Her room felt suffocating. More than usual. Viera tapped the ledger with the back of her knuckles, scowling.

  Where had I gone wrong?

  Had she pushed too hard? Was she too obvious?

  Marco was cautious, so she played around that, and yet… He still saw through her

  Despite all the big talk, maybe she should have let Hiveo handle it.

  Before she could untangle the mess in her mind, the door to the room slammed open.

  Voices of the twins echoed in the empty tavern, but Marco ignored them.

  He strode toward her desk, something bundled under his arm.

  Viera straightened immediately, masking her surprise behind a blank face.

  Marco didn’t say a word. He tossed the bundle onto her desk with a soft thump.

  She stared at it. Then at him. Let's see how bad was my mistake.

  Slowly, cautiously, she reached out and pulled away the wrappings.

  She stifled a gasp. A shimmering blade made of myth, with frost and fire clashing against one another, none able to win. A contradiction locked in eternal struggle.

  Viera sucked in a sharp breath before she could stop herself.

  Gods. She had expected a ‘great sword’. Maybe some family heirloom with a modest enchantment…

  But this? As far as man made artifacts went… this was top of the line.

  This wasn't just collateral. She’d be happy to buy it for double the tuition cost.

  But none of that touched her face.

  She snapped the cloth closed again and looked at Marco with practiced boredom.

  “That will work,” she said in a clipped, businesslike tone, as if he had just handed her a sack of potatoes.

  Marco didn't show disappointment. Did he buy her disinterest?

  Viera opened a hidden compartment in her desk and scanned the business seals inside.

  Large, one off transaction… A merchant alias would do.

  She scribbled out a note in the name of Ki-Elico’s purveyor of curiosities. She double checked the amount and pressed the seal onto the paper.

  It flared with light, covering the paper with a tampering protection.

  She slid the prepared parchment toward Marco.

  "Take this to the Academy recruiter." she said. "Paid in full, tuition and board for the standard three terms or until graduation."

  Marco's hands hesitated a fraction before picking up the paper. His eyes shone, as he held it up in reverence.

  Weird kid. I'll never understand mages.

  Marco was about to run off, so she stopped him.

  "Hold up," Viera said, leaning back in her chair. "We’ll be making our move during the next long night. We'll leave the day before and camp outside. Questions?"

  Marco’s jaw tightened as he shook his head. Was he suddenly dissatisfied with the parchment he held?

  Should have asked about the details. It felt good to get the last word in. On the other hand, there was no point in rattling the kid.

  "You’ll be fine," she said lightly. "We're all going. You’ll be safer with us than you would be in this city."

  He nodded and turned to leave.

  Then he hesitated.

  "One more thing," he said. His voice sounded suddenly fitting for his age. Uncertain.

  Viera raised an eyebrow.

  "Could you… do something for the refugees?" he asked. "Sophie said— I promised I'd ask."

  Viera tapped her pen against her lip, thinking fast.

  The refugees were going to be needed anyway. As cover, as help, as bodies… But that's not what he wanted to hear.

  She smiled, like she did toward her daughters.

  "Of course," she said. "We'll be helping them along the way. Even if the city doesn't open the gates, they'll be fine."

  It was mostly true, too. A version of truth.

  Marco’s shoulders relaxed at once. He looked relieved. Grateful.

  "Thank you," he said simply, and left, clutching the sealed parchment.

  When the door closed behind him, Viera leaned back in her chair, a hand tapping the wrapped artifact.

  Cero will love this.

  David stepped into the Admissions Office next to the academy, the heavy oak door creaking shut behind him.

  The recruiter, a man in a vest too tight for his sizable stomach, was mid-rant at a terrified girl and her parents.

  David waited, though his hands shook with excitement.

  Finally, the parents signed something and the family left the building.

  The recruiter finally noticed him "Oh it's you! The talented kid!" he said. “Back to sign that contract, are we?”

  “Not exactly.” David placed the pay order on his table.

  The man immediately stopped talking, his eyes squinting at the seal.

  “Purveyor… hmm yes, yes. WHAT? Three terms?” He muttered as he read.

  His eyes widened as he looked up at David.

  “How did you get that guy to sign this?" He asked, reading again just to be sure. “Did you catch him in bed with another woman?”

  David didn’t speak. He just stood there, hands clasped behind his back.

  Finally, the recruiter let out a low whistle. "Not my problem anyway. It checks out."

  He rummaged through a drawer and pulled out a brass-stamped schedule card, scribbling notes on it.

  "You’ll start next period. Two weeks from now, show up with this card at the entrance. Welcome to the academy, mage-in-learning."

