Ya should see how Zareb and Lusha spar with one another! Neither like to lose, ya see, so their sparring matches can get rather intense. And by intense, I mean things tend to get blown up! And I’m not just talking about during trainin’ either. Don’t tell Lusha I said this, but she’s an especially sore loser. Once took out her anger at losin’ a match against her husband on me sculpture. Claimed that she thought it was a practice dummy. As if I would waste me valuable time making a practice dummy so intricate. The nerve!

  -Komdar while drinking with his buddies the day before he got scolded by Lusha

  While Daxton and Zareb were out of the tent, Aria had her face buried in her knees. The memories of her mother fighting him threatened to surface multiple times as she sat there, but she drove them off each time they nearly broke free.

  In a desperate attempt to think about anything else, her mind drifted towards Daxton.

  He’d been very quick to help her when she’d begun to panic. Not only that, he’d been beyond considerate. Giving her the chair he’d been using to rest moments earlier after suffering from his withdrawals was proof of that.

  The fresh memory of him holding her, giving her the comfort of another’s touch, to help her calm down and regain her bearings, refused to leave her mind.

  Even when he’d been so bold as to hold her, her usual elf instincts to reject physical contact from someone else had once again been silent.

  Though her face was buried in his knees, should there have been someone else in the room, they would have seen how her long elf ears turned red.

  It was embarrassing, mortifying even, but she’d found… comfort in his arms. It’d been similar to how her mother brought her comfort and a sense of safety, but it had also been a little different.

  She’d heard stories from others who felt similarly when being held by their father. The rare few that had managed to fool the humes and remain with blood relatives that is.

  They’d mentioned that, though each parent brought them feelings of comfort, that the feeling was slightly different for each one.

  She wondered… perhaps what she’d felt in Daxton’s arms was similar to how it felt to be held by one’s father?

  My father… Aria thought.

  She hadn’t thought about him in a very long time.

  She’d never known who he was.

  Due to the harsh treatment of her kin under their enslavement by the Dominion, it was a disgustingly common occurrence for many to die. The humes, therefore, had to make sure their stock of slaves didn’t run out, so they’d set up “breeding” camps to make sure their slaves repopulated at a rate that balanced out, if not slightly out-sped, the rate at which they died.

  The tricky thing when it came to the elves was that, perhaps due to their long lifespans, they had a harder time conceiving a child. Which meant a lot of effort had to be put in to make sure the elf slave population was renewing at a stable rate. It didn’t really matter to the Dominion who the elf parents were so long as it resulted in a child.

  In elf culture, it was strongly held that such acts should only be between two who were wholeheartedly committed to one another. To the point that it was considered a sacred act and the highest degree of trust and love that one can show another.

  As such, the Dominion’s breeding camps were yet another spit in the face to the elves, as it forced them to go against those beliefs.

  Anila had refused to share further details of the breeding camps, something which Aria was grateful for.

  Naturally, Aria’s parents had met in one of those breeding camps.

  Her mother had managed to avoid being sent to those camps for an amazing amount of time. For nearly her entire time as a slave, as a matter of fact. However, even she’d been eventually forced into one, and it had been there that Anila had met Aria’s father.

  The two had been paired up by their slavers, and had been forced into copulating, which had eventually resulted in her conception.

  Anila had never spoken much of her father, no matter how many times Aria asked. Her mother didn’t resent him, mind you. She even mentioned how he’d been a good man that had done his best in their terrible circumstances. However, when it had been confirmed her mother was pregnant, her father was immediately separated from them, as was the custom of the Dominion to do, and sent back to work with the other slaves.

  Anila had explained that, after Aria grew old enough to be able to taken care of by others, she’d tried to find her father, but to no avail. As such, both Anila and Aria had assumed him dead.

  Why am I thinking about my father now? she wondered.

  Her head turned to the side when she heard the tent flaps open, and saw Daxton and Zareb had returned.

  Oh, right… she remembered as she locked eyes with Daxton, he’s why.

  He gave her a look of concern, “Are you feeling better, Tufani?”

  She nodded at him, “I suppose.”

  He sighed with visible relief.

  She flushed, Void, he wears his heart on his sleeve...

  Zareb cleared his throat, getting both of their attention, “I’m glad to see you both are doing better. Now, lass, there’s something I need to talk to you about with Galen here.”

  She gave the Rebellion general an inquisitive look.

