Natural energy, that which has been proven to be the source of all magic, permeates the entire continent of Asmeon. Making it possible for magicians to cast spells anywhere from the time of their birth until death. Yet, it is rare to find a child capable of doing more than the most basic of spells through infancy.

The leading cause for this is the natural inefficiency of magicians. Less than a quarter of the energy they absorb is converted into magic. The rest is left within the body and can become harmful to its internal structures.

This is the reason behind the high mortality of magicians within later childhood and early teen years. The time, when a child grows more willful while unable to regulate their emotions properly.

Under mental duress, these young magicians often reach for higher-level spells and as they draw in more energy than they should need, their body gets ruined. Causing their lives to be snuffed out through this one feat of higher magic.

To prevent these tragedies, King Silvanus the First introduced a decree stating any child of magic is required to be instructed at an officially recognized magic institution from the age of five.

This decision resulted in an immediate lowering of the number of accidents, but the decrease was not found to be as significant as had been expected.

This is due to the fact that the majority of incidents are caused by children who are not even aware of the power they carry within. Those born in the lower classes where magic use is limited and early symptoms are easily missed until it is too late.

It took three centuries, for the topic to be revisited as the Dragon Order of Lynoës developed a test to show a child’s affinity before its birth. By obligating this test to be taken by any pregnant woman, these unnecessary deaths could be finally stopped. But there are those who object, especially within the ranks of the nobility. No doubt, they fear that their secret bastards might be discovered this way.

~ The History and People of Magic by Sir Rainaldus Gale

----------------------------------------

“Hold him down!”

Crystal hissed as Warchief managed to pull away from her syringe. He screamed and pushed his back off the ground, dislodging Lidea who was trying her hardest to keep him pinned.

“I’m trying!”

Lidea spat back as she gritted her teeth and moved to kneel on his waist again. Putting one hand on his shoulder and holding the arm closest to Crystal, she tried to create an opening for the healer to do her work.

The smell of scorching flesh filled the tent, nauseating Lidea in the process as she felt heat sear her hands.

“Hurry!”

She urged, as he was already starting to escape her grip but Crystal didn’t need the reminder. In an instant, she plunged the syringe into his arm causing Warchief to explode off his bedroll as he yelled.

This time Lidea didn’t fight back and let herself be launched, rolling off to the side where she stayed as she caught her breath.

Warchief flailed around for a while longer and Lidea counted until he finally calmed down and sank away in a motionless sleep.

As expected, the count was higher than last time.

“He is getting worse.”

Crystal merely grunted in acknowledgment at her remark as she swept the sweat off her brow before turning Warchief over to expose the bandages along his back.

Lidea looked away, having a hard time stomaching the sight of his blistering flesh and the smell that intensified once the bandages were removed.

Despite Crystal’s excellent care, his night terrors occurred too often for the skin to heal properly. Leaving it a mess of fresh wounds and deep scars.

Since they had started their travel, his attacks seemed to have become more frequent and more worrying, the sedative seemed to be losing its effectiveness.

“What do we do once we can’t calm him down by force?”

The healer stayed silent and Lidea thought she had decided to ignore her question but then she sighed.

“It always becomes worse around this time but he will calm down again soon.”

She almost spoke casually, so familiar with the pattern of his symptoms that they no longer worried her.

In contrast, Lidea couldn’t help but feel distraught as she saw the man self-destruct almost every night now. She wished there was a way to help him, but Lidea knew better than most that it was harder to heal the mind than the body.

Though she couldn’t understand the words he uttered during his nightmares, she got the gist of what event haunted him in his sleep. After all, the words for mom and dad were similar in many languages.

As she finished treating Warchief, Crystal walked over and grabbed Lidea’s hand. Pulling her to her feet and leading her out into the open air.

“He will be alright.”

The healer failed to reassure her. Even if his condition didn’t kill him, it didn’t mean that he was going to be fine.

“I just don’t like seeing him this way.”

“Me neither, but we can only do our best to help him.”

Lidea nodded in agreement, despite the feeling of uselessness that spread through her.

Letting go of the healer’s hand, she sat down next to the campfire. Her eyes were directed at the gently rolling waves which were illuminated by the full moon’s silvery glow. Only after having seen it herself, did she understand why poets waxed over the beauty of the ocean. The glimmering shine almost resembled magic and the rhythmic sound of waves breaking on the beach, helped to calm her mind.

