn’t help but smile. The place was like the universe’s coziest library or bookstore. Shelves lined the walls, filled with hundreds of bound texts, scrolls, and ancient-looking books. Plush chairs were scattered around the large living room I walked into. Desks were neatly arranged with study materials along the walls.

On the front side of the house, stained glass covered the windows, casting vibrant, colorful patterns—maroon and black—on the floor. The windows at the back opened to the beach, letting in the fresh ocean breeze and the soothing sound of waves. The aroma of old books and polished wood filled the air.

To my right, in a smaller room, Silas and Tevin waved me over. I shuffled toward them. The worry about meeting with Hopsander later lessened when I was with my friends.

“Nice of you to join us, Erik,” Silas greeted. He was fiddling with his mechanical arm.

“We’re about to eat,” Tevin said happily. He rubbed his belly and craned his neck to look over the crowd of recruits.

“Grab your plate last, big guy, otherwise you might take everyone’s portion,” Zenobia said playfully over her shoulder. She stood in front of Tevin in a doorway. I couldn’t see what was ahead yet.

We eventually made our way into the large new room. It was set up simply, although it was as large as the living room on the other side of the dorm. The dining room was like a small cafeteria. There were a dozen round wooden tables with at least ten seats each. Upperclassmen already occupied some tables.

Waelid stood in front of our group of thirty-something kids.

“Is everyone here? Number one fan, you back there?” Waelid leaned over and met my eyes before giving a wide grin. “Good, there you are! Anyway, welcome, everyone! Our next part of the tour is our dining room. We have breakfast, lunch, and dinner here daily. Who prepared the food, you ask? Why, none other than our beloved Ol’ Mumm!” He hopped up on a table and held out his hands toward the double doors of the kitchen.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

A roar erupted from behind the kitchen doors. Then, a large brown shape pushed past them and let out a grumble.

An enormous bear, twice the size of a grizzly, thudded in front of us. She was wearing a large white coat and black pants. A dozen red, green, and yellow stains dotted her clothes. A large steaming pot of rice dangled from her back, held by thick twine.

“What in the… Waelid! You burning fool boy. What did I tell you about showcasing me around like some prissy Mageblood whore?” the bear said, her mouth flaps flinging spit at the kids in front. She had an old, stern woman’s voice.

She was more bear than anything else. Like Hopsander, she was a beastman.

Waelid hopped around her, dodging her swipes. “Oh, come on now, Mumm! It’s the newest recruits. I told them all about your food and just how amazing it is!” Waelid flipped backward out of the bear’s range.

Ol’ Mumm sighed and rubbed her furry forehead. She looked over at us and squinted.

“Let me get a good look at ya kids.” She pulled out a pair of small spectacles and stood up on her hind legs, towering above us and touching the high ceiling. “Hmm, not as many of ya as last year’s batch. Good, I can make less.” She turned and headed back into the kitchen.

“Wait, Ol’ Mumm!” Waelid shouted after her. “What about our breakfast? Won’t you make some for these new recruits? Please, Mumm?”

The giant bear-woman tilted her head back toward us. “I already did. Check the table.” She nodded, gesturing with her snout. We turned around, and on three large round tables, thirty-something meals were set. Piping hot rice, eggs, vegetables, and several thin links of sausage sat on white plates.

The longer I stayed here, the more it seemed like a resort than a military academy.

Waelid smiled brightly and turned to thank Ol’ Mumm, who had already gone back inside the kitchen.

“Ah, she will get to know you all the longer you stay here. Eat and take the rest of the day off. Maybe go check out the academy more, hang out down by the beach, or whatever. Have fun!” He held his arms up dramatically and spun in a circle several times. Then, he stopped and looked back at our group. “Tomorrow will be very different.” Waelid gave a wink and then walked away.

We stood there a moment, unsure where to sit when Mel strode past everyone.

“Move it, weaklings!” she said. Mel walked up to a plate, dragged the chair out, and sat down, devouring the food in front of her. “Ahh! So good!”

Zenobia frowned and pushed her way past the crowd, finding her seat near Mel. “You are so rude; couldn’t wait for everyone to get to it at their own pace?”

“Hey, I eat when I am given the option. Never gonna find me passing up a meal,” Mel said with rice stuffed in her mouth.

