Seasons changed quickly in Dagenar. That was the name of this Hub Realm, Kar had learned. He and his companions had arrived in summer; the chill in the air most mornings declared it autumn.

  He slept in his cell still, but his days were filled with training. Physical conditioning, weapons, and combat.

  He often wondered if Melisdra were telling the truth—about time passing more slowly for those they had left behind in the Archives back on Dara. It seemed fantastical. But she was insistent, and Erio and Tharn trusted her word without reservation.

  So he devoted himself to the instruction he received, and pushed further than he ever had before. Those efforts had allowed him to progress, to the point where now he was permitted to fight more difficult opponents than the youth acolytes he had faced at first.

  Lore and Derek came at him now, Melisdra as always just beyond the circle, observing. Kar held a shield on his left arm, and a training blade in his dark, right hand. Derek Focused blasts at him, which Kar braced against and leaned into with his shield. The force of it still rocked him back. Lore meanwhile attacked his right side, lunging with a blunted spear. She was fast enough to keep up with Kar’s void-cryst arm.

  He knocked the spear thrust aside and leaned towards her, looking to get a hit against her mid-section. She danced back gracefully, a wide grin on her face.

  Derek had launched himself overhead and blasted down at Kar. Anticipating this, Kar raised his shield to deflect the strike. He staggered as he lunged after Lore, seeking to press her up against the edge of the circle, to corner her. She was a beat ahead of him, however, constantly jabbing with her spear.

  In frustration, Kar hurled his blade end over end at her. She snapped her spear to the side and knocked the blade away from her, as Kar had known she would. She jerked the spear back toward him and thrust it as he lunged for her. He twisted at the last moment, snatching the shaft just below the spearhead. He snapped it to splinters with a flick of his shadowcryst wrist.

  There was no time to follow up—Kar had a mental count going in his head for where Derek must be. He whipped back around and held up his shadow arm just as Derek let loose a powerful Focusing. His friend’s Blast dissipated in the air before it could reach the Void-cryst arm.

  Kar noted a look of dejected exasperation on his friends face as he whipped back toward Lore. She would be moving in to strike him bare-handed.

  He was too slow, and had guessed wrong besides.

  He felt his feet swept out from under him, and suddenly, he was staring up at clouds in a pale blue sky, his shield knocked loose from his hand.

  Lore crouched beside him, the splintered shaft of her spear held up to his neck. “That wasn’t half bad, shadow boy.”

  Kar exhaled out his nose in frustration. He’d been determined to win this time.

  Derek had turned toward Melisdra, “I’m gonna be honest, there’s not much I can do against him anymore. He’s stronger and faster than I am, and my Focusing is useless.”

  Melisdra scoffed, “You’re just using bad technique. If you can’t hit him directly, then you have to do so indirectly. Empower your own strikes and movements. Keep using your mobility to flank him, as you tried to do. As for you, Lore—well done.”

  The auburn-haired Enhancer bowed with a small flourish.

  Melisdra stepped into the circle then and approached Kar. She still was careful to keep her distance from him, never placing herself fully within arm’s reach. He was getting tired of the pre-caution, but he understood. It was almost as if she knew how greedily his shadowcryst arm pulsed whenever she was near.

  “You continue to improvise well, Kar. But you’re reckless. You push to end fights early, rather than waiting patiently for opportunities to present themselves. Overall, though, I’m pleased. Your movements are fluid. You’re nearly on Lore’s level with your base physique. That is thanks to the Essence you absorbed from your earlier Trials, I’m sure. And your Void arm is on par in strength and speed with any of the Valorcryst; you’re making good use of that.”

  “So, does that mean I’m ready to challenge you again?”

  Lore laughed and Melisdra smirked. “Hardly. But you’re ahead of where I thought you would be at this point. You have applied yourself, and worked hard.”

  Kar blew out a deep breath. It had been almost two months now of constant training. According to Melisdra, less than a week back on Dara. But still, that was a long time to be stuck in this Vault. Kar recalled—not for the first time—what Destry had said, as they prepared to enter that first trial. He had been prepared for them to spend an extended length of time in here. Had he known? About the… time dilation—as the Valorcryst called it? The thought troubled Kar. What else did the Governor know?

  “Kar?” Derek asked.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  “Oh, sorry, what was it?”

  “Melisdra just said something to you.”

  Kar looked toward the Guardian apologetically. She seemed amused. “I said you have earned some leniency.”

  “What do you mean?” Kar asked, careful not to get his hopes up.

  “If you would like to start staying with your companions from here on out, I will allow it. Take the rest of the day and let them show you around town. Just remember, no Absorbing, and do not touch or harm any of my Cryst.”

  Kar fought to keep a smile from splitting his face. He bowed to Melisdra as he had become accustomed to doing, trying and failing to contain his excitement.

  He wouldn’t have to return to his cell?

  Lore clapped her hands and Derek smacked Kar on the shoulder.

  “Let’s go!” Lore shouted, turning to jog off, Derek on her heels. “Before she changes her mind!”

  Kar rushed after them.

  “Be back here at first light!” Melisdra called as they left through the gate.

  “I can’t believe she let me go!” Kar said. They were running across the parade ground beyond the inner wall now. It was the first time he’d seen this area since they’d stormed across it on the day of their assault all those weeks ago.

  Lore shot a glance back at him and smiled, “Took her long enough, not like you’re a real danger.”

