Kleo walked into an enclosure full of infirmarians. Gildan lay unconscious in a bed—the burns along the right side of his body were covered in a layer of green crystals. Every so often, a flicker of purple energy sparked beneath the crystal containment.

  “Any issues today?” Kleo asked one of the infirmarians.

  “No issues today. He woke for a few hours and had some food and water. Professor Kai’La was able to spare some time to analyze the flames. All of us here thought it was an illegal incantation, but you were right once again—it wasn’t. And that’s even scarier than it being an illegal incantation, because at some point, it would kill the user, but instead someone’s out there with an undocumented innate power.” A man said.

  “This only happened once, and the trail went cold after. It’s safe to assume that they’re out of Augus by now. We’ll focus our attention on making sure we capture that white-haired man.” Kleo walked over to Gildan’s bedside.

  “The crystals have been holding up very well. I won’t need to reapply them for a few more weeks. Have the flames ever resurfaced like they did when we first brought him in?” She said.

  “Only once. The residue is ridiculously potent. It took us all day to calm it down. It’s like the flames are slowly eating him, and the best we can do is suspend it.” The man said

  “It’s the best we have, right now. I want you to double his mana fluid intake. We can’t risk losing him. That’ll be all from me today.” Kleo walked toward the door.

  “All right, we’ll see you tomorrow then, Kleo.” The man said.

  Neo was sitting in the courtyard near the institute, staring down into his lap. Clouds blotted out the sun, and the winds were cold. The surrounding trees had lost their leaves, piling up and drifting onto the footpaths with the gentle breezes of wind. Neo could barely feel his hands, the cold biting through his sleeves. Footsteps clacked along the footpath, and they were approaching him.

  “Aha, found you,” Kleo said.

  Neo’s head tilted up, looking at her.

  “The first chime has already gone off, and here you are, sitting by yourself in the main courtyard. It’s cold out here, too. Aren’t you cold, Neo?” She said.

  He looked at her and didn’t say a word. Kleo walked over to the bench and sat with him.

  “Say something, will you? I’ve been going crazy looking all over the institute for you,” She crossed one leg over the other.

  “What’s there to say if you saw it?” He said.

  “That doesn’t mean I understand everything I saw, Neo. Lonan has your medicine. Go get it from him today, please?” She said.

  “Fine.” Neo’s gaze was avoidant.

  “Would you give me your attention for a little bit? I would like to talk to you. Or am I too much of a peasant to be in the presence of the mythical star-child?” She grinned.

  “Don’t call me mythical, and I’m not some social ladder snob. If you want to talk, then I’m listening,” He moved his hair from his eyes.

  “Don’t say you’re not mythical. You don’t understand. Generations have grown old and died believing you would one day be born. People pray to the stars, begging for guidance, hope, and strength. Your existence is a clear sign that all their prayers were answered—every single one of my prayers was answered, Neo,” Kleo said.

  “You really believe that garbage?” He rubbed his hands together for slight warmth.

  “That I’m some rare prophecy? No, that’s wrong. The big houses don’t care about prophecies, Ms. Kleo. They only care if it’ll benefit them or not—otherwise, it’s horseshit. They believe in being the richest and the strongest ever to live, no matter what it costs them.” He said.

  “But you can bring everyone together. You can restore hope in Augus,” Kleo said.

  “Synvale doesn’t care about bringing everyone together.” He said.

  “They can’t decide anything for you. Don’t let this live in your head, but they also can’t control you, which is why you’re here. If Synvale had you on a leash, you and I would not be talking.” Kleo crossed her arms.

  Silence stretched out between them for several minutes. Neo’s eyes darted toward her for a brief moment, noticing the slight shiver in her hands. He stood from the bench, looking at her.

  “I’ll find you after class, then. You’ll be in the infirmary, right?” He said.

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  Kleo took a deep breath, uncrossing her legs and standing.

