Two hours and a very brief stint of Frija taking part in Vasso- and Laila’s training, others began arriving at the park. Ranvir’s focus during the exercises was a little shot as Frija kept running back and forth between him and Shiri.

She was so eager to play with her and show off everything she could, including her dad. Ranvir had to let her down gently and explain this was time spent between her and her mother. Frija was a little confused, but Shiri explained it further once she asked her.

It took a little while, but eventually Frija understood. The difference between playing with someone and playing with a group finally made it click. Maybe some day Shiri and Ranvir could play together as well, but that wouldn’t be tonight.

That was right around when Dovar arrived to overhear the explanation. He gave Ranvir a questioning look, but thankfully, said nothing.

“Alright,” Ranvir said to Vasso and Laila. “That’s enough for now. I have to work with Dovar.”

Laila frowned. “I thought you promised mom to train me.”

“And we are. I just have to help Dovar as well.”

She shook her head, crossing her arms.

“Don’t worry about—“ Dovar said, but a single glare from Ranvir cut him off.

“Laila,” Ranvir said. He gazed directly at her, despite the teenager’s refusal to look him in the eye. “I understand you want to do well for your mom. You want to impress her, right?”

She didn’t answer at first, so Ranvir remained quiet. Finally, she looked at him and nodded. “Yes.”

“There comes a point during exercise where you hit diminishing returns. Where extra effort doesn’t grant extra benefits. This point is different for everyone. Esmund and Dovar can go for extremely long periods, while others cannot. At that point, it is best to change your approach.”

“Change it how?”

“That is up to you, but for me. I like to change my behavior and talk things through. How about you and Vasso take a walk around the park? Talk about what you learned, what has helped the most, and what has helped the least.”

Laila’s expression softened, and she looked into the sky before nodding. “Fine.”

Vasso’s eyes widened comically. First, he went ghostly pale, then sunset red. He didn’t manage to say anything, though he jumped to his feet and helped Laila up. Together, they walked off.

“Is it just me?” Dovar said, looming over Ranvir’s shoulder. “Or are they both looking a little stiff?”

Ranvir pointed toward Laila. She was walking with her hands behind her back, intermittently stretching her fingers out forcefully. “I think you’re right. I didn’t figure she was the type to get nervous, though.”

“About spending time alone with a boy?” Dovar gave him a questioning look. “Why wouldn’t she?”

“I guess I’d just figured she was a rich noble lady and it wouldn’t bother her.”

Dovar looked at him like he was stupid.

“What?”

He shook his head and sat down. “What am I working on?”

Ranvir cleared his head and his throat. Dovar had recently fully gazed into his soul, meaning he was a step beyond Vasso and Laila, even though he’d spent significantly less time practicing than Vasso. It appeared having access to tether-space was a significant advantage to perceiving one’s soul.

“Tonight, we’re checking your Fundament and reinforcing the core of your soul. The abuse of your powers in the attempt to advance might have caused some damage. I’m not seeing much, but it might be there, nonetheless.”

Dovar nodded and closed his eyes. Ranvir gently layered his tether-sense over him. Subtly slipping past his native presence’s defenses to peer alongside his friend. Bypassing the native presence didn’t just take consent, but help from the person. What Ranvir was doing was less stepping into the house and more carefully peeping through the windows.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Ranvir set Dovar to the same exercise as the ones Kasos once gave him. He spent another hour making sure Dovar understood the basics and wouldn’t do anymore damage to himself. Thankfully, what damage he had done was superficial and would’ve recovered on its own. He was nowhere near the extreme case Ranvir had once been.

By then, the others were arriving. Esmund and Kirs showed up walking hand-in-hand, not long thereafter, Ayvir. Sansir and Grevor followed, having made up since their spat in when Ranvir’d been trying to recruit them.

Vasso and Laila were still walking in the park, or rather sitting on a bench. While they were talking, it wasn’t about training any longer. Ranvir let them be, figuring neither would be brave enough to push the envelope. Shiri was too focused on their daughter to play chaperone at the moment.

Ranvir then dipped out to bring Amalia, Kasos, and Elpir in. When he returned, Pashar had arrived as well, filling out the entirety of the school staff. Potential substitutes included.

Ranvir pulled out some firewood, and Ayvir soon had a strong campfire going. None of them were particularly inspired cooks, but roasting some spiced meats, courtesy of Amalia and Elpir, required little skill.

