David didn’t remember choosing a direction.

  He walked, frustration twisting in his chest like a knife. Viera’s words echoed in his head, along with the numbers from the guild slate.

  By the time he looked up, the streets had changed.

  The buildings around him were taller, cleaner, made of stone that hadn’t been chipped or stained.

  The people walking by were dressed well and moved with purpose. No one yelled or stared too much.

  And ahead of him, like a monument carved into the sky itself, stood the academy.

  Its front gates loomed across a vast marble square, flanked by statues of robed mages holding staves and swords. The building stretched so high he couldn’t see the tops of its towers.

  It looked like a cathedral built in the name of magical pursuit.

  He crossed the square slowly. Students walked past him. Men and women, both younger and much older, dressed in fine cloaks stitched with silver thread, laughing and talking in voices too soft to hear.

  He approached the gate.

  The guard standing watch wore a dull blue uniform and an expression that said he’d rather be anywhere else. David cleared his throat.

  “I’d like to ask about joining,” he said.

  The guard raised an eyebrow. Then he pointed without a word to a smaller building across the square.

  David muttered a thanks and made his way over.

  The recruiter’s office smelled of incense.

  “Hello?” David said, his voice stiff.

  A man in a crisp waistcoat looked up from a high desk and immediately smiled.

  “Ah! Another bright-eyed young man!” His voice was warm, rehearsed. “Welcome, welcome. You’ve come to the right place. Tell me, what’s your name?”

  “Marco,” David said, quietly.

  “Marco! What a strong name. You’ve come to apply, yes? You made a good choice, coming here. The Ki-Elico Academy is the finest institution on the continent. Graduates go on to become royal magi, alchemists, court advisors... ”

  David nodded, the flood of words soaking into his head.

  The room felt vaguely uncomfortable.

  “We’d be delighted to have a talented young man like you,” the recruiter continued.

  David hesitated. “I am talented?”

  The recruiter lit up. “ Why of course! You can see mana, can you not? And your bruises are characteristic of regular mana usage. All that at your age? I’d call you an archmage in the making!”

  David smiled despite himself.

  Then he asked, “How would I go about joining, then?”

  “Twenty thousand silver coins. One time payment and you’re in.” The recruiter didn’t miss a beat.

  David blinked. “What?”

  “Twenty thousand,” the man repeated, still smiling. “But don’t worry if that’s a bit much! We have amazing contract options for talented students just like you.”

  He reached into a drawer and pulled out a slim bundle of papers.

  “You’ll get a full scholarship. Room and board, equipment, even a stipend. All we ask in return is a simple contract. You’d be contributing to the country’s future… and building your own at the same time!”

  David immediately got suspicious. I am not getting scammed again.

  “What’s in the contract?”

  “Time well spent!” the recruiter said cheerfully. “By the end of it, you’ll be well-connected, experienced, and respected. It's a noble path.”

  “How long? Where?” David didn’t let up.

  The recruiter’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he kept up the energetic spiel. “Oh it’s nothing big. You’d be working with the royal army! Just a measly twenty five years and you’re done!”

  David stood there, numb.

  The man was still talking. Benefits, honors, potential… but it all blurred into a low hum behind his ears.

  He mumbled something that might’ve been “thank you,” and stumbled out of the office.

  Outside, the square was still bright.

  But David’s heart was in pieces. He stood in the academy’s shadow for a long time.

  Twenty… fucking… thousand. Can I ever make that much?

  He thought back to the forest. To Sophie.

  They had gathered, risking their lives, for a month... just to make five hundred. Repeat that forty times, and sooner or later, a monster would catch them by surprise. Or cut off their escape route.

  Suddenly, Viera’s proposal felt much, much more enticing. There was inherent risk to working with shady people, but maybe he could play it to his advantage?

  Despite how she had tried to appear easygoing, she did seek him out. Maybe she needed him more than she let on?

  What if he could ask for even better terms? Take from them as much as he needed then leave.

  I shouldn’t. Unless?

  The door to their home creaked open.

  David stepped back inside their room, hoping to ask Sophie for her opinion. But he didn't hear the familiar clatter of bowls nor any sound for that matter.

  The room was empty.

  His eyes landed on the pot near the hearth. He hovered his hand over it. Still warm.

  Where was she? She was supposed to be home by noon.

  Well, she could take care of herself, but David really wanted to talk to her about Viera’s proposal.

  He decided to go back out and find her.

  He went down the street of the refugee district all the way down to the gates. Nothing.

  Maybe she was still with the refugees? That took up most of her free time lately.

  David quickly made his way through the gate tunnel as he was getting more and more anxious.

  Of course she's nowhere to be found when I need her.

  He was walking through the refugee camp, asking people about a green-haired girl.

  Most of them recognized her, but no one had seen her for hours.

  What has happened to her?