One by one, we and the other recruits found our seats and ate. I sat at the same table as Mel and Zenobia. Everyone from our group sat at the table as well. Our dynamics might be a little chaotic, but we all wanted to be with people we knew rather than strangers. I looked around at the other tables and noticed that, like us, the other new recruits were in their small cliques. Their journeys to Ash must have bonded them.

As we ate, Silas, Tevin, and I talked about the impressive scale of Baldred's Pillar and the Academy that sat at its base.

“I’m telling you, that pillar has to have so many secrets. No way it was naturally formed,” I said, reaching for a glass of water.

“What do you think Waelid meant when he said we are going to ‘explore’ the tower?” Silas asked.

“Maybe we’re going to climb it?” Tevin suggested.

“I hope not. I’m not the best with heights.” I scratched my chin.

“Hey, me too!” Sora said from across the table.

“See, Sora gets it! And did you see how tall that thing is? Nope, can’t do that,” I said, feeling more comfortable with my companions.

“There’s no point in wondering about it; that will only cause unnecessary stress,” Ruriel muttered. “Detachment from those kinds of thoughts is the best way to live life.”

“And just what kind of philosophy is that?” Mel said, washing down her mouthful of food.

“Oh, the little sewer rat knows about philosophy?” Lucius said. He gently wiped his mouth with a napkin before taking another modest scoop of food.

Mel slammed her fist down on the table. “This sewer rat will crush that high-class windpipe of yours if you keep that up.”

“Hey, hey, let’s all calm down. Why can’t we enjoy this meal? We all deserve it. We ran so far and traveled for so long that we are here now, away from persecution or slavery. Let’s relax and get along with each other.” Rinka waved her hands, urging us to relax.

“Well, tell that to him. He’s the one who called me a ‘sewer rat’,” Mel said.

“Lucius, you did do that. Apologize; that isn’t right.” Rinka furrowed her eyebrows at the white-haired boy.

Lucius sighed and lowered his head. “I’m sorry,” he grumbled.

Mel rolled her eyes and continued eating.

Rinka spoke up again. “We have to let go of our pasts.” She looked around the table and met my eyes. “Some of us knew each other before we were put onto that carriage, and some of us still carry feelings about how the others lived or who they associated with.”

“She’s right,” Zenobia said beside me. She, like Lucius, also ate her food with grace. “If we want to do well here and work as a team, we have to forget our past.”

The group around the table slowly nodded. I looked at Silas, who seemed as confused as I was.

I raised my hand. “Hey, um, so Silas and I do not know what you all are talking about. I get it—bad past, and now, we have to work together. However, I also think for us all to work together, we should know each other a lot more than we already do. How about we sit down and each tell our own story? I think knowing each other’s past rather than forgetting it is better.”

They all looked around. Silas nodded and gave me a thumbs-up.

“I don’t mind doing that,” Zenobia said. “You’re right; empathizing with each other could benefit our teamwork. I am in full support.”

Others around the table agreed to my suggestion, even Lucius.

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After breakfast, we were led to our dorm room by an upperclassman. Tevin, Ruriel, Silas, and Lucius all shared one room with me. It was on the second floor and overlooked the beach. The room was modest; aside from five beds, small desks, and even smaller closets next to the desks, there wasn’t much else. When we walked in, I immediately ran to a corner to claim it as mine. It had a desk by a large window overlooking the ocean. I touched the desk and imagined writing letters to Lotrick about my brother. The other boys claimed their spaces and got settled. Lucius lay down on the bed and let out an audible sigh. Silas paced around the middle of the room.

Silas suggested, “We should all go explore some of the school and get an idea of what it’s like before we start tomorrow. I’m nervous. Aren’t you?”

I shook my head. “I can’t go. Hopsander asked to speak with me.”

Silas raised an eyebrow. “Why?”

I hesitated. “Maybe it’s because I asked to switch? Maybe he’s mad?”

Silas nodded thoughtfully. “Ah, okay, well… good luck! What about you, Ruriel? Tevin? Lucius?”

Tevin nodded and trotted up to Silas. “I want to see if I can start categorizing the native bugs here!”

Ruriel scratched his head and shuffled up to them nonchalantly. “I guess I can be bothered to go. This room is too stifling for my tastes.”

Lucius groaned and turned over on the bed. “Pass. I’m resting here. I have no interest in ‘exploring’,” he mocked.