Crystal came to sit beside her, handing her one of the two steaming mugs of tea she was carrying. Lidea accepted it without words and together they watched the moon sink lower across the sky.

“We should be getting to the capital tonight”

The healer broke their comfortable silence, making Lidea glance at her with a grin.

“Eager for a bath?”

“And a bed.”

Lidea snorted. They would have to be luckier than they had been for the last couple of weeks to get that.

Ever since they had left Udrän for the more populated Astresh, they had tried to stay at the many guesthouses and inns along their way. Only for none of them to have any rooms available.

Initially, she hadn’t thought much of it. It was summer and a country geared towards tourism was bound to be busy this time of year.

That was until they managed to procure a room, only for the innkeeper to change his mind once he noted Crystal’s appearance.

It made Lidea realize that though Astresh was a country that revered the magical, their love didn’t extend to demon-kind.

Warchief had almost started a fight then, but Crystal had stopped him, and ever since they had opted for their trusty tents.

Snobbish assholes.

Just remembering the incident, made Lidea’s blood boil. She had been more than ready to join Warchief in giving the bastard a deserved beating.

“It will be better in Arcadia. Cities are always more tolerant to the unusual.”

Crystal must have picked up on her mood as she tried to soothe her recurring anger.

“I might hope so. How dare they treat you that way?”

“I am a demon, Lidea…”

“Half-demon. But so what? That shouldn’t mean anything!”

The healer sipped her tea, letting a pause linger before she started a gentle rebuttal.

“Life isn’t that simple. Astresh prides itself on educating its people. In other words, most are aware of the past atrocities that Fireste committed towards their ancestors. For years Devils have ruled these lands without mercy.”

Crystal pointed at the sea, reminding Lidea how near the demon’s homeland was. By merely crossing the gulf of Ingemar, they would be able to reach the Firestian capital in less than a day.

That explained why even the smallest of villages in Astresh were fortified to some extent.

“But that has been hundreds of years ago.”

“A long time by human standards, but not to demons. There are still Lords alive who experienced the Firestian golden age for themselves. Most of which would return to war in a heartbeat.”

Even imagining someone being alive from that time, was hard for her human brain to accept. The Firestian Empire had existed during King Adhémar’s time. A man who was at least seven generations removed from Valerian.

“But besides that fact, their prejudices against us are not unfounded either. The Firestian culture values strength and intelligence above all, and has little regard for the honesty or nobility that humans strive for.”

“We care for such things too.”

Lidea protested, not able to keep her tongue as Crystal tried to excuse their behavior.

Yet, the healer was undeterred as she calmly continued.

“Not in the same way. When I first met humans, I couldn’t comprehend why one would help another for no compensation. Demons would never. It would be seen as offensive to the person being helped and as foolish by the person helping. Only the weak need others to survive, and none wants to be seen as weak in Fireste.”

Lidea’s first instinct was to roll her eyes and state that demons held some idiotic beliefs, but she stopped herself. Warchief’s explanation about the differences between humans and demons echoed through her skull. Had she thought those differences would just be skin deep?

A knowing and almost proud smile crossed Crystal’s face as she looked out over the water once more.

“Why don’t I give you an example? Imagine that you would meet the Lynoën King under the promise of armistice, but then you grasp the opportunity to kill him and take his throne. What would people say about you?”

Lidea scrunched her nose in automatic disgust, not needing to think before she answered.

“I would have acted disgracefully, and nobody would be able to trust my word ever again."

“Yes, humans put a lot of value in their words. In their honor.”

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Crystal confirmed, before grinning mischievously.

“But to a demon, you would have shown yourself to be a cunning and strong leader. One with the ability to use a person’s weakness to their advantage. It would gain you more respect than if you had won the throne through an honest duel. After all, what King wouldn’t plan in case the worst scenario happens? If your King died by your hand, then you have shown yourself more capable and deserving of wearing the crown than he was. This is why our royal line changes often despite our long life spans.”

Lidea frowned as the difference of perspective was dawning on her. She still disagreed but could understand the logic behind their ideals.

“In the case of these innkeepers. Demon customers often run amok. They aren’t shy to show their distaste for humans and don’t care about adhering to local ideas of decency either. The money they receive for renting out one room, just isn’t worth the hassle and complaints they would get in return. I honestly can’t blame them for being hesitant.”