  David turned back toward the gates and saw a face he recognized.

  Hito. The guard who had led them to the examination room on their first day in the city.

  The man had been compassionate, friendly even. Worth a shot.

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  “Excuse me! Sir Hito?” David jogged over.

  “Aye, that’s me, kid.” Hito turned and blinked. "Do I know you?"

  “Have you seen a green haired girl today?”

  “Yeah, a few of them, why?”

  David’s pulse spiked. “My sister didn’t come home. Did anything happen?”

  Hito scratched his cheek. “Heard a girl punched a guard. Maybe that's your missing person? She’s probably in jail.”

  “That doesn’t sound like her.” David’s stomach dropped.

  “Nothing else of note happened today.” Hito shrugged. “Is she a refugee?”

  “Yes.”

  “If it's her your family will probably get notified..." Hito gave him a sour smile. "But I wouldn't wait. Things often get lost in this city. Three days to pay reparations or she’s out of the city.”

  David stood frozen. He tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t come.

  Three days?

  She’d be thrown out like trash.

  “H-how much?”

  “What’s this, a law exam? You’re asking all the hard questions, kid.” The man thought for a while. “Two hundred? Maybe three hundred? Depends who she slugged.”

  He was shaking, but gave a stiff bow in thanks.

  David turned without a word and started walking fast toward the tree line.

  His thoughts were a blur.

  He knew what he had to do.

  He’d gather.

  Push hard.

  Two or three trips.

  If he moved fast, he could—

  He stopped.

  Alone, right at the edge of the forest.

  What if I fail?

  The wind rustled the tall grass.

  His breath came fast.

  His hand clenched around the worn leather strap of his satchel.

  His eyes turned slowly back toward the city.

  There was another way.

  Viera could bail Sophie out. Maybe help him get into the academy… And he likely had the leverage to pull it off.

  David breathed out. His shoulders suddenly felt lighter than before. He wouldn’t have to wonder ‘what if’. He could just do it.

  He walked back to the city.

  To Mason’s retreat.

  Viera softly brushed Talia's silver hair and kissed the top of her head.

  The girl giggled, clinging to her with both arms. Across the room, Dalia had already taken over Viera’s desk and was swinging her legs off her chair.

  “Young lady, If you draw in my ledger again…” She raised her finger in a threatening gesture.

  Dalia was almost tall enough to actually fit in the chair properly. The twins were growing up fast. Too fast.

  “I only did it once, mom!” Dalia made a noise of protest.

  Viera smiled. How many years has it been?

  A knock echoed through the door. Sharp. One beat. Then silence.

  Viera straightened. No rest for the wicked. Her tone turned businesslike. “Go through the back, both of you.”

  The girls obeyed without question, walking straight into the flat wall. They passed through the illusion without problem.

  Viera moved to the door, brushed her long shirt flat, and peered through the spy-eye.

  Marco?

  “Damn,” she murmured. “Hiveo works faster than I thought.”

  She unlatched the door and opened it just wide enough for him to enter.

  Marco stepped inside.

  She had expected nerves. Desperation. Some faint tremor in the voice. Instead, he looked calm. Too calm.

  “I’ve considered your proposal,” he said. “I have a few demands.”

  Viera tilted her head, a smile creeping onto her lips. “Oh? Do tell.”

  “You’ll get me into the academy,” Marco said, “and I want an advance payment. Five hundred coins.”

  She let out a soft chuckle. “You’re a cocky one.”

  She leaned against her table and crossed her arms.

  “I could arrange for you to learn magic,” she said carefully, “But not through the academy.”

  The bonus payment? She knew what this was really about.

  Though, Sophie’s bail wouldn’t cost more than two hundred, maybe two-fifty if the guard wanted extra.

  The kid was getting greedy, nothing wrong with knocking him down a peg.

  “But we don’t pay ahead.”

  This was when the mask would crack. When he’d come clean, beg for help, admit this wasn’t about him… And she, in her benevolence, would pay the bail.

  “I’ll take the magic tutoring,” Marco said. Then, casually, “As for the money? Just give me back what you already mooched off me.”

  Her fingers tensed. One slid toward the hidden dagger under the table before she stopped herself.

  She didn’t let it show.

  Wide smile. Relaxed posture.

  “How about you agree to my terms,” she said sweetly, “and you walk out of here alive?”

  Marco didn’t flinch. “Try me.”

  The combination of his childlike voice and almost monstrous intensity was creeping her out. She laughed loud, just to cover the chill that ran down her spine.

  What is he hiding? Have I made a mistake?

  “Joking,” she said, extending her hand toward him. “Tutoring and three hundred. That’s the best I can do.”

  Marco nodded and they shook hands on it.

  It hadn’t gone the way she imagined, but it was still a paltry sum. Hiveo burned more money than that in a day, and saddling Dolen with a pupil was a plus in her eyes.