  “Yes, I’ll be there mostly throughout the day. If you need me, you’ll find me there.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” he said before heading inside the institute.

  North Of The Silent Expanse.

  Xena sat leaning up against a tree, a black horse with braided hair standing next to her. A cold breeze drifted through, carrying dead leaves and the scent of pine.

  “We’re at the edge of the expanse, Midnight.” She gently brushed the horse’s leg while looking at the map.

  “Going around the ravine looks a lot faster, but I’d only do it if I were alone. It wouldn’t be ideal for you.” She said.

  Midnight snorted, looking around.

  “Hm? What’s the matter, boy?” Xena stood, tucking her map back into the leather bag strapped onto Midnight.

  She rubbed her hand along Midnight’s jaw. Xena heard footsteps approaching her. It was three young boys. Their clothing was ragged, dingy, and patchy.

  “Hey, ‘scuse me, ma'am, you got a couple of coins to spare so we can get somethin’ to eat?” One of them said.

  “What are you boys doing out here alone? You do know where we are, right?” She said.

  “No shit, we know where we are, but it’s not like we have any other choice. None of the kingdoms wanna take in strays, so this is how we get by,” The same boy said.

  “Strays, huh? What’re your names?” She walked toward them, her armor barely clinking.

  “I’m Nathan, this is Robbie, and that’s Jack,” Nathan said.

  “So, no one will take you in, is what you’re saying? What happened to your parents?” Xena crossed her arms.

  “Dead as rats,” Nathan chuckled.

  “You find that funny?” Xena stared at him.

  Robbie and Jack shifted, looking away.

  “No, ma’am.” Nathan straightened up, clearing his throat.

  Xena took a deep breath, uncrossing her arms.

  “Just up ahead is a ravine. You three should go there and ask the villagers for help. There’s only so much I alone can do, and I can’t spare the time right now—I have something urgent on my hands.” She said.

  “We got kicked out of the ravine already, ain’t nowhere else for us to go, ma’am,” Nathan said.

  “How’d you get kicked out of the ravine?” She asked.

  “Stole a little bit of some bread,” Nathan said.

  “Really? You expect me to believe that? That stealing bread would get you kicked out of the ravine?” She crossed her arms again.

  “It’s what happened, lady,” Nathan said.

  Xena looked at Robbie and Jack, her brows furrowing down.

  “Hey, you two, talk to me. What happened? Did you really get kicked out of the ravine for stealing bread?” Xena said to Robbie and Jack.

  Nathan stared at them out of the corner of his eye.

  “Yeah, we got kicked out for stealing bread…” Jack said.

  Xena sighed, walking over to Midnight, and digging into the leather bag, taking out a small pouch. She poured out a handful of aegium into her palm, placed the pouch back into the bag, and then walked back toward the boys.

  “Here, look, this should keep you three afloat for a bit. But do everything possible to get back in the ravine, because from the looks of it, you three don’t have any other options.” She said, pouring the coins into Nathan’s hands.

  “The hell does that mean?” Nathan said.

  “I’m basically saying if you want to live, follow their rules. These forests can get dangerous at night,” Xena said.

  “We’ve walked through these forests day and night. Nothing ever came out and hurt us,” Nathan said.

  “Don’t use that as an excuse to think you’re all safe. All it takes is one wrong step in this forest, and you’ll either be bones or a walking amalgamation of flesh. You’ll die. So, I suggest you take yourselves to the ravine, and if you don’t, you’re all going to find out the hard way.” Xena stepped away, walking back to Midnight.

  “She’s just saying that to scare us, right, Nathan?” Jack said.

  “Definitely. These grown-ups always think they know better, but don’t know anything. Come on, let’s go back and tell the others,” Nathan said.

  From the corner of her eye, Xena watched the three boys disappear into the bushes.

  “We’ll have to keep our eyes peeled, Midnight. Those boys are lying. Or rather, one of them is willingly lying, while the rest follow.” She mounted back onto Midnight, grabbing the reins.