“Suit yourself, you grouch,” Silas said. “Alright, see you later, Erik! C’mon, guys.” He ran out the door. Silas had really broken out of his shell since I first met him.

I sighed and turned away from the window. “Alright, I’m off to find Hopsander.”

“Whatever,” Lucius mumbled.

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Outside, the morning sun bathed the area in a warm glow as it turned into afternoon.

Hopsander sat where I had left him, his expression relaxed and the twisting pipe in his large hands. The ocean breeze ruffled his long white beard as he turned his attention toward me.

“Ah! Young Erik,” he said, his voice low but pleasant.

A mix of anxiety bubbled up inside me. I took a deep breath and blurted out, “Can we cut straight to the chase? You know I have another soul inside me?”

Hopsander glanced around to ensure no one else was listening. “Well, just go on and shout it out for all to hear, lad. First, my questions. Did you perform the ritual?”

My mind raced. “What do you mean? What ritual?”

Hopsander rubbed his chin. “No then? Did someone perform a ceremony on you?”

“No, I… shit.”

“Out with it, young Erik. Your honesty is paramount to your… well-being.”

My eyes widened. “You’ll… kill me?”

“Not me, but you see, what Fan mentioned—the twin soul—is a taboo sort of thing. Leads to damnation and destruction and all that.” He waved his hand as he talked. “It shouldn’t even be possible for someone as young as you. Fan recognized it because all Cinders are taught how to recognize a twin soul.”

“Okay, well, I didn’t do any of this… and if I tell you what happened, to be honest, I am worried about my safety… and his.” I pointed to my chest.

Hopsander’s eyes widened. “You… can hear the second soul?”

A sharp pain rang in my head.

—‘What are you doing, Erik? You’re blowing our whole secret open,’ Fern said.

—We are cornered, Fern, up against the wall. Maybe he will understand, I replied.

I rubbed my head and shook it before looking back at Hopsander. “I was placed in this body. I am not sure how, but one moment I stepped into a portal-looking thing, and the next I found myself in Fern’s body.”

“Fern…?” Hopsander tilted his head.

“The boy whose body I took over.”

“And he still talks to you like that?” Hopsander asked.

“Yes, he is one within me.”

“Interesting… well, this changes things. That’s not a twin soul; it’s something else.” He stood up and stretched. “Listen, we will need to discuss this more with someone more qualified in these sorts of happenings. I will get you when I have someone who can help. For now, keep this a secret. Understand, lad?”

I nodded. “I understand,” I said.

He placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “Just stay focused and support your team. Aside from the trials and the classes you are taking here, you won’t be killed.”

I nodded slowly. “So, what exactly is happening? Do you know anything about… this?” I pointed at my chest.

Hopsander took a deep breath. “Like I said, we need someone with a deeper understanding of the arcane. I will come and find you. For now, focus on school. Tomorrow is the first day. Eat a big dinner and sleep early. Trust me.”

“Alright. I’ll be waiting for you,” I said.

He smiled. “Good luck, lad. Stay strong.”

I took a deep breath, nodding. “I will.”

I didn’t join Silas or the others in exploring the school. Instead, I went back up to my room and lay down. My head was pounding, and Fern had become awfully silent. When I tried to talk to him, he didn’t respond.

The rest of the day I lay in bed, my head throbbing.

Later that evening, after we wrapped up dinner, Waelid approached our table with a mischievous grin. “Alright, you first years. School starts bright before dawn. If you avoid class or skip, you will be punished,” he said, his eyes twinkling.

Everything about the evening was a blur. I quickly headed upstairs after dinner to sleep.

The dormitory was quiet as I settled into my bed. I opened the window to let in the ocean breeze. My roommates—Ruriel, Silas, Lucius, and Tevin—were already dozing off, their breathing blending with the distant waves. I yawned, pulling the covers over myself. The pain from my headache dulled, and eventually, I could sleep.

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CLANG CLANG CLANG!

The sudden clanging of a gong shattered the peaceful silence. My eyes shot open, and I jolted upright. My heart pounded as I struggled to understand what was happening.

“Rise and shine, recruits!” Waelid’s voice echoed through the dormitory, louder and more urgent than before. He popped his head into our room. “Be downstairs in your fatigues in five minutes!”

I rubbed my eyes, disoriented, as my roommates groaned and stretched. Reality hit me—this was a military academy.

Of course, that’d mean daily morning workouts.