The resignation in her voice was what made Lidea snap out of her pensive state. It was clear that this wasn’t the first time that the healer had been subject to such blatant discrimination, and despite that her explanation sounded reasonable, Lidea couldn’t stand it.

“Don’t justify their behavior. Even if most demons are that way, it doesn’t mean all are. You aren’t! And still, they condemned you based on only your appearance. That isn’t right! No matter how many excuses they might have. How can one be treated like a criminal when they have never committed a crime!”

Her voice raised as righteous anger overwhelmed her, shocking the healer into silence. Lidea almost apologized for getting this worked up, but then she noticed how Crystal’s jewel-like gaze turned watery.

It was only a moment, as the healer was quick to look back down at her tea. Hiding her sadness as she muttered with a tearful smile.

“I swear, the two of you are such idiots…”

Before Lidea could respond, the noise came from the tent behind them. Both women stilled as they watched Warchief stumble out with a groan. His eyes squinting against the faint morning light as he stretched to his full height. At least he did so until he flinched in pain.

“It is too early to be this loud…”

Lidea’s cheeks turned red at his grouchy grumbling. Feeling guilty for having disturbed what little sleep he had gotten.

“Also a good morning, sleepy head.”

Crystal glossed over his remark as she studied his complexion. Her tears were long forgotten as the healer in her looked displeased at what she saw.

“Good morning.”

Warchief answered hoarsely, his voice not yet recovered from shouting through his sleep.

He grabbed the third mug and filled it with tea before gingerly sitting next to them.

Per usual, they didn’t discuss the episode of that night. There was no point, as they all knew what had happened and that there was nothing they could do to prevent it from occurring again.

“Now that you are finally up, let’s hurry and leave. We can make it to Arcadia before lunch if we start moving soon.”

Crystal grinned eagerly, already standing up to give each their portion of ration to break their fast with.

Warchief accepted the food in a daze as he nodded in agreement before his eyes fell on Lidea.

“After our prickly princess has gotten her sparring match.”

Lidea narrowed her eyes at him but stayed silent. Though she had asked him to be her punching bag, the roles had soon reversed. His restless nights seemed to leave him itching for a fight in the morning.

“Really? Can’t you just not beat her up one time.”

Crystal clacked her tongue in annoyance and Lidea flinched. Not liking how the healer pointed out the unevenness of their matches.

“It won’t be one time as we won’t be able to train once we arrive in the city.”

As the healer tried to refute him, Warchief smartly intervened by glancing over at Lidea.

“What do you say?”

His voice sounded less gravelly after a sip of tea, and he smirked as he asked her opinion on the matter. He knew what her answer would be.

“I never say no.”

Her hopes dashed, Crystal let out a disgruntled sigh.

“You get until I have cleaned up our camp. Once the horses are packed, we are going. Understood?”

A triumphant smile crossed his face at her compromise, and he finished the rest of his tea in one gulp.

“Understood my mistress.”

His response caused the healer to snort as she stalked off toward their tents, clearly intending to finish the task at a record speed.

Jumping on his feet, Warchief reached his hand out to her.

“Shall we then?”

Lidea stared at the hand for a moment too long, before briskly accepting it. Earning her a smug grin from Warchief that made her smile in return.

When they first started traveling together, Lidea had often found herself silently watching the other two interact. Their casual comradery and constant ribbing were highly entertaining, but it also made her aware of just how different she was from them.

She didn’t think that she had ever been that close to another person. Perhaps Valerian at one time, but that bond had been thoroughly shattered after his betrayal.

Even with the men alongside whom she had grown up fighting, there had always existed a certain distance and formality that was absent between Crystal and Warchief.

Maybe it was to be expected, as Lidea had first been their general’s daughter and later their leader. But Lidea couldn’t help but think that it was due to her personality.

She was too stiff, too serious. Very different from the always-laughing Warchief and the bad-tempered but passionate Crystal.

The realization had left her feeling envious of their friendship and had made her drift away from them until Warchief stopped her with one simple statement.

“Lidea, you can’t grow closer to others by avoiding them.”

Even now, the thought made her grimace in embarrassment.

“You ready?”

Warchief looked at her in curiosity, probably wondering why she had yet to say a word.

Pay attention.

“Whenever you are.”

She barely managed to unsheathe her blade when his sword crossed hers. The monstrous force behind it almost pushed her off balance, but she stepped back and disengaged to try and create distance between them. However, he didn’t let her. Following her every move, he attacked relentlessly. Using one sword to keep her busy while the other struck at any opening in her defense.