  David nodded, suppressing the elation bubbling inside him.

  Two weeks. No more risk. No more politics.

  He took the card, bowing deeply, and left.

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  "Now to find Sophie and tell her the good news," he muttered under his breath as he stepped back into the sunlight.

  Sophie wiped her hands on her apron as she crouched near the cookfire. Children darted around the refugee camp, their laughter echoing under the pale afternoon sky.

  Celia and Joline stirred soup in battered pots, handing out bowls to waiting hands.

  "Don’t take too much," Sophie teased Billy, a boy with bright eyes who tried to sneak seconds. He grinned and dashed off.

  Then, a familiar voice cut through the noise.

  "Sophie!"

  She turned to see Marco jogging toward her, cheeks flushed.

  "What is it?" she asked, rising.

  The children gathered near her, suddenly wary. A young girl clung to her arm.

  Marco reached for her hand, trying to tug her away. "Come for a second."

  Billy stood in front of her protectively. “Auntie is playing with us! Don't bother her.”

  Marco flinched and looked at her.

  "Wait, wait," Sophie laughed gently, prying the girl off and grabbing the boy's shoulder. "It’s okay, this is my little brother, Marco. I’ll be right back."

  She stepped aside with him, behind a half-collapsed tent. "What happened?"

  David took a breath, then grinned. "I did it. I got the job. One last time for Viera. I start the academy in two weeks."

  Sophie blinked. "You… What?"

  "And Viera said the refugees will be safe," he added quickly. "Even if the gates stay shut. She has a plan."

  For a moment, Sophie just stared. Then a breathless laugh escaped her. "You really asked?"

  "I promised I would, didn’t I?"

  She shook her head, biting back tears. "I– Yes you did. I just thought… Nevermind. I'm so happy, thank you!”

  She hugged him. Briefly. Fiercely.

  David looked sheepish. "I said I'll always help you, haven't I?”

  He patted her shoulder awkwardly and took a step back. "I have to go now. Viera’s expecting me. But I wanted you to know."

  "Thank you," she said softly.

  David nodded and ran off.

  Sophie watched him go, then turned back to the fires. The women were still handing out soup, their movements slow and tired.

  "It’s fresh news," she said as she returned to her spot. "But we might be okay come the long night."

  Celia and Joline paused mid-conversation. Sophie had often seen them smile… But she never saw them shed tears.

  Not until now.

  Over the next two weeks the world kept moving.

  High in the towers of his estate, the ever-unperturbed sculptor finished his final piece.

  A tired blacksmith worried and a scarred alchemist rejoiced in her progeny's good fortune.

  A pair of knights, elated by their new prize, trained with the frostfire blade until their arms ached.

  A green-haired girl poured her heart into keeping the misbegotten fed.

  A boy and an eccentric mage set fire to the forest again and again in pursuit of power.

  A man tapped his cane as he finalized the boldest heist the city had seen.

  And far to the south, in distant Vennevar, the rebellion’s highest names held their breath, waiting for news from Ki-Elico.

  Trap is set.

  David woke before the sky had a chance to turn golden. The air felt heavy, and not only due to the smell of burnt grease lingering since their dinner last night.

  Ever since he had started working with Viera, they’ve been eating meat daily. A splurge, but a welcome one.

  He moved quietly, wiggling out of the bed from between Aura and Sophie, trying not to wake them up.

  He was halfway through dressing up when Aura stirred faintly, a blanket draped over her like a shield. Her hair was slowly regrowing all this time, but it still was a far cry from her usual beauty.

  “Maa… Marco? Where are you going?” Aura yawned loudly while stretching, the noise waking both Bert and Sophie up.

  “Going to work for my patron. He asked me to stay over for a few days.”

  “Oh? Okay. Make sure to eat well while you’re there.” Her sleepy eyes were filled with care.

  Since the battle for Grainwick, she had been permanently exhausted.

  Good. It was awful to think it, but good.

  He could only keep up this charade with a ‘patron’ because she didn’t ask hard questions. If she asked to meet Dolen, she would instantly realize he’s no nobility.

  Bert looked up, as he slowly stretched. “Let us know if you need anything.”

  David nodded. Bert was… not happy with David’s life choices, to say the least. But the money was good.

  David finished pulling his boots on and stepped outside. He made it halfway to the stairs before a whisper caught his ear.

  “Marco.”

  Sophie. Barefoot in the hallway, still in her oversized nightclothes.

  “You’re going?” she whispered. “With Viera?”

  He nodded. “I am.”

  “I’m going to the refugees too. They’re all so scared. Maybe this time I can convince the guards to let more people in.”

