This can’t be real. This cannot be real!

Endora bit her lip as she paced about the tiny patch of sunlit forest. She’d dreamt about the day Cora became a Valkyrie for thousands of years. Yet instead of happiness or pride, the single feeling that consumed her was dread.

Maybe she didn’t mean it. Maybe there’s another explanation for this? Perhaps she was seeing things in her ascension?

Black Wing Valkyries were natural destroyers. Conquerors. Arguably moreso than the White Winged Valkyries. The only reason the whole world wasn’t completely subjugated by the Black Wings was because they were too busy killing the other Valkyries. If Cora had challenged that version of herself she saw and won, she would’ve joined them. If she’d lost… she’d have died, just like that. In front of everyone.

For what may have been the hundredth time, Endora found herself standing above her mentor who sat patiently on a felled tree. Lady Redwing did her best not to look nonplussed, crosslegged in a fancy black dress with her head in her palm. A part of Endora truly did appreciate the calmness it provided. The other, much louder part of Endora felt like her mentor wasn’t taking this as seriously as she ought to.

”Is this my fault?” Endora began. “Should I not have introduced them to Dominion this early into their development? Did I make a mistake?”

Lady Redwing leaned forward and revealed her red, batlike wings in a motion Endora recognized as her mentor’s ‘I’m about to speak’ gesture. She patted down to her right on the tree she sat on before tapping her shoulder. Endora followed her mentor’s silent request and sat before leaning on her shoulder. Comfort washed over her as her mentor, the only Red Winged Valkyrie in existence, wrapped her with her right wing and spoke.

“My wife can heal centuries of deep scars with no conscious thought. She is a Blue-Winged Valkyrie, and those wings serve her well.” Lady Redwing flipped her right hand. “Cora, as you’ve described her, is the same way. The Blue Wings of Healing will serve her well, as they are meant to.”

She’d spoken about her wife many times. While she was an actual universe away, Endora knew Lady Redwing could visit her whenever she felt like it – even if she’d never displayed such an ability.

“In my youth, my friends and I were all hotheaded and arrogant. Loss simply didn’t occur to us. Those who attempted to best us saw swift judgment.” Lady Redwing laughed. “They called us ‘hyenas’ because we never took our opponents seriously! Sure, Cora doesn’t have nearly as much Dominion as we did,” She flipped her left hand. “But the Black Wings of Dominion would have suited her perfectly. In days gone, it was common for matriarchs and their daughters to develop them.”

Endora knew Lady Redwing was right. She knew it. Yet her father always said she was over-eager. Looking back on her training of Cora and Seiji, she couldn’t help but wonder whether–

“Cora was groomed to develop Dominion, I imagine,” Lady Redwing said in answer to her unspoken question. “And Seiji is from the Black Wing Continent. It makes sense he’d have Dominion. They teach those kids how to use Dominion before they teach them how to use a fork over there.”

“I know that, but Seiji is different.”

The moment she saw Seiji Otsuki, she knew who he was. Who he really was. If anyone could influence Cora’s development into a Black Winged Valkyrie – unintentionally or otherwise – it would be the Prince of the Black Wing Continent. Seiji didn’t know he was royalty, but maybe there was something… innate? Something he couldn’t control that brought it out of Cora?

“Seiji is different,” Lady Redwing agreed. “Despite growing up in two different environments, He ended up coming out just like his mother. Moreso than his sister.”

Endora shot up to her feet but was immediately yanked back down by Lady Redwing. Her master gave her an impatient look before continuing.

”That doesn’t mean he’s about to become her. His sister carries on the actions of Meiji Otsuki, but not her will. Her essence. Meiji Otsuki was known as the ‘Unmaker’ for a reason. She was finality. The end of all things. Between Seiji and his sister, I don’t need to tell you who embodies those ideals the most.” Lady Redwing pulled Endora in close. “Do you understand how powerful he’s going to become? He and Cora. If we’re going to make a difference in this world, we need to cultivate their strength – regardless of its origin!”

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

“I know that! More than anyone! I’m just nervous!”

“Well don’t be!” Lady Redwing said before flicking Endora on the forehead. It’d been at least… well… thirty days since she actually felt real pain. She didn’t miss it.