Lidea weaved in and out of his reach, avoiding most of his attacks and only blocking them when left with no other choice.

A mad grin broke on his face, as her evasion only drove him to fight fiercer. Pressuring her until the sweat dripped off her body, though they had only just started training.

With no way of fighting back, and while barely able to defend herself, her body was swiftly growing weary.

This is ridiculously unfair.

Despite her annoyance, she couldn’t keep the grin on her face. Exhilarated by the challenge that he posed to her.

“Don’t think so much!”

Distracted by his two swords, she nearly missed her chance as he tried to kick her in the stomach. But her years of training kicked in, and she turned her body while using one hand to redirect his leg. It caused him to turn further than he had planned to, and expose his back to her. Without hesitation, she mustered her strength and kicked him full on the ass.

He groaned as he fell forward, and Lidea followed to finish the fight. However, at the last second, he ducked his head and rolled out of her reach and back onto his feet.

“Scary… scary… Almost had me there.”

The fleeting moment of opportunity had vanished, and their sparring session continued until Lidea was saved by the sound of Crystal’s voice.

“Enough you two. We are going.”

They both lowered their entangled swords, each breathing heavily and with sweat glistening on their skin.

“You manage to surprise me more by the day.”

A hint of admiration shined in his orange eyes, but Lidea felt undeserving of it. Quickly wiping off her precious blade before putting it away and walking to her horse.

“At least I can track your movements now.”

She stated bitterly, as she hoisted herself into the saddle.

Their first sparring session had been an absolute disaster. She hadn’t been able to even see his attacks, his speed being too much for her human brain to cope with. An embarrassing but also eye-opening experience that had taught her just how much Warchief restrained himself during his matches.

“More than track. Your defense is like a wall. The only way I can get through it is by using brute force but then I risk opening myself up to any of those counters of yours. I have never seen someone seize opportunities like you do. Simply extraordinary.”

His gushing over her abilities made her blush. Especially as she knew the caveat that should follow his words. She was strong, for a human.

“I was trained to fight opponents stronger than me. Father and Rhodry drilled me until my body would react instinctively when I saw an opportunity.”

“It must have taken years.”

Thinking back to all those days she had spent on training fields and later in battle, she could only nod.

“It did. And it worked on human opponents. By being smarter and well-trained, I could overcome that gap in physical abilities. But it is not enough against you magic lot.”

A silence followed. Neither Warchief nor Crystal denied the truth she had stated. No amount of training would help her win from someone like Warchief. She barely scraped by at the moment, only able to win when he made a mistake. But the man hadn’t even used his magic yet.

“Perhaps, it is time to find some extrinsic sources of strength?”

Crystal offered carefully as if scared that Lidea would be offended.

“I thought the same. Thinking back to my fight with the Ligerians, the only reason I stood a chance was due to the demon steel blade. They didn’t expect me to have one.”

Remembering how surprised the soldier was at the blade slicing through his glove, she was convinced that another sword wouldn’t have been capable of the same feat.

It was truly a remarkable piece of craftsmanship and she was in debt to both Warchief and Crystal for their gift.

“We can have a look around in Arcadia. Though Astresh doesn’t focus on combat-related magic tools, they must have something that could be of help. I was planning to look around for anything to get us through those mountains anyway.”

Lidea nodded, thankful to have Crystal’s help. With her limited knowledge, she was sure to be scammed.

It only worried her that she had no magic to activate any of the spells. Meaning she would always need to depend on others to make use of these items.

But at least, it would give her an edge that she didn’t possess now.

As they returned to the road, Lidea observed that it was already quite busy despite it being early. Raggedy carts pulled by donkeys, fancy horse-drawn carriages, people on horseback like them, or travelers on foot. No matter the traveler's station, all used the creme-stoned path that the Astresh King had provided to them.

Unsurprising, given the high quality of these streets.

All but the smallest were lined with streetlamps that magicians would lighten every night and extinguish in the morning, and for the main road towards the capital, guards were posted every couple of miles. Creating a smooth, safe, and fast line of travel towards the heart of the country.

She admired the King’s foresightedness and without meaning to, she imagined if such a project would be possible in Lynoës as well.

You aren’t queen yet.

Beside her, Crystal pulled her hood further over her head. Some of the fellow road users had noticed her odd appearance, as well as Lidea’s scarring, and were staring at them.