  David’s throat tightened. “Sophie, you don’t have to—”

  “I do.”

  A beat.

  She looked down at him, searching his face. “You got help, right?”

  He hesitated, his ears growing hot.

  “I… got Viera to promise she’d handle it,” he said. “Said she had a plan.”

  “That’s it? Any details?” Sophie’s brows rose.

  Well, Viera wouldn’t share anything important with him anyway.

  “She didn’t want to share.” He tried to make it sound convincing, though. Even if only to himself.

  In truth, he had never asked.

  “Okay. It’ll be fine. I can feel it.”

  “Just stay safe, please.” he paused as he looked up at her. She was still quite a bit taller than him. “After today, everything will change for the better,”

  “Right back at you.” She smiled and hugged him fiercely.

  Sophie turned first, her steps soft as she returned to their room.

  David waited until she disappeared behind the door before he let the mask drop.

  His shoulders trembled. He was scared like never before. But he had made the choice, and it was correct. One risky endeavour to end it all.

  He adjusted his pack and stepped into the golden morning.

  The path to the tavern waited.

  The sun was low, already getting eclipsed by the giant moon in the sky. Long golden streaks of light streamed over Ki-Elico’s towering walls as David made his way to Mason’s Retreat.

  His body ached, a testament to weeks of constant training with Dolen. Even now, traces of runes appeared before him every time he blinked.

  A thin bag bounced against his side: Healing draughts and bandages.

  All around him, refugees were going to work. Exhausted, and yet grateful. Eclipse was coming and they were inside the walls.

  No price too high to pay for that.

  Inside the tavern, the dining room was full, with barely a seat left empty.

  At the table closest to Viera's office, a bunch of beggars talked. Well, they only looked the part.

  They were waiting for him.

  Dolen, Cero, and… Cero’s wife?

  What was her name again? Joanne? No. Janni.

  They were dressed in rags, cloaks threadbare and stained. But beneath the tatters, David caught glimpses of chainmail.

  “Almost everyone is here,” Cero muttered. His face was tense.

  “Hiveo must have been delayed.” Dolen shrugged.“Might as well start walking.”

  “Let’s be done with it.” Janni sighed

  They downed the rest of their drinks, grabbed their bags and stood up.

  “Where’s miss Viera?”

  “She has gone ahead of us.” Cero said. On his back, David recognized the vague shape of the frostfire sword under cloth.

  They left the tavern and David followed them down the street. But they didn’t go toward the gates.

  The group walked down the street toward the walls. They blended in well with the throngs of refugees.

  Suddenly, they stopped. In front of a rather inconspicuous part of the walls. The area was devoid of people.

  They waited a few minutes before a familiar knocking sound made them turn around.

  A man dressed in black tapped his cane against the cobble as he rushed toward them. He was visibly winded, but trying to hide it.

  “Something held you up?” Cero asked.

  “Regular duties. Nothing important.”

  The man rolled his eyes but didn't argue.

  Hiveo took a long look around, checking for any unplanned observers.

  Finding none, he walked up to the wall.

  He whispered something, tracing shapes on the wall, but his body obscured the details.

  A part of the wall shone delicately and pushed inward, creating a crevice large enough to walk through.

  David and Dolen walked first. The passage was cold and smelled of damp stone and old mildew.

  The mage conjured a faint light, just enough to see.

  The next to enter the crevice was Cero, but he suddenly stopped, raising his voice. “Where do you think you’re going?”

  “I have important duties to finish.” Hiveo said, his eyes darting to the center of the city.

  “Oh no, no. No, you don’t. You pushed for this, Hiveo. You’re going with us, or we’re calling the whole thing off.”

  David was taken aback. He had already cashed in the money. If they retreated now, he would be devastated.

  Hiveo’s mouth twitched as if suppressing words. He stared toward the city’s heart like a starved wolf.

  He eventually nodded and entered the crevice ahead of Cero, irritation clear on his face.

  It took them a good while to get across the decrepit tunnel. It really brought home how large the walls actually were.

  When they emerged, it was near the base of the walls, in a dry riverbed concealed by wild brush.

  The whole world was filled with gold and soon would turn to crimson.

  Around, toward the gates, lay the sprawling refugee camp, scattered tents and firepits glowing like distant stars.

  No one gave them a second look.

  They approached the forest. A solid wall of green in front of them, hiding wonders and dangers in equal measure.

  As David looked around, even the sight of a powerful mage and two skilled knights by his side couldn’t calm him down.

  There was no turning back now. He would spend the eclipse outside.

  Worse even, because it was the only move that made sense.