  He looked her in the eyes as he explained, “I want you to bear in mind that this is just to be a last resort. I’d like to have it as an option just in case the worst comes to pass, but I’d rather not assume and ask you beforehand.”

  Zareb looked between Daxton and her as he asked, “Would it be at all possible for Galen to come with you into Vindanna?”

  They both froze, mouths hanging open in shock at the request.

  “Aleksi?! What are you-” Daxton began before being interrupted by Aria.

  “No! Winds and void, NO!” she shot down, “why would I bring him into my ancestral Realm?! The whole point is for me escape you humes, in case you’ve forgotten!”

  She noticed Daxton flinched at that, which made her feel a stab of guilt. Which only served to make her even MORE frustrated.

  “Easy there, the both of you. Allow me to explain,” Zareb said in a soothing tone.

  Aria, however, wasn’t having it, “No, I refuse to even entertain the thought!”

  “Then would you rather risk the Dominion regaining their Champion?” Zareb asked her calmly.

  She paused, which allowed the general to further explain his thoughts, “As I mentioned at the start, lass. What I propose is a last resort. Ideally, we won’t have to do such a thing. I’m merely asking in case the worst case scenario comes to pass.”

  “And that is?” Daxton asked nervously.

  “We mentioned it before. The Rebellion getting crushed. It is always a possibility, and one I’d rather be prepared for. If such a thing were to come to pass, or we get put into a situation where we have to choose between sending you to another Realm or allowing the Dominion to take you back, lad… well, I’d like to know that the former is at least an option.”

  Zareb looked at Aria with a raised brow, “Well? What say you, lass? Getting to Vindanna is your mission. As such, it is your choice.”

  She glanced between Zareb and Daxton repeatedly, pondering on the request. Her first instinct was still to say no. Scream it, even.

  However…

  What would Mom do in my shoes? Aria asked.

  She closed her eyes, the answer seeming to come to her right away. She sighed with resignation, “If it is a last resort… fine. Considering the stories my mother told me of the First Champion, I’d rather the Dominion and Athanasius not have such a weapon in their disposal.”

  Zareb nodded, letting out a breath of relief, “Right. There is no better way to keep the lad out of the clutches of our enemies than to send him to another Realm altogether.”

  The general looked to Daxton, “What’s your take on this, lad? You have a choice too, you know.”

  To his credit, the young human thought about it for but a moment, “I’d rather not go back to the Dominion either. Especially not after everything I’ve learned. If it comes down to it, then I’m all for it…”

  “Even if it death in the Void Sea is a real possibility?” Zareb challenged.

  Daxton hesitated, looking nervous. However, he mustered his resolve as he nodded firmly in response.

  Zareb smiled at him, “Alright. Then it seems we’re settled on it. Now, I can tell you both are feeling stressed, and I have a suggestion to help you both vent out any frustrations you have bottled up.”

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  They both looked at him curiously as he grinned, “Let’s get some training in.”

  ***

  Galen followed Aleksi down the tunnels with Tufani at his side. It had been a while since he’d last undergone any training. Not THAT long, mind you, but before he’d gone into Ignis for the final time, he’d been given a reprieve from training five days beforehand. Then, it had taken several days to make it to the Rebellion’s hideout. After which he’d spent days resting.

  It has to have been about two weeks since I last trained with Ether… he realized, man… why does it feel like no time has passed at all, yet simultaneously feel like an eternity?

  That aside, he felt nervous. He had to remind himself constantly that it wasn’t the monster, Arawn, whom he would be training with, but Aleksi and Tufani.

  He shot a glance to the elf girl next to him. Given her usual intensity, a part of him worried that she’d be similarly relentless. Not that he’d ever dare to verbally make the comparison near her. If he did, she might snap his neck.

  The thought made him rub his neck nervously. While he still didn’t know her history with Arawn, it was easy to see that her feelings towards the man were anything but positive. Not surprising given how the Shadow was, but Aria definitely had a particularly bad experience with the man. Given her having a panic attack at the mere mention of his name, and all.

  Just what did that bastard do to you? he thought, his fists clenching.

  He glanced to Aleksi. He’d asked the man if it was really a good idea to train given Tufani’s earlier episode and his own withdrawal attack.

  His mentor had given sound reasoning, “Training the body does wonders for venting stress, lad. And you and Tufani are both rather wound up. In regards to your withdrawals… well, healing you with Ether now while the medication is in effect will do you wonders. And besides, since we’re going to be limiting your intake of the pills, we’ll want to maximize the time you can use Ether for training.”

