Fall of Autumn, Week 5, Day 3

It was odd to have been so close to a lasting connection, to have felt such hope, only for such a thing to be dulled with a time limit. And, of course, I knew there were always ways to reach Theo. I could send a letter, no matter how long the time took.

I thought back to the way the Dusk had sped up the delivery, connecting me to the three children in Ugar. I had worried that by the time the letter arrived, Spring would have come, and they would have forgotten me.

Maybe I'll ask the next time I respond for it to be hand-delivered again.

So much had happened already. So much to say, so much to conceal, so much to pretend wasn't real. Yet, still, I wanted to share it all.

I knew I couldn't, though, and perhaps that was why I had not immediately replied the night before.

Climbing out of [The Descent of Astrala], I gripped Noir tightly into me. He was so light, yet so tense. And his eyes were trained on the bottom of the stairs—the slits where light passed through narrow, hardly allowing any of Twilight's hues to break into the stairwell.

"He's already gone, a Queendom away." I laughed at the way Noir's little shoulders slouched.

"I know. I wanted to threaten him more."

"Me too," Haze grumbled before reaching his vibrant arms up toward me.

I leaned down and reached for him with my free arm, lifting him onto the opposite side of my torso from Noir. Before I stood up, I looked at Shade—her arms fidgeting by her side—and shook my shoulder, an invitation I was sure she'd recognize.

Shade jumped up, her small green hands digging in gently to my sweater, and she swung her legs over my shoulder and settled into what was quickly becoming her spot.

Straightening my back, I made my way out to the entrance hall. It was still early, even though I'd surely been in the Great Inbetween for a few hours. That was more of a testament to just how early I found myself up and about—now that I was willing to be up and about.

I slipped into the dining room, where Helena and Erie were laughing and promptly began filling me in on the morning's breakfast in place of the chef—Erie let slip his niece was struggling with a Skill issue. It reminded me of the teenage girl I'd seen in the kitchen, and I wondered if they were one and the same. I chose not to ask, instead eating a sour fruit I was starting to become obsessed with.

A histrillum. It had several pronged arms and was spiral cut so that it sprang open. It was a burnt orange color with a juicy interior. It was quite delicious, and it had never been served at the main estate—but it had been offered every day in Fellan. I was reasonably sure it was a local product, as Fall was ending soon and the travel across the Queendom would be more restrictive for Winter.

I wanted it in a tart.

And I happened to be in such a good mood, I asked for just that. And also verified that the lunches for the Academy were ready.

"Yes, my Lady. The chef has plans to bring it out to you himself," Helena said, a light smile on her face, but I froze at her words.

No, absolutely not! I cried in my head, and was about to say out loud, when Eunora used the last of her power to speak.

>You'll hurt his feelings.<

I agreed, opting not to say anything at all. Eunora was silent, but in her place was a long overdue green notice.

[Congratulations! Eternal Communion has reached Level 4.]

I flicked my eyes over the screen before dismissing it. It didn't offer anything new, and I found myself wondering what exactly Level 5 would bring. I had never empowered [Eternal Communion] as an Active Skill. I wasn't sure I even could. But it had an annoying line in the Skill description.

Control increases each level, I thought to myself. But had Eunora gained control? We had actually grown to agree on things—that was typically when the growth of the Skill happened, but it was organic. It wasn't like [Steal Nerves]. The agreement never felt forced—never felt wrong.

And maybe that was the crux of it. Eunora was not in opposition to me. She was simply a person, trapped inside my head or otherwise. And I was growing to appreciate her more with every day that passed.

I slid out of my chair, the spirits still clinging to me, and made my way back to where I knew Klein and Dame Arella would be. I was still a bit on cloud nine when I made myself known, a deep, ridiculous curtsy finding itself being performed as I made eye contact with a disgusted-looking Klein.

"Young Lord Ouros, a pleasure to greet you in the name of Dawn."

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Klein peered around me, then looked left, looked right, glanced at Dame Arella, then pounced on me. My spirits giggled and fled before he reached me. I squealed but didn't fight back, as he rubbed his knuckles against the top of my head, mussing up my hair.

"Klein!" I gasped, jumping away. "That is blasphemy. You messed up my curls!"

As Klein had a wicked grin on his face, Dame Arella appeared next to us, and pulled him back before gently running the tips of her fingers through my slightly loose locks of hair.

"You deserved it, my Lady," she said, half laughing and half frowning, "but this is nothing I cannot fix."

I rolled my eyes and lightly pushed her hand away. Immediately, I flexed the palm of my hand and used [Shadow Conjuration+Shadow Manipulation] to both sense the shadows in my hair and use them to automatically straighten out the areas that were out of place.

I couldn't see it with my eyes, but I could sense the way my curls laid neatly underneath my braided crown—tucked into their own intricate braid and returned to their homes.

At Dame Arella's shocked look, I felt mildly offended.

