Sansir breathed in familiar air. The sound of his steps changed from a small enclosed space to the slight echo of the school’s yet unfinished walls. Stepping further into the landing, he stopped to inhale the dry summer air.

Pashar passed him on the left, quirking an eyebrow at him. She wore a crisp uniform, unmarred by weather or sun, despite their last two weeks of travel. Her hair was shorn just above her shoulders, instead of her usual hairdo. Normally, it was tied into a tail running past her shoulder blades.

Ayvir followed her on Sansir’s other side. Though he looked more like Sansir felt than Pashar seeming imperturbable form. He’d shaved and his hair had been cut closed to the skin. Still, he had more hair than Sansir did. The culprit of their recent stylistic changes peeked around the light tethered’s shoulder.

The monkey was the size of a small child. With over long arms and creepy articulate feet, it clambered onto any surface it could find. If agitated, it would also spit fire. Something Sansir could’ve probably done without.

Behind, the muffled noise of the others talking filtered through. Students didn’t feel quite right as Sansir was the youngest by a fair few years. Ranvir had been explicit in his directions. Though there might be merit in recruiting someone young, there were some issues with taking a child unequipped for life and putting in a strange, potentially dangerous, new world.

So the first batch of students had to be at least twenty, but the three they’d gathered were all in their early thirties. Old enough to have been working their career, young enough to have faith in a change of profession.

“Alright,” Pashar said loudly, directing their attention towards her. Sansir didn’t wince at the strange sensation of the translation effect. Not anymore. But it had been a hard won habit. Not that he wouldn’t have immediately jumped at one of the temporary stones that now rested against his sternum back when he’d first joined the Dead Sons.

There were a surprising amount of members that spoke Elusrian for an Ankirian military company. Granted, they were elites in their field, but he’d still been a little surprised when they’d offered him a spot.

They took the newcomers on a tour of the school, showing them the various classrooms, common room, kitchens, and dorms. Considering the size of the space and selection process of the student body, each was given their own room. It was equipped with the essentials. Bed, dresser, a shelf for belongings. Just enough to be a refuge, not quite enough to be comfortable staying inside forever.

At least, according to Pashar. Sansir, having seen her recruitment speeches and insightful questions over the last couple weeks, was inclined to agree with her. She was a master at manipulating people. Even strangers whose culture she barely understood.

He gave her a long look as the three Belnavir entered their rooms. Pashar returned it evenly.

“What are you thinking about?” she asked

Sansir shook his head and looked away. “Nothing.”

“Sure,” she said skeptically, moving to walk down the hall. Lit by glyph-lights, the wooden accents on the wall lightened the room enough that he didn’t feel trapped in a cave. Still, he’d seen how the bigger corridors were coming together and couldn’t wait for the rest of the place to get similar treatment.

The placement of various decorations, a few tapestries, and a coat of paint on the ceiling made it feel more welcome. They did similar things back at the academy, though they’d had much longer to work out the specifics and get more natural light in.

“Doesn’t look like anyone is back, yet,” Ayvir said, scratching his monkey with his hand. The creature ululated at his touch, clapping him on the shoulder. The strange creature clung to his back as it hollered. Even Pashar’s stony facade had broken at their first close look.

It appeared almost human. But not quite. And there was little of human intellect within. Perhaps he might be judging it too harshly. Few creatures showed any signs of greater knowledge or wisdom. Not even Ranvir’s Menace appeared anymore aware than any other cat. Even if it was the size of a bear.

“That was…” Sansir said, but wasn’t sure how to finish the sentence. “Overwhelming. I know I volunteered to go, but…”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

“I get it,” Ayvir said with a nod, his monkey mimicking the motion with a moment’s delay. “It’s wholly strange.”

Pashar rolled her eyes but smiled playfully. “Men. It wasn’t that bad.”

“You have more experience than us,” Ayvir said defensively.

“Didn’t you both spend considerable time in and alongside Ankirians?”

“That’s hardly the same,” Sansir said. “Ankiria and Elusria have had long-term engagement stretching back centuries. Cultures and ideas passing back and forth. Belnavir was completely foreign.”

Pashar weighed their words and nodded in acknowledgment. “That is true. I hadn’t thought about it like that.”

“Weren’t you overwhelmed when you and Ranvir ended up on Korfyi?” Ayvir asked.

Sansir stepped closer, curious to see her expression and get a read on her feelings. Pashar shrugged. “I’m practiced in strange cultures and absorbing information and acclimating to foreign places.”