  Which was why they were now walking down the tunnels. Apparently, not too far from the hideout was another cavernous chamber. Not nearly as large as the hideout area, mind you, but certainly large and sturdy enough to get some training in.

  After about another twenty minutes of walking, they arrived. And the area was a bit bigger than Galen had expected.

  The chamber, unlike the hideout, was lit naturally with glowing ores and crystals that gave off an orange-yellow light. It was quite the sight for him as he let out an impressed, “Whoa…”

  What are those glowing crystals? He wondered.

  “Those are Ether crystals, boss,” Redian explained, “they’re made of a material that passively absorbs the Ether around it. Since the Ether in Axis Mundi is naturally attuned to the Fire Affinity, that’s what they absorb. Their color reflects that, as you can see.”

  What can they be used for? Galen asked.

  “Lots of things!” Redian chimed.

  He waited, but the sword didn’t answer.

  What kind of things? he prompted the sword.

  “Nosy little bugger, aren’t you?”

  Galen nearly burst out laughing, but managed to hold it back to a snort. Tufani shot him a look, but simply sighed and shook her head, as if to say, “I swear, you humans…”

  “Jokes aside,” Redian began to explain, “they can be used to make sources of light, or as sources of energy to fuel machinery and such. They can also be used in crafting items and empowering them. Things like that.”

  So, sorta like batteries?

  “That’s one way to look at them. Though, unlike things powered by electricity, Ether crystals constantly replenish themselves by either absorbing the Ether around them, or by having an Etherean infuse them.”

  That makes them a renewable source of energy, Galen realized, and pretty damn good ones too! The nations of my world would have committed war crimes for something like that. Literally!

  He looked around at the crystals with renewed wonder.

  As he did, he glanced to Tufani next to him, and noted a forlorn look in her eyes as she scanned the area.

  “Is everything alright?” Galen asked her.

  She took a moment to respond, “Yes… it’s nothing. This place just reminds me of… of another. With someone else…”

  A pained look briefly crossed her features, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared, replaced with her stoic mask.

  A flash of concern swelled within him, but he held himself back. If she wanted to share, she would. And he wouldn’t try to force her to.

  Aleksi clapped his hands together, catching their attention, “Alright you two. This is where we’ll do our training. First we’ll-”

  “I’ll be doing my own training,” Tufani cut him off with a sharp look.

  Aleksi had the gall to chuckle at her, “Confident, aren’t we?”

  “Yes,” Tufani met his eyes with a look of pride, “my mother, the great Anila Tufani, trained me.”

  “I don’t doubt your mother’s abilities,” Aleksi assured her, “from what I’ve heard from the elves… she was no doubt one of the most powerful Ethereans in all the Realms. Her slaying several Shadows in the battle at Ignis was more than enough proof to validate the stories of her prowess.”

  Galen perked up at that. He’d heard an elf had been fighting against Shadows during that whole mess at the capital, but this was the first time he’d heard that it had been Tufani’s mother.

  His eyes widened in realization.

  He recalled some of Tufani’s biting words when they’d met, “Your kind have taken EVERYTHING from me! You… you humes killed… my mother… She was all I had…”

  The pieces began to fall into place. Tufani’s mother had been killed. It had been her who’d fought against the Shadows in Ignis. And the mere mention of Arawn, who was a Shadow himself, had elicited a panic attack.

  Galen felt a deep sorrow for her swell within him. He managed to compose himself and not draw either Tufani’s or Aleksi’s attention.

  Later… he thought as he focused on their conversation.

  “Exactly right, Barus,” Tufani said to Aleksi, “I highly doubt you measure up to her.”

  “Oh, I am by no means claiming to have power equaling Anila Tufani. However, lass. Though she may have been the one to teach you, does that mean you’ve learned everything there is to know?”

  Tufani fell quiet at that. She glared at Aleksi, whose smile only widened, “If you’d like, you can test me, lass. I wouldn’t mind getting a warm up in.”

  She bristled at that, and Galen could only gape as his mentor was clearing egging her on.

  Tufani’s eyes narrowed dangerously, “Are you implying that facing me in battle would take little effort on your part?”

  “Yes,” Aleksi bluntly stated, smile still present.

  Tufani looked like she was about to snap at him, but he interrupted her, “Before you say anything, lass. Know that I successfully escaped from the pursuit of several Shadows. While I freely admit I do not possess the power necessary to kill multiple at once like your mother did, think on what would be required to be able to directly evade them.”

