By the time David made it back from the forest, the sun had long since dipped beneath the sky-scraping walls of Ki-Elico.

  He approached the doors, his shoulders tense. Since he was gone for the night, Aura and Bert must have been furious.

  He took a deep breath and pushed at the doors. They creaked open as David stepped into the room.

  The scent of warm broth and woodsmoke hung in the air. I’m home.

  Before he could shut the door behind him, a spoon fell to the floor and Aura was already next to him.

  “Marco!” Her arms wrapped around him tightly, squeezing the breath from his chest.

  He froze, like a deer in the headlights.

  Instinct warned to pull away, but her warmth kept him close.

  Slowly, his arms came up around her, tightening the embrace.

  Her scent, the trembling in her shoulders… It made him feel safe. Suddenly, the anxiety David had felt turned to sadness.

  I made them worry so much…

  “Don’t ever scare me like that again,” she whispered. “where were you?”

  “I’m sorry.” The words slipped out faster than he expected. “I should’ve sent word.”

  She pulled back just enough to hold his face in her hands. “What happened?”

  Behind her, Bert had risen from the table, brow furrowed. Sophie stood nearby, silently cutting vegetables.

  David exhaled, steadying himself. He was expecting the question and had a perfect alibi ready.

  “I met someone. A mage. He saw me using mana and… said I had potential. I’ve been with him the last two days. Proving myself.”

  “A mage?” Bert’s voice rumbled low, cautious. “From the academy?”

  David nodded. “He’s some important Nobility. He put me through a bunch of trials to see if I was worth the effort.”

  Aura bit her lips as her eyes searched his face.

  She struggled a while with a response.

  “And were you?” She finally said.

  “I passed,” he said, with just enough hesitation to sell it. “He made me an offer. If I do well and help him in his work, he might even sponsor me into the academy… eventually.”

  “Talk is cheap.” Bert scoffed, his attitude toward nobles as cold as ever.

  This was why David went to Viera first. He reached into his bag and pulled out a cloth pouch.

  It jingled softly as he set it on the table. “I asked him for money and he threw this at me as if it were scraps.”

  Bert weighed the pouch in disbelief, then peeked inside. He cursed as he saw the golden glimmer.

  Aura stared at it like it was a holy relic. Her hand trembled as she picked it up, as though it might vanish if she wasn’t careful.

  Then she turned away, wiping her eyes.

  David didn't enjoy framing his hard work as some welfare, but there was no legal explanation for how a kid could make so much money.

  Frankly, every part of his deals could land him a death sentence. Aura and Bert could never hear about that.

  Bert let out a breath like he’d been holding it all day. He squinted his eyes. “It must be some trick.”

  “I knew Mages like that.” Aura said to her husband. “Nurturing younglings into political allies.”

  Bert turned his eyes away, trying to not look at the money. “I don't like this.”

  “We refused to take a side. Look where that brought us.” She chastised Bert. “If Marco wants to try, he is talented enough for it.”

  David looked down, unsure what to say. He was exhausted. His arms ached, and every muscle in his back screamed from Dolen’s brutal spell drills.

  He didn't expect anything else than maybe some praise.

  And then he saw her.

  Sophie, still standing near the pot. Her arms folded across her chest. Her eyes, locked on him.

  She didn’t say a word.

  David looked away first.

  Yes, I lied. There was no other way.

  He forced a smile, even as the feeling in his chest twisted like a knife.

  David slipped on his boots with quick, fumbling fingers.

  The early morning light barely crept through the cracks of the shutters.

  He was working with Viera that day. The money wouldn't make itself.

  As he reached for the door, a voice stopped him.

  "Marco."

  He stiffened. Damn it.

  Turning slowly, he found Sophie sitting in the middle of the bed, her hair messy from sleep. She clutched the hem of her tunic, her fingers twisting it into knots.

  "How long," she asked quietly, "do you plan to keep lying to them?"

  David opened his mouth. Nothing came out.

  The words he'd prepared, the easy reassurances, melted under the weight of her gaze.

  "Just… a little longer," he said finally. His voice sounded thin even to his own ears. "I'm almost there, Sophie. Enough for citizenships. Maybe a bigger place to live. Then I'll quit."

  He wished it could sound more certain, but his voice failed him.

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  Sophie studied him, her face unreadable. Something in her eyes made him feel unbearably awkward.

  "You wouldn't lie to me again, right?" she asked, almost sadly.

  Was he on the verge of repeating the situation where she saw his claws?

  “Of course not. I don't want to keep working with Viera if I can help it.”

  Not quite a lie, not quite the truth.

  After a long pause, Sophie nodded. Her eyes lost focus for a moment then she suddenly changed topic.

  "Will you help me?"

  David blinked. "Help you?"

  She nodded, brushing the disheveled hair off her face. "I've tried everything I could think of to help the refugees. To get the city to open the gates before the next eclipse." She hesitated. "'I’ve achieved nothing, meanwhile you made powerful friends. Rich friends."

  Initially, David wanted to refuse… but she genuinely cared for those people. He bit his lip. "What do you want me to do?"

  “You could start with asking them. Maybe they could spare something to help?”

  Viera, Dolen… Help refugees? David scratched his head.

  Actually, that could work.

  He nodded eagerly. "I have to go, but I'll ask…” he paused, his hand on the door. “I promise."

  And he meant it... but the word still left a bitter aftertaste.

  Sophie smiled softly in response. David was unsure if she believed him.

  The door clicked shut behind him, leaving Sophie sitting alone in the dim morning light.

  David slipped through the streets, feet tapping against the cobblestone.

  Mason's retreat loomed ahead, its windows glowing warmly against the gray morning haze.

  Inside, the familiar scents of bread and smoked meat hung in the air. A stark difference from cheap beer and sweat that could be smelt in the evenings.