She saw their looks and elaborated. “When I’d first come into my power, Saif, my master, would leave me with a goal somewhere in the city. I wouldn’t be allowed back until I’d accomplished it, however long it took. As I got older, it became foreign countries. In his last test, he just told me to where I needed to go and what to do.”

“When you got your powers?” Sansir asked. “As in thirteen, fourteen?” she nodded. “No wonder you seemed to unbothered. This was normal for you.”

“Not normal, but I came in with certain expectations and ideas. They worked, so I had a familiar framework to follow. There are a few other tricks you could look for as well. Find similarities, rather than differences, is the biggest one. If you’re in a foreign place, focusing on the strangeness will only freak you out more. Your mind is trained to recognize patterns, so look for things familiar to you rather than attempting to understand the strange.”

Ayvir rubbed at his forehead. “You couldn’t have told us this a little sooner? We’ve spent the last two weeks in confusion induced misery.”

“You never asked,” Pashar said, shrugging.

They’d made their way to the common room and slumped into a light brown leather couch, the seats creaking as they sat down. The smell of the newly tanned material pungent on the nose.

It wasn’t from an animal Sansir recognized. He ran his fingers over it, feeling the slight roughness of the textures. “It’s not cow, is it?” he asked, looking up. There were a few other possibilities, but for something this big.

“Kind of,” Pashar said. “Ranvir has a friend in Korfyi. He shopped mostly through her. Even counting in the conversion of coin, it was cheaper to barter in Legea. He initially struggled to make the money reach beforehand.”

“So what is it?” Ayvir said, running his fingers over it, noting the strange texture as well. It felt slightly too rough to be any animal Sansir was familiar with. Old Master Tore filled many of the village’s carpentry needs, most of which were furniture.

“It’s kind of a cow,” Pashar said. “Though these are partially aquatic. Spending nearly as much time in the water as on land. They are bred in vast herds on the beaches of the Apion Sea. They are adapted to the water. That’s why it feels strange to you.”

“You call it a cow,” Ayvir said. His monkey had climbed off his shoulder and was rubbing against the couch’s backing, chittering to itself. “Do they… milk them?”

“That would be why I compared them to a cow,” Pashar said, nodding.

“That’s weird,” Sansir said, his words intermingling with Ayvir’s equally vocal agreement. Pashar looked at them oddly.

“Men.” She shook her head and rolled her eyes for extra emphasis.

“You shouldn’t drink milk from something that comes from the water.” Sansir waved his hand emphatically.

“It’s wrong. I’m not sure how and I’m not sure I’ll ever understand, but it is strange.” Ayvir agreed.

Pashar blew out a long breath and peered at the ceiling. “Sisters, am I happy that I don’t have to spend anymore time with you.”

Sansir was about to hit her with a comeback that was not only brilliant but an excellent subversion of what she’d been saying earlier, while also calling back to their encounter with Ayvir’s monkey. Instead, he sensed Dovar, Amalia, and Kasos return.

“Dovar’s back,” he said instead.

Promise. He had it loaded, ready for the moment she showed any sign of attitude. Any at all.

“Are you going to run to him and ask him to defend your stance?”

Well, he didn’t want to waste it. He’d save for a good one. A comment that couldn’t be so easily ignored.

Sansir got up and hurried to the landing. He found Dovar heading for him, Kasos and Amalia in the background talking to their recruits. They’d found four, though one of them was an elderly man. He looked to be nearly fifty, at least. Old to be joining a school.

“Oh Sansir,” Dovar said, pulling him into a hug. “Am I glad to have something familiar.”

“Are you okay?” Sansir asked, once Dovar didn’t immediately let go.

“Sansir. It was so hot and strange. There were so many people. I’m just so glad to be back.”

“Imagine how they feel,” Pashar said, giving both an arch look. Dovar let go and coughed into his hand. “Well, yes. But they’ll at least have a few people they are familiar with.”

“Didn’t you agree to go with them on your own?” Sansir asked. Dovar gave him a death glare. “I mean, it’s so good to have you back. And you don’t at all look like you’re any worse for wear.”

“Dovar, you look fucking horrible, are you okay?” Ayvir asked, having just turned the corner and apparently missed their conversation.

He looked a little worse for wear. Not ‘fucking horrible,’ though. A little stressed, and sweaty, and wide-eyed. “You look like you need a good meal and a quick nap,” Sansir said.

“Something normal, please,” Dovar said, nodding in agreement.