  She still looked incensed, but it seems even she, as prideful as she was, had to yield to that train of logic. She did, however, sniff disdainfully, “Still, I doubt you’d be able to teach me as well as my mother did.”

  “I’m not saying I can,” Aleksi admitted, “but I believe you are underestimating my capability as a teacher. For several months, I trained and tutored Galen on how to fight and use Ether.”

  “Did you now?” Tufani asked, turning slowly to look at him.

  Uh oh… Galen thought, having a bad feeling, I don’t like where this conversation is going.

  The look Tufani gave him was analytical, but competitive. To his dismay, she was clearly sizing him up.

  “That I did,” Aleksi smiled, a hint of mischievous energy in his eyes, “why, if you’d like to test me as a teacher, then I have a suggestion.”

  Galen gulped, subtly shaking his head at Aleksi.

  “As do I,” Tufani said, looking right at Galen.

  Oh please no… he thought with a sense of building dread.

  “Do it! Do it! Do it!” Redian cheered them on against him.

  YOU TRAITOR!!! Galen snapped at the sword.

  The Sentient Weapon responded with a noise that sounded suspiciously like popcorn popping in a microwave.

  Aleksi’s smile turned into a full on grin as he met his eyes and sealed his fate, “Why don’t you and the lad have a sparring match, Tufani?”

  She formed her own smile at the offer. It was one without warmth, and made a chill go down Galen’s back. He felt like a prey being cornered by a predator.

  “I accept,” she answered.

  “What say you, lad?” Aleksi asked him, knowing full well he couldn’t back down now lest he seem weak in front of Tufani.

  No, wait, that’s not the concern here, he thought, the real problem is that she’s going to tear me apart!

  “You got this, boss! You have me, after all!”

  You BETTER help me out considering you took their side over mine! he thought back to the Sentient Weapon, AND you had the gall to serve yourself non-existent popcorn to enjoy the show!

  “Tee hee!” Redian giggled, yes, GIGGLED in his mind.

  …never do that again, Galen thought to the sword with a shudder.

  He received no response.

  “Well?” Tufani pressed him, looking FAR too eager in his opinion.

  He let out a resigned sigh, “…fine! I accept.”

  “Excellent!” Aleksi said.

  He shot his mentor a death glare. The man, however, chuckled at his plight. He then suddenly grew serious, making Galen curious. His mentor mouthed to him, “You’re stronger than you think. You’ll do well, lad.”

  He doubted that, very much so. But regardless, he couldn’t escape his fate now.

  And so, he and Aria marched to the middle of the cavern before each took several paces from the other. They turned to face one another, with Tufani unsheathing her sword from its sheath.

  Galen glanced nervously to Aleksi, who simply said, “I will heal any injuries that result from this spar. Naturally, I will also put an immediate stop to the bout if any potentially lethal injuries threaten to occur. This is meant to be a spar. NOT a fight to the death.”

  Aleksi stared daggers at Tufani as he said that last part, eliciting an annoyed look from her.

  Surely she’s annoyed at Aleksi’s insinuation and not that she can’t kill me… right? he asked in his mind.

  “The odds of that are approximately 67%,” Redian chimed in his mind like a robot… which he technically was, but he didn’t normally SOUND like one.

  Are you sure about that? Galen asked the sword.

  A series of exaggerated beeping sounds went off in his mind, followed by a brief pause before Redian answered, “...the odds are approximately 62%.”

  WHY DID IT GO DOWN?! he mentally screamed at the blade.

  “As amusing as it is seeing you make faces as you telepathically speak with your witchcraft of a weapon,” Tufani called out with a not so amused tone, “how about you draw your blade already?”

  Galen let out an annoyed sigh as he drew Redian and got into a stance. Aria wordlessly got into her own stance, one he was unfamiliar with despite his training with Aleksi and Arawn.

  “Are you both ready?” Aleksi asked, raising a hand.

  He felt the Ether within him. He’d been diligent about making sure that his and Redian’s Capacity was always at full, and after prodding at the power within, he could sense that they were both at max.

  He nodded in confirmation, and got ready to draw upon the power.

  “Then begin!” Aleksi brought down his hand in a karate chop motion.

  And, just as the spar began, Galen nearly died.

  A huge thank you and special shoutout to my Myth Keeper tier Patron, Voltrus, and my Lore Master tier Patrons, Mountain Knight, Conman2731, ThoMiCroN, and MCE 2 München 2. Your support is sincerely and greatly appreciated.

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