Wellynd stepped onto the dirt path that headed south towards Mine street. Laine’s warehouse stood just beyond the edge of town, surrounded by several other shipping warehouses on the shoreline. These other buildings, however, had long been abandoned, the brick falling away from their rusted iron supports. The Sulfhawks, who had made their homes on the crumbling window sills still sparkling with broken glass, were the only remaining occupants.

Years ago, the whole street would have been bustling with activity. Wellynd remembered playing hide and seek with a boy named Edward, the son of one of the sailors for the shipping company three warehouses down. They’d spend hours chasing each other in between the stacks of crates, annoying dock workers with boyish pranks, and pretending they were knights who served the folk hero Usum, using their Koshai powers to rid Kellek’s Watch of invisible villains who attacked from the sea. Wellynd wondered where Edward was now.

Everything had changed when Bertrand Snellium Sr., the owner of Illuvian Minerals, had bought most of the land and absorbed the majority of the shipping outfits on the island. Apparently he had paid each of the owners a, in the words of Laine, “disgusting” amount of money. Evidently, Laine had refused such an offer. Wellynd didn’t know why. If he had to guess, it probably had something to do with the war. Verta had occupied this part of Arta for over two years now and, while it didn’t really matter much to Wellynd, people tended to get into a lot of disagreements about it. He’d heard Laine refer to Bertrand’s dad as a “Vertan Lapdog” on several occasions.

He readjusted his pack as the dirt path gave way to cobblestone road.

While Neera’s place was on the other side of the town, Wellynd thought he would stop by Klof’s on the way. He hadn’t spoken to his friend since the day of the examination.

Klof, like Wellynd, had failed. They had walked home together after the test, and Klof, normally a loud mouth, had been completely silent.

As he approached his friend’s house, a modest home built entirely of the brown stone mined from the quarry, he began to hear loud, splintering cracks. Wellynd rounded the corner of the house to see Klof’s father splitting wood in the side of their yard.

“Hey Conrin, how’s it going?” Wellynd called, waving as he approached.

Conrin split another log and left the axe in the stump as he looked up.

“Welly! Just fine, lad. How’s your uncle doin? Staying out of trouble I hope?”

“Yeah, he’s keeping busy. On a shipping run somewhere out there” he gestured towards the sea. Laine hated anyone outside the business knowing where he was.

Conrin nodded as he wiped the sweat off his brow. “And you? Hope you aren’t beating yourself up too much after that test nonsense” he said.

“I’m alright. Trying to keep busy. I’m heading up to Revenshore today actually.”

“Good. A man needs to keep busy” Conrin nodded.

He turned and stared out toward the sea, as if to show off the long jagged scar carved into his jawline. Wellynd assumed the man had received it during his time fighting the Artan civil war. It had happened before Wellynd was born, but it had left many of the nation’s men maimed or broken. Wellynd shuttered. Conrin must have been his age when he fought.

“How’s Klof doing? I was going to see if he wanted me to get him anything from the mainland,” Wellynd asked, shifting his feet.

Conrin glanced up towards the second floor window above his shop before looking back at Wellynd, his brow furrowed. “Still sulkin’ up there. Wish he would try to move past it. Season o’ storms comin’ and there’s still lots to do. Can’t be wastin’ time.”

Wellynd looked up towards the window and thought he saw the curtain waver.

“Do you need anything, Conrin?” he asked, looking back down to find the man’s stark blue eyes set on him, searching.

Conrin gave a short smile “No, don’t worry about me. Island’s got everything I need, Welly. Safe passage,” he said as he began to wrench the axe out of the log.

Wellynd started shuffling backwards “Thanks. See ya around, and let Klof know I won’t be around for a few days, if you could.” Moving his bag to the other shoulder, he turned on his foot and raised a hand, waving as he walked away.

“Will do Welly. Take care now.” Conrin called, his reply followed by the loud crack of wood splitting.

Wellynd glanced back at the window one more time before rounding the corner, but saw no sign of his friend.

He knew Klof had been excited about joining the Observatory. They all were. But he never guessed his friend would take it so hard. He kicked a loose stone that had popped out of the road. Then again, maybe anyone watching Wellynd over the past week thought him just as pitiful a sight.

As he made his way onto the thoroughfare, Wellynd nodded at the few townsfolk walking the street, who replied with curt smiles. One of the perks of being the nephew of the town’s resident criminal was that most folk kept their distance. He didn’t think anyone thought of Laine as dangerous; he was just a smuggler after all, but he guessed that most of the townspeople would never stick their neck out for Laine if he was in a spot of trouble either. Wellynd had never been keen on small talk, so the lack of warmth suited him just fine.

He scanned the shops as he strode down the street. The mine shift clearly hadn’t gotten out for the day as there were very few customers at Remy’s general store, and even the Boar’s Head Tavern was quiet.

Walking past the hospice near the end of the main stretch, Wellynd turned down the alley at the far end of the building; Neera’s family lived in the back so that her mother would always be ready to treat something urgent.

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He stopped at the side door when he heard muffled laughter. Carefully, he opened the door a small crack and turned his ear.

“...going to be great!”

“Do you remember what happened? What did they say to you?”

“You’ve done Kellek’s watch proud, Neera! Or do I call you Apprentice now?”

A pit formed in Wellynd’s stomach. They were celebrating her acceptance into the Observatory. Clearing his throat, he stood up straight and let the door swing shut.

He’d bring the powder when he came back.

As he started to walk away, the sound of the door creaking made him stop.

“Welly?”

Forcing a smile, he turned to see his friend standing in the doorway, her slim figure barely discernible against the dim light of the hallway.

