The apprentices sulked around the lake, Maximus’ words echoing in their heads. The sun, casting a crimson glow across the sky, sank behind the mountains. Sera and the group sat by Ray, who had passed out. Jon lay on his back, clutching his arm, staring at the darkening sky. “I miss her, I wanna see her; it’s been so long.” Elaira stared him down, her hands crossed. “Listen here, idiot. What do you mean it’s been so long? It’s only been five days.” Jon let out a shaky breath. “You wouldn’t understand. The only thing you care about is fighting. You’re dumb; you can’t read. Love is only a word to you, which you can’t even read because you’re dumb.” Elaira clenched her fist and smacked his face into the ground. “Who’re you calling dumb? You’re dumb.” Aidan and Victor flinched and gave each other a weary look. Sera let out a short breath, her legs swinging in the air as she sat on a branch. Cassandra leaned against the tree, her eyes moving through the other apprentices.

  Jon shot to his feet, blood trickling down his nose. “I know what to do; write a letter to her because I’m sure she misses me as well.” Aidan’s laugh rang through the forest, grabbing his stomach. “I’m sure she’s not even thinking about you.” Jon frowned and jumped at him, and they started wrestling in the dirt.

  Sera jumped down from the tree and stretched. “Will Lysa be angry with Maximus because of Ray’s injury? What do you guys think?” Victor crossed his arms. “Since Ray is under her and not Maximus, I think she will.” Cassandra straightened herself, tapping her chin. “I don’t think she will because they’re both teachers and accidents like this happen all the time.” Sera turned to face her. “I don’t know; Lysa’s unpredictable. Didn’t you see her at the introductory ceremony?” Both Victor and Cassandra nodded, remembering the other day.

  Maximus tapped his foot on the ground, his arms in his pockets. “Let’s head back now.” The apprentices blinked, gasped. Cassandra walked forward; leaves crunched under her feet. “Why now? It’s going to be nighttime soon. We can leave in the morning tomorrow.” Maximus shook his head. “No, we leave now.” Sera agreed with Maximus. “Ray’s injury might get worse if we wait.” Cassandra let out a soft breath and nodded. The apprentices gathered their belongings while Maximus walked towards Ray. “How long are you planning to pretend?” Ray frowned, his eyes still closed. “I’m not pretending; it hurts.”

  “I know, but your legs are fine. So get up.”

  Ray opened his eyes, stared at the sky, and stood. Jon pointed at him. “What the hell? I thought you had passed out. Liar!” Ray shrugged his shoulders, then winced as pain shot up his arm. “Ouch. Shut up.”

  Maximus continued into the forest, followed by the apprentices, some in groups, some alone at the back. Some of them looked at the ground; some chatted, their voices a whisper. Elaira and Cassandra walked side-by-side right behind Maximus, Jon and Aidan still wrestling, but moved forward. Victor looked at Sera, her eyes fixed on the ground. “What are you thinking about?” Sera took a deep breath and looked up. “Just… something.” Victor turned his gaze forward. “Don’t look down; you did better than most of us.” Sera let out a quick breath. “I know,” and smirked.

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  Ray popped his head upwards, behind them. “Are you two flirting? Watch out, Victor, she’s a little insane.” Sera turned to glare at him. “You’re lucky you’re broken today.” Ray laughed, his voice carrying over the late evening wind.

  Sera clamped her palm over his mouth. “Quiet, or you’re gonna attract another aligktor.” Ray pushed her arm away. “Don’t worry, Maximus is here, isn’t he? You two can continue flirting.” Sera raised her fist and said, “I’m gonna punch your teeth in.”

  Victor let out a quiet laugh as they went on through the forest.

  Four days later, they reached the academy. Maximus carried Ray on his back because he could no longer continue walking because of blood loss. The other apprentices stumbled through the gates, covered in sweat. Lysa, who now had a scar over her left eye, greeted them with a smile, which vanished when she spotted Ray’s condition. “What happened?” She asked, her voice low but loud enough.

  Maximus took a deep breath and stared into her eyes. “He let his guard down and got injured.” Lysa crossed her arms, staring back. “Did he? And what were you doing?”

  Silence fell over the surroundings. The apprentices slowly backed away, their eyes fixed on them. The men in red-white rushed to carry Ray inside as Lysa and Maximus stared at each other. He let out a deep breath he’d been holding. “I made a mistake. I overestimated them.” Lysa scratched the back of her head. “You’re paying out of your pocket for his treatment.” Maximus nodded and walked past her, and the apprentices followed after him.

  Sera spoke in a whisper. “How did she get that scar?” Cassandra said, her voice low. “She had gone out, if I remember correctly. Maybe something happened?” They glanced back at Lysa once and followed Maximus. Lysa shook her head, walked through the corridor, and entered the room where they had taken Ray. A man in a white robe examined Ray’s arm. “If a few more days had passed, we would have had to cut off his arm.”

  Lysa stood behind him, her eyes focused on Ray. “I know you’re awake, Ray.” He clicked his tongue and opened his eyes. “Barely.” The man in the white robe snapped Ray’s arm straight. His eyes widened as the bone clicked, and he shouted. “Ouch! FUCK!”

  “There, I fixed it. Do not use your arm for at least a month now.” The man stood and turned to face Lysa. “I have stopped the bleeding and, fortunately, his bones did not break; they were just out of place. But he still needs to rest.” Lysa nodded, but the man stared at her and said, “Lysa. He needs to rest.”

  Lysa’s brows furrowed, and she clenched her fist. “I get it, goddammit.” The man wiped his hands. “Alright then,” and exited the room. Ray stared at her. “When did you return?” Lysa sat on the chair beside him, her breath slow and steady. “Yesterday.” He tilted his head. “Yesterday? Didn’t you leave to hunt the wyvern almost ten days ago?” Lysa let out a soft chuckle. “After killing it, I took it to the capital. I need the merits recorded under my name, you know.”

  Ray blinked, his head snapping toward her, and said, “Merits? Are you not a knight?” Lysa’s chuckle turned into a laugh, tears formed in her eyes, and she said, “Of course not, why would you think that? I’m a squire.”

  Ray squinted his eyes. “Under whom?” Lysa’s laughter died in her throat as she looked out the window. “Nobody. My master died a few years ago. I’m what people call a Masterless Squire.” Ray looked into her eyes; the tears of laughter were no longer about the same thing. “I’m sorry.” Lysa shook her hand in the air. “Don’t worry about it.”

  A masterless squire, huh? That means she needs twice as many merits as a normal squire to become a knight. That’s…unfair.