There were a few more exotic blends of spices available in Legea, but they’d wisely stuck to some safer choices. Since they knew firsthand how long it took Ranvir to get used to the Korfiyan flavor profile.

Roasting meat soon scented the air and filled their belly. It was hot and greasy food, but it was damn good. Laughter sounded out into the darkening sky as time passed. Eventually, they moved on to an Elusrian treat. Campfire bread was as simple as cooking meat.

They wrapped dough around the end of the same sticks they used to cook the meats, then baked the bread over fire. It was a mostly successful affair with only the occasionally burnt dough.

“I saw you and Dovar training earlier,” Es said. “What was that about? Hiding any secret exercises from any of us?” his eyes, showing just a hint of a muted rainbow, glinted with amusement.

“I wouldn’t share my best ones,” Ranvir said with a wink. “Just some basic spirit exercises.”

“Basic spirit exercises?” Kasos immediately butted in. “That wouldn’t happen to be my basic spirit exercises?”

Ranvir chuckled and nodded. “It would.”

“Wait, you were one of Ranvir’s teachers?” Ayvir asked, sitting up straighter. Kasos nodded. “Me too, though I think we might have slightly different specialties.”

Kasos and Ayvir fell into deeper speculation as they talked. One holding dominion over light and fire, the other over shadow and water. One young and one old.

“So, that’s a recent development,” Esmund said, nodding towards Shiri. Frija was sitting between her legs, struggling to hold her stick of dough steady without dipping into the ash.

“You should’ve heard them when I arrived,” Dovar said, leaning in from the other side. Es perked, visibly interested. So did everyone else, for that matter. All but Elpir, Vasso, Laila, and Pashar, who were sitting closer next to Shiri. Dovar continued in a hushed whisper, “Maybe one day Shiri and Ranvir might play together.”

“Don’t say it like th—“

“Oh shit,” Es said, cutting Ranvir off by wrapping his around his neck. “What’s this, huh? You trying to keep it from me?”

“There’s nothing—“

“You know, I was wondering why you never tried to move on anyone on Korfyi,” Amalia said.

“Looks like he still had the hots—“

“I mean she isn’t—“

“Personally, I like them a bit more—“

Everywhere Ranvir looked, people were grinning, smiling, laughing and handing out their personal preferences like they were fliers for the public celebration of a royal wedding.

“I like them old. I’m talking crusty.”

“Huh?” everyone said, stopping to look at Ayvir. There was not an ounce of shame on his shoulders as he shrugged and smiled. “I say it like it is.”

“Honestly, frail and weak is—“

“Esmund!”

The man in question yelped, jumping to his feet and fleeing from his incensed wife. “Slow too. I like them slow!”

Ranvir shook his head as individual conversation broke out around the bonfire. Laughter and smiles highlighted in the warm light of the picnic. Eventually, Es and Kirs settled again and Sansir took up a spot next to Ranvir.

“You didn’t seem as dismissive as I would’ve expected.”

Ranvir blinked. “I… What?”

“To the whole girl thing.”

Ranvir shrugged. “I don’t really know what my preference is, I guess.”

“That’s not what I was talking about. I was thinking about what you said back at the academy.”

“The relationship talk?” he vaguely remembered their conversation. It was the first time he’d tried to verbalize how he felt about relationships.

“That one, yes. It doesn’t seem like you feel that way any longer.”

Ranvir shrugged and leaned back. Looking up into the empty night sky, he considered. “Maybe. I don’t even know when it happened, honestly. There’s still a part of me that thinks it’s a bad idea, honestly.”

“But?”

Ranvir looked back at Sansir. “It’s not as scary anymore, I guess.”

“Not as scary,” Sansir said thoughtfully. “But still not something you would pursue?”

Ranvir rolled his eyes. “I think I’m going to be plenty busy without looking for a romantic interest, don’t you?”

Sansir chuckled and nodded. “I don’t think that stops most people.”

“Probably not.”

“Dad?” Frija said, lightly pulling on his hair. She was holding half of a campfire bread in one hand.

“Yes, Firehearth?”

“I made this for you.” She blushed slightly and gave him the bread.

“Thank you, Sweetie,” Ranvir said, pulling her into a hug and blowing raspberries on her neck. She giggled and ran back to Shiri and the others. He chewed on the bread as Frija squirmed into place. Not next to her mother, but next to her brother. He exchanged a look with Shiri, finding her watching him and not their daughter.

The bread was mostly burned, a little raw, and absolutely perfect.