Her heart went out to the healer. How ironic that her almost ethereal beauty was what made people realize her heritage and treat her poorly.

“People who stare are so rude, don’t you think?”

Warchief spoke louder than he needed to, causing many to turn their heads away now that they were called out.

“Leave them be, you fool. They will stare, we just have to bear it.”

Crystal responded in a whisper which sounded more thankful than irritated.

“Still makes them rude.”

Warchief whispered back annoyed while glancing over at both of them. As if making sure they were doing alright.

The stares didn’t bother Lidea as much as they had in the beginning. She recognized that her face showed that something had happened to her, and it drew both curiosity and pity from those who saw it.

Though it was still uncomfortable, she couldn’t blame them when she would have reacted the same in the past.

A gathering of people on the side of the road, caused them to slow down as the crowd was funneled through the remaining opening. They surrounded a statue of a winged person and as Lidea neared it, she could see the exquisite detailing that the stone carver had put in their clothes and face.

“I wonder what artist won this year.”

Looking over at Crystal, she saw the healer staring at the same statue with admiration in her eyes. She seemed to have a soft spot for craftmanship, maybe something she had inherited from her Udrän father.

“What does it matter? Next year, he will be forgotten.”

Warchief barely looked at the masterpiece as they passed it.

“Because he deserves to be acknowledged for his work. Can you even imagine how long it must have taken him to make something like that?”

“It can be recreated with magic in an instant.”

“Warchief! You cultural swine.”

His despondent reactions made Lidea frown. If he didn’t care for artistry then why were all his possessions so finely detailed? Had he gotten them all from his brother and just never bothered to change them?

“Is there a competition to put your statue here?”

She asked curiously, interrupting their eternal bickering.

“Yes. The King organizes it every year for the graduates of the fine artistry academies in Arcadia. Whoever wins, gets to display their work along the King’s road. It is a great way to debut their talent and start their careers as artists. As we draw nearer to the capital, you will see more art pieces.”

Crystal kindly explained as the following statue came into sight. This time, a flame had been carved out of a reddish type of rock and as they passed, Lidea could feel actual warmth radiating from it.

This time even Warchief paid attention to it. Revelation crossing his face.

“That might be something to be on the lookout for. Some pieces of Lava stone would help keep our body temperature up.”

“We can try, but that might even be outside of our budget.”

So that is lava stone?

Lidea had heard of the stone they used in Iberios to build their houses and streets. Somehow it had a natural warming quality which helped with keeping them ice-free.

“We can always steal the artwork.”

“Don’t even joke about that.”

Seeing the mischievous grin on Warchief’s face, made Lidea wonder if he was really considering it. She wouldn’t put it past him.

The street grew busier as time went on until their destination loomed on the horizon.

A city greater than she had ever seen before sprawled before them, though much was hidden behind a tall city wall.

It was erected from the same sandy-colored stone that made up the streets. Tall narrow watchtowers reached up to the sky at regular intervals. Every other one characterized by a great archway through which Lidea could see a copper-colored bell inside.

The towers were interconnected by a walkway, lined with crenellations that gave the wall a jagged crown-like appearance.

Statues carved from the stone itself covered almost the entire structure, each adorned by jewels that glittered in the sunlight.

As they started to file into the single line that led up to the gatehouse, Lidea became aware of just how massive the city had to be. The wall alone was higher than the castle of Lynoës had been.

It was clear that despite the country's obsession with opulence, it wouldn’t allow anyone to easily conquer them.

“It is magnificent isn’t it?”

Crystal’s eyes glimmered until Warchief deadpanned.

“Built through the blood of its citizens. At least they made it pretty.”

Lidea looked at the man who stared at the structure with a complicated expression.

“What do you mean?”

He hesitated before coming closer to her and answering her question through whispers.

“Astresh taxes its citizens heavily to afford its opulence. Many lose everything they have just because the king wants Arcadia’s buildings to be pretty. That is ignoring the actual building of these kinds of structures. Magicians are far too expensive, so they use slaves that are cheap and disposable.”

She should have realized herself that such splendor would come at a price. But embarrassingly enough, she had let herself get overwhelmed and distracted by its beauty.

“Thank you for telling me.”

Warchief merely nodded and the trio fell into silence as they reached the guards at the gatehouse.

Around ten gold per person was all it took to gain access and as they passed the city gate, they entered into a world of crème colored marble.