  Still, it felt wrong.

  She’d staged everything. And yet, somehow, it felt like he had walked in here knowing exactly what to say.

  Viera opened the drawer and withdrew a soft leather pouch.

  She weighed it, nodded, and slid it across the table.

  “Welcome to the family.”

  And then, as Marco leaned forward to take it, a look of excitement crossed his face “So when can I start learning?”

  He is excited about learning with magic? Viera wasn’t sure what to make of him. He either never really trained or was as insane as Dolen.

  “Meet me here every morning. What and when shifts around a lot.”

  She began explaining the first of his new responsibilities.

  Darryl walked through the forest cursing under his breath as sweat poured down his body. He loathed every second he had to spend in the heavy armor, but there was a good enough reason to bear with it.

  Twenty one men and women followed him, armed to the teeth.

  The team wasn’t some poorly trained village guards either, but well-prepared knights. After all, he was officially fighting for the Hammer of Vennevar now.

  Sally was walking in the middle of the column. Though she was still only thirteen, he had brought her along so she could get some first hand experience in monster extermination.

  Getting her used to walking in full equipment was a perk too.

  Ahead of them was a lush field of moss, with broken branches and disturbed bushes. A less discerning eye might have blamed wild animals, but Darryl knew better.

  Back in the day, in the time before Brenn’s heroic team fell apart… He used to be a monster hunter.

  He slowly gripped the throwing hatchet at his side and took a deep breath.

  Moving like one body, his team did the same.

  He aimed at a seemingly inconspicuous mound and threw.

  Got you.

  Chittering and screeches erupted all around them as the hail of weapons decimated some of the hiding hunter-killers.

  The remaining creatures quickly rose from their hiding places. Dozens of dark, insectile bodies clanked and screeched. Brandishing their long, curved blades, most of the monsters charged the knights from every direction.

  “Circle formation, swords!” He shouted. He raised the artifact shield he had inherited from Brenn and drew his weapon.

  Sally tried to take the spot beside him, but Darryl pushed her inside the circle, letting another take the place.

  The knights moved just in time to brace against the dozens of monsters that dashed at them through the forest.

  A large hunter-killer slashed at Darryl, its scythe-like arms rattling against his shield.

  With a single slash, he cut the monster in two. He immediately stabbed at another beast, impaling it.

  The dying creature raked at him, but the dreadful claws barely scraped the enchanted heavy armor. It was almost pitiful how helpless some of the monsters were when their weaknesses were abused.

  By the time Darryl had finished off the two attacking creatures, his team had already dealt with the rest.

  “Is that it?” Sally took off her helm, her pink hair swaying in the breeze.

  Darryl glared at her as he flicked the blood off his sword and sheathed it.

  “I really had to walk in such heavy–”

  A nearby tree splintered as one of the remaining beasts jumped from it.

  A hunter-killer flew through the air, poised to decapitate the exposed girl.

  Sally flinched. A few knights raised their swords.

  Too slow.

  Darryl invoked the haste spell, mana surging through his legs, and jumped in front of the girl.

  He slammed the darting monster with his shield, his full weight and speed behind the blow.

  A gruesome crack filled the air, as the chitin splintered. The creature exploded under the force, showering everyone in insect fluids.

  A few soldiers cursed, now soiled with scum, those further away cheered and made fun of them.

  Darryl sent them forward with a wave and turned back to Sally. He let out a heavy sigh as the stench of gore permeated his nose.

  He took her helmet out of her hands and placed it back on her head without a word.

  Despite her young age, she was smart enough to see how moronically she acted without him spelling it out.

  Darryl gulped down the water as he sat in his tent.

  “You didn’t have to be s-so rough!” Sally’s voice was breaking up as she tried not to sob.

  “Why is a corpse whining?” He stated, his voice bereft of emotion. “In any case, I struck you for eavesdropping, not carelessness.”

  “If Alver wants me to join h-him, I should be the one to decide, not y-you!” She was kneeling on the ground, her buttocks too sore to sit on. “If I-I didn’t listen in on your ‘talks’ I wouldn’t e-even know!”

  “You’re clueless, I didn’t save you just to let you go and die.” Darryl sighed. “Alver built his life sweet talking people ten times smarter than you and me both. He’s almost as bad as the nobles he fights.”

  “B–But…” Sally looked like she wanted to argue, but stopped herself.

  He waited a while as she calmed herself. Finally, she asked quietly. “Why do you work for him then?”

  “Do I?” Darryl shrugged. “The rebellion isn’t much more than a collection of criminals. I fit right in.”

  Sally was slightly taken aback. “What do you mean?”

  “I killed a noble once.” Darryl said, his tone bitter. He disliked how Sally’s eyes lit up at his words.

  “You never told me that story!”

  “And I never will.”