"I am nothing if not capable of fixing my own hair."

At my words, Dame Arella's eyes softened, and a smile flicked across her face. "I know. It's all you're good for as a Dawn. Someday you'll be the world's most famous [Cosmetologist]."

I grinned back at her. "Don't tell Mother, but that's the dream."

"Tsk," a voice said from behind me, and I whipped around to see Gristle with his ever-present clipboard, "you should be more discerning with whom you tell secrets to. Dame Arella is as loose-lipped as the local barber you're set on becoming."

Dame Arella laughed heartily. "Well, it seems I'm known well."

As we set off to the Academy, I watched as the trees lost even more leaves—if there were any to begin with—and the spirits jumped from shadow to shadow, running to keep up with the carriage. It was Shade's idea. She said it was about protection and learning their roles. About becoming one with shadows and manifesting their strengths more rapidly. I wasn't sure I understood what she meant entirely, but before Shade was named, she was Defender. And that meant something.

It altered how she saw the world; I was sure of it.

Arriving at the Academy, I slid out of the carriage and felt when the spirits sank into my shadow. All three were fighting to control the hue of the darkness.

Every so often, the translucent darkness grew too black, too green, or, on occasion, refracted the light. It was subtle enough I was sure the only one who noticed was Klein—and the Instructor who was shooting me odd looks every so often.

I didn't mind, actually. The knot inside of me had evaporated after First Day. Now I was just ready to see the other Mithril kids.

"Nora," Uriel greeted. I gave him a half-hearted wave.

"Where's everyone else?" I asked instead of a hello, peering around my lounging classmates. "I don't see the other three."

Uriel shook his head. "Remour was unusually early last time; she's usually late. And Beck and Louis, well, they ride together and you never know what they'll get up to."

I nodded, I could see it. Louis and Beck were both trouble in one form or another—it's why they seemed so fun.

So, when the Instructor called everyone to group up, I grabbed a dagger again.

Today was the day. I was sure.

At some point, while I was following the guidelines set forth by the illusory image of the instructor, Remour, Louis, and Beck filed in around me. They said their hellos, and I grunted back.

Or, I think I did.

I found myself rotely repeating the moves I could see.

Step, swerve, duck, stab, slash, step, swerve. It was the feeling of my muscles stretching and loosening, of the way my lungs opened to fit more air, of the way my wrist twitched with the anticipation of the next move. As if on instinct, the shadows lining my wrists slipped out along the edge of the blade.

When I made the final strike, I felt a rush of adrenaline go through my body, guiding my arm out and up. When I finished my move, I had received another System Notice.

[Congratulations! You have learned the Skill: Edge of Light. Edge of Light is now Level 1.]

I paused, panting. The effort of the move was lost to the shock of the name.

Light? My face contorted, but I held back my disgust.

[Inspect]

[Edge of Light: You stand on the precipice, a Child of Light and a Young Lady of Darkness. Wielding a dagger, you are capable of more when the blade is lined with one of the aforementioned elements. When lined with light, the blade is sharper. When lined with darkness, it is more insidious. This Skill is a Dagger Control Skill. This Skill is Active. Consumes Mana and Stamina.]

[Notice: This Skill was affected by your Domain.]

I stared at that final line for a minute, maybe two. And then I dismissed the Skill, taking a break with the other Mithril kids.

"Did you remember the bet?" Louis said immediately upon making eye contact.

I glanced at Uriel, with his disinterested look, and Remour and Beck, who were trying to hide their fidgeting.

"Of course, it wouldn't be very dignified if I forgot." I laughed. "It'll get here right after class gets out. We'll eat out front."

I practiced with the Dagger for the rest of the class, ignoring the nagging in my head that said to use the Skill. There was another voice, one that was more rational, that said I could practice it tonight, when the name wouldn't be overheard. I listened to the cold voice in my head telling me that some things were meant for oneself.

When the class ended, the Mithril kids and I seemed almost to become a group. None approached us as we left the courtyard and exited the building. No one stopped to tell me anything annoying, or insulting, or tried to intimidate me. Not that they'd been successful last time, either. Eight-year-olds were just too adorable.

As I saw the chef leaving my carriage, he gave a bow before jogging away to a nondescript carriage of his own. I nodded, looking over my shoulder at the group.

I hardly had to lead them to the purple and gold carriage I came in, with the wood of a tree I didn't know and a metal I only assumed was painted.

We piled into the compartment, Uriel settled next to me while Remour, Louis, and Beck sat packed next to each other. Between us, a table had been set up with a large spread of food and five place settings.

I watched as Remour's face went pale upon looking at the table setting.

Instead of teaching her or telling her it didn't matter. I simply grabbed one of the paper-wrapped lunches and began eating.

I wouldn't judge her for it, but it was up to her to ask for help. Morloch had a point, after all. You only had yourself. If you wanted something, you had to ask for it.

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