  “So, where are we going?” Kar asked.

  “Back to the inn first?” Derek suggested.

  “Inn first,” Lore agreed, “and showers.” She looked at Kar and grabbed her nose exaggeratedly, “after that, we’ll show the great marked one around town.”

  Darby was the closest to home Kar had felt since leaving Riftwater. The town was much bigger, and better constructed, of course. Homes and buildings here had strong stone foundations that seemed to have stood the test of time. But the people were kind, and easygoing. They worked hard, but not rushed. That’s what Kar remembered growing up in Riftwater, part of what he so missed.

  “It’s just up ahead.” Derek said as they approached an intersection in the cobbled road. Two and three story structures lined the way on either side, narrow alley’s sparse and few. Businesses and stores occupied the street level, the upper levels serving as living spaces.

  “How many people did you say live here?” Kar asked.

  “Few thousand here in Darby I’ve heard,” Lore answered, “But there are other villages all around who focus on farming.”

  “Aldwin went out to the Realm’s edge a little over a week ago,” Derek added, “said there’s a barrier out there that just curves up into a giant dome above the clouds. Craziest thing.”

  Kar had a hard time wrapping his head around that.

  The inn came into view then, a wide, two story structure with double doors and an engraved placard over the entryway. The engraving was that of a three-pronged, crackling fire in an arched hearth. The name ‘Ennis’ Inn’ was carved underneath.

  Welcoming enough.

  They entered through those doors and stepped into a common area filled with tables and chairs. A long countertop stood to their right, shelves behind it stocked with bottles and glassware.

  On the far left sat the squat, stone hearth, a cozy fire crackling merrily. Kar was surprised to see familiar faces among the locals—the Hunters Jon, Rowan, and Cyse, along with Kiya. They sat around a table, mostly empty drinks in hand.

  He made to go over to them when a man with a yellowed apron bustled into view from a side door behind the counter, “Don’t tell me this is the fellow!” the man called out, his voice jovial and his smile warm, “Didn’t expect to meet you so soon. Good to see you lads and lady.”

  Lore and Derek greeted the man warmly, nudging Kar forward to take his offered hand. “Name on the door is Ennis and that’s me.” The man said.

  Kar shook his hand, perplexed. There had been no inn in Riftwater. But there had been one in Avron, further along the lake’s shoreline. He’d been there once with Nat on a short trip. This was much nicer.

  “You boys enjoy a drink,” Lore interrupted, “I’m going to go get cleaned up, meet you back out here in a bit.”

  Kar waved at her as she left, then turned back to Ennis and Derek and asked, “How is there a whole town with an inn here?”

  “We’ve been here for ages.” Ennis replied. “Real question is, how are you lot here? No one’s come down through that sky portal in generations. And the Causeways have all been shut for even longer.”

  Derek led Kar further along Ennis’ bar top and pulled out stools for the both of them.

  “Here,” Ennis called, filling a couple of tankards with an amber drink from barrels sitting under his countertop. He slid them over, one in front of Derek and the other in front of Kar.

  “Thanks.” Kar mumbled, not sure what kind of drink this was.

  Derek grinned widely, then said to Kar, “Go on and try it.”

  Ennis and Derek stared at him expectantly, so Kar grabbed his glass by its handle and raised it slowly to his lips. Why wasn’t Derek drinking too? Kar hesitated a moment, but didn’t want to be rude. It smelled strange; bitter, and earthy. Kar took a swig, then scrunched his nose in distaste, swallowing reluctantly.

  “Ugh, what is that?” He asked.

  Derek split into laughter and Ennis chuckled, “Aye, your friend here said you two’d never had a drink before. What kind of backwater you lads from you don’t have beer?”

  “It grows on you.” Derek said, lifting his drink and taking a gulp.

  Kar slid his over to his friend, “Hoping we aren’t here long enough for the chance of that.”

  “Oh, you’ll come around soon enough.” Ennis told him, turning back to grab a rag that he used to start wiping things down. “So. They says you’re one of the Marked outta the stories. Can’t say you look like any picture or rendition I’ve seen before. A bit scrawny, I’d say.”

  The man’s smile and good nature were infectious. “And you're sportin a bit o the wrong color, too.” He added, staring pointedly at Kar’s void-cryst arm.

  Kar smiled uncomfortably. “Well, I’m not out of any story worth reading.”

  “Oh, on the contrary, story’s already spreading of how you stormed the Fortress with but a fellowship of Nine, then nearly bested Melisdra herself in single combat.”

  Kar frowned, counting in his head. There were eleven in their party, including Erio and Tharn.

  “See, what I’m confused about,” Kar said, “Is that you’re… human? I’ve heard there have been people here for a long time, but my question is why? Shouldn’t there only be cryst in this place?”

  Ennis smiled, then nodded to Derek, “All your friends wondered the same thing. But there’s loads of us living here in Darby, it’s our home. We were here long before Dara went to shit, and Source willing, we’ll be here a long time to come.”

  Ennis left them then to tend to other guests. Kar and Derek eventually went over to visit and talk to the Hunters and Kiya. Kar had never seen the woman in such a good mood. She was slurring her words and smiling, laughing at any joke, funny or not. Seemed being stuck here had done her some good.

  It was then Kar noticed Lore had returned to the common area. She walked in wearing a light green dress, her hair braided intricately and her face aglow. Kar’s heartbeat quickened, and he struggled to swallow.