  Talia and Dalia spotted him first, lounging by the hearth.

  "Hey, Marco is back!" Dalia grinned and waved him over, nearly tipping over her stool in the process.

  "You look like you fought a bear," Talia said, raising an eyebrow at the dark circles under his eyes and the stiffness in his movements.

  "You left me alone with mister Dolen." David chuckled wearily. “So that's on you.”

  Dalia ruffled his hair as he passed, earning a yelp of protest.

  It felt good to banter with the twins, childish as they were. He could get used to it.

  A pity I'll be resigning in like a month.

  He approached the thick door in the back: Viera was waiting.

  The moment David stepped inside, he bowed his head in greeting. He moved toward the illusory wall without waiting for response.

  "Hold on a second," Viera stopped him mid-day. “Remember the ruins you found yesterday?"

  “Yes.” David said, his jaw slightly tense.

  Viera usually oscillated between intense and nonchalant… Now, she looked strained, almost restless. It weirded him out.

  "What do you think is inside?” She probed him.

  “Something dangerous.”

  "Aren't you even a bit curious?"

  David crossed his arms, heart thudding. She obviously wanted him to say yes.

  Why?

  Something was amiss with her behavior. His mind raced through different possibilities, but he could find nothing concrete.

  “I'd rather not pry my nose where it could get cut off.” He finally said.

  “We'll be taking a look at those ruins soon, we could use a translator.” She said, this time keeping her tone light.

  “No thank you.”

  He was about to walk through the wall, when Viera stood up.

  “How much?”

  The way she said it… A shiver went through David's spine.

  It finally hit him. Everything suddenly made sense.

  This must be why she sought him out despite initially price gouging him or why she offered him such suspicously high salary.

  That scouting team was probably looking for those exact ruins for longer than David had been a part of this team.

  If it was all in preparation to find them and make him agree... That would explain why her tone grew so desparate.

  She asked how much... If he bargained now, he could take more than a small favor. And there was only one major thing he truly wanted.

  He straightened his back. "I want enough for academy tuition."

  The silence that followed was thick enough to choke on.

  Damn. Did I jump to conclusions?

  David shifted, his skin getting itchy. It was a lot of money, now that he thought about it.

  Viera didn’t move for a heartbeat. Then, slowly, she smiled.

  "And what," she said, audibly struggling to stay calm, "makes you think you’re worth that?"

  She didn't say no.

  “Forbidden language, guarded ruins. It just all adds up.” David shrugged, struggling to remain nonchalant. "You wouldn't ask this of a kid if you had other options."

  Her eyes widened briefly, then she sighed. "We can pay you that amount over a year.”

  “No. I want it before we leave. In full. And you'll let me go freely after that.”

  Viera’s jaw tensed so hard he feared for her teeth

  She wasn’t even smiling anymore.

  She was calculating. “Who do you have me for? You'll just run with the money.”

  David watched her silently. He had a hidden trump card and it was the time to unveil it.

  “What if I provide something of equal value as collateral?”

  “Like what?” Viera chuckled “Don't be absurd.”

  “A frostfire sword. An artifact from a master alchemist.”

  Viera's eyes widened. Her eyes darted between the walls as she weighed his words. “If you're telling the truth, I might agree.”

  It wasn't his to use, but… So far it just gathered dust under the floorboards. He’d bring it back before Aura noticed.

  She composed herself. "And where is said sword?"

  “Give me an hour and I'll bring it. What do you say?”

  “If it's real, we have a deal. But I swear, if you're wasting my time…” she lifted a finger, and moved it across her throat.

  David left without another word. Quickly.

  The air outside was fresh, the world brighter than he'd last seen it.

  He had done it.

  Academy was in his grasp. One risky job and it'd be over. He would keep his promise to Sophie and resign.

  My promise. FUCK.

  David stopped dead in the middle of the busy street, his stomach twisting.

  He hadn't asked Viera about the refugee situation.

  He forgot.

  And Sophie was probably still in the room - Not only did he forget barely a dozen minutes after their conversation, he would need to ask her for her silence about the sword. To cover for him.

  He pressed a hand against his face, cursing himself.

  It was too late to worry about that now. He'd make it up to her next time.

  He rushed back.

  David pushed open the door with more force than necessary.

  Sophie startled and looked up from over the pot, where she was getting soup ready. “Back already?”

  “Just dropping by for a second” he said, then crossed the room, rummaging by the loose floorboard near the corner.

  He lifted the plank and took out the wrapped bundle—Frostfire sword.

  “What are you doing?”

  "I've just got a huge job," he said, his excitement bleeding into his tone. "Just one and it's over."

  “Sure…” Sophie stood there for a moment, just watching him. “And you're taking the sword, why?”

  “Long story. Just trust me here. I might need you to cover for me.”

  She seemed to wrestle with something.

  “You know you can depend on me, right?” He needed her to agree. “Just this one job and we'll all go back to normal. To before that night happened.”

  “Fine.” She sighed and nodded. "And about the refugees?”

  David winced but didn't stop. He tightened the straps around the bundle, bracing it against his chest.

  "Didn't come up yet, sorry" he said quickly. "I’ll ask as soon as I settle this."

  The words felt thin the moment he said them.

  “You’d better.” She shook a fist at him, but she lacked her usual fire.

  He left her to her chores and moved to leave, but paused for just a second, as the sword weighed heaver in his arms.

  Was this truly the right way?

  This whole situation stank of danger. He could face death, imprisonment or even execution for aiding the rebels...

  But if he gave it up and refused, he could say farwell to his dreams of academy. For years or maybe forever.

  I might be insane...

  He took a deep breath and pushed the doors open.

  But i'll take it, risk be damned.