Her mentor sighed before leaning back in the stump. “I’m sorry. I suppose I should be looking at things through the eyes of the young.”

Endora couldn’t help but laugh. She was many things, but young was no longer one of them. She was simultaneously twenty-four and twenty-four thousand due to the Mille Training Lady Redwing had her undergo when she left the White Wing Continent for the first time.

”Cora and her Servants are all blank slates. Filled with potential as they are, now is the perfect time to turn that potential into skill.”

Endora cringed as she realized where her mentor was going with this.

“It’ll only be a few thousand years,” Lady Redwing shrugged. I’ll have you and Eligos–... excuse me. You and Akio can be chaperones. It’ll fly by!”

In reality, she knew this was the best option for them. Her only gripe was that Cora and Seiji were so… likable. She considered her own changes from Mille Training in the Hollow Forest. She’d gone from stoic and humorless to bubbly. If anyone could benefit from a personality change, it’d be Selene and Lirio. She’d never say that out loud, though. It’d break Selene’s little heart.

“How many years?”

“Ten thousand should be fine. It’s enough to give them impeccable offensive and defensive capabilities. Specialized training can come in during missions.”

“You have missions planned?”

“I do.” Lady Redwing stood and created a map of the world made entirely of aura. She tapped at the Green Wing Continent, the smallest patch in the south-central part of the world. “Their Valkyries were recently attacked by Otsuki and her Black Wings. The aftermath has left many locals displaced and desperate. Right now, they could use a Blue Wing to help them heal and a few Gold Wings to protect them from scavengers and those dogs that follow behind them.”

“Do you mind not calling her Otsuki? It makes me think of Seiji.”

“Were you listening to anything I just said?”

“I was! I just… don’t want to confuse them.”

Lady Redwing rolled her eyes and sucked her teeth. “Tokiyo. I need you all to clean up Tokiyo’s mess. It’ll be a great training exercise for the kids and a good time for Cora to act within her purpose. You got that?”

Endora nodded, only for yet another wave of anxiety to wash over her.

Bringing Selene, Lirio, or even Seiji along with her was no issue. She’d planned on doing that anyway, regardless of the outcome of the Exam. Cora, however, was another issue entirely. Not because she’d be apprehensive, but because she’d be eager. That excitement mixed with the fact that Endora would effectively be stealing her away might be the straw that breaks the camel’s back regarding her relationship with her original mentor – Queen Eir.

Eir was ferociously protective of her daughter. If only Seiji knew how many times Endora had to cover for him regarding his budding relationship with Cora. Especially after that stunt that almost got them killed. If she hadn’t been expecting it, she wouldn’t have been able to stop the Queen from killing him herself. For what it was worth, Queen Eir was much better at putting on a happy face than Endora was.

The knowledge that the stoic Queen was even capable of doing that made Endora even more uncomfortable about their relationship. How much longer would she tolerate Endora giving her the runaround? In truth, the reason she hadn’t told Queen Eir about the current state of the world and the fact that it went far beyond the White Wing Continent was because of who Eir was as a person. She was indeed a conqueror, but her conquests were more explorative than violent. If she knew that the planet was more than just Haven and its surrounding lands, she’d drop everything to explore it. She’d very quickly learn about the Black Winged Valkyries and their enemies, attempt to step in, lose miserably, then leave Haven fully exposed to all manner of threats. It was because she loved Haven so much that she couldn’t tell them anything. Endora needed Queen Eir and King Vassilis in Haven on standby in case those external threats decided to present themselves unannounced. If Tokiyo Otsuki decided that she wanted to get rid of the White Winged Valkyries, they were as good as dead. The best chance Haven and their Valkyries had was to work together and stand united – something that can’t happen if they’re all scattered across the world.

It was why she needed allies so badly. Why she’d risked introducing Cora and Seiji to something as potent as Dominion as early as she did. The more allies they had, the better odds of protecting more and more people from the Black Wings. Her Gold Wings of Protection urged her–

Wait a minute.

Endora turned to her master, who’d absently been speaking with the crow familiar on her left forearm.

“You said that the Green Wing Continent could use a few Gold Winged Valkyries. I’m the only one left, though. Aren’t I?”

“For now,” Lady Redwing replied. She turned and smiled. “That Selene girl doesn’t have any wings yet, does she?”