“Hey Neer!”

She walked forward into the sunlight and stared at him suspiciously, her big brown eyes scanning his face as her light brown hair loosely tossed in the breeze. Wellynd’s eyes darted to the gleaming brass medallion that hung around her neck. Only Koshai in training were allowed to wear them.

“I was just going to drop off this Thislrut stuff for your mom,” he half-turned, shrugging his shoulders to show his travel bag. “It sounded like you guys were busy though so I figured I would just come by later.” he continued, trying to keep his eyes from staring at the medallion.

She, evidently, noticed and promptly tucked it into her shirt.

“Oh, no, we’re not busy at all. My mom is just making a big deal out of the whole exam thing. Kinda stupid if you ask me.” she said.

“It’s not stupid” said Wellynd, avoiding eye contact.

She shifted a little closer “Right. No, you’re right. Anyway, it’s kind of just a get together. Did you wanna come in? I’m sure Newt would love to get away from all the adults. He just finished another one of Usum’s tales and has been dying for someone to talk about it with.”

“Ah, I wish I could Neer. I’m about to head to the mainland. I’m hoping to catch the last ferry before nightfall so I have to get going.”

Just as Neera looked like she was about to protest, her mom poked her head through the doorway.

“Neera, what are you doing out here, everyone’s waiting. Oh hey Welly! Wanna come in? We have fruitcake.”

Ursa Kiregin looked nearly identical to her daughter, the only major difference being the deep wrinkles that shot out from the corners of her eyes. A byproduct of fifty years gathering herbs on the Illuvian mountainside, no doubt. Wellynd always thought she looked like a sort of wise raven.

“Sorry Ms. Kiregin. I can’t, heading to mainland for some deliveries.”

Ursa glanced at the pack slung over his shoulders.

“Mhm” she hummed “Not carrying anything that might get you in trouble with the Vertans, I hope?”

Wellynd forced a laugh. He had nearly gotten in trouble with a few officers from the Vertan excisors a few months ago. Ursa had been out gathering at the time and had somehow managed to talk the soldiers into letting him go.

“Nothing like that. Just some mineral samples for some of the folk at the Observatory” he lied.“Oh!” he pulled off the bag and fished around the front pocket, pulling out the burlap pouch. “Laine picked some of this up while he was in Melyar last week. He told me to give it to you.”

Her eyes lit up. “Arthus bless your Uncle.” She walked over and took the bag “I really needed this. There were a ton of accidents up at the mine last week. Bertrand really needs to train those workers better…anyway, I’ve nearly run out, so Laine has once again saved the day. Do tell him to drop by sometime. It’s been months since he’s been in. And while you’re at it get him to stop smoking those awful cigars.”

“Will do” Wellynd said, as he watched her smell the pouch before deftly storing it in one of the pockets of her robe. She then glanced over at Neera, who had moved aside and was staring expectantly at her mother. She turned back to Wellynd and surveyed him for a long moment, as if she were trying to discern what ailment he suffered from.

“I’m sure you aren’t feeling great about the exams.” she said, “ I wouldn’t worry about it, Welly. I failed too. I expected all of you to fail, if I’m being honest” She flashed a warm smile to her daughter, who stuck out her tongue in reply.

“Because almost everyone fails,” she continued “That’s just the way of things. But that didn't stop me. I know it’s hard to believe but trust me when I say Kosun can learn just as much as Koshai. We just have to be a little more clever about it.” She tapped her nose and chuckled.

“Uh. Yeah, I know.” he said, scratching the back of his head.

Ursa beamed. “Come back in a few weeks after Neera leaves. We’ll have a chat. Since Neera’s off to the Observatory, I’ll need to start training someone else to be the town’s healer anyway. We’ll see if you’re cut out for it. Safe travels, dear.”

With that she turned and headed back through the door.

Wellynd glanced at Neera “Well that was weird,” he chuckled.

Neera grinned. “Tell me about it. Try living with her. Anyway, let me know when you’re back. We’re gonna do one last delve before Bertrand and I leave. You up for it?”

Wellynd nodded “Definitely. And tell Newt we can talk all about Usum when I get back.”

He picked the bag up off the ground and started towards the road. Neera stood there, watching him for a few moments before heading back inside, the cheers of the revellers echoing out momentarily before being silenced by the door swinging shut.

Wellynd walked with an even pace up the road. His mind felt inflamed. He knew Ursa was trying to give him hope, but he couldn’t help but feel a little irritated at being Neera’s substitute.

He rubbed his eyes as he turned off the town’s central road into the small copse of trees behind Tollok’s forge.

As he pushed his way through a small opening of bramble bushes, Wellynd’s mind drifted back to the image of Klof sitting up in his room, brooding in the dark.

No. There was no point in sulking more. All in all, Ursa’s offer was a good thing. That she wanted to help him and maybe even teach him some magic was exciting, and it might offer opportunities to get out of the warehouse. Who knew. Maybe even off the island. More importantly, this meant that people, or at least Neera’s family, didn’t think of him as a lost cause.

He hopped over a fallen tree and nearly tripped, the weight of the pack sending him to one knee.

Or maybe they did and that’s why they were taking pity on him. He shook off the thoughts and veered onto a steep path that led up the mountainside.

After several minutes of ascent, the ground levelled out onto a wide dirt road. The Illuvian highway, most called it, and it circled the entire island. Wellynd stood in the middle of the road for a moment, catching his breath as he looked back toward the town below him.

He didn’t know what people thought.

But what he did know was that he had a long hike ahead of him. Readjusting the straps on the pack, he set off towards Reven’s Crossing.