I dove to the side, rolling across the stone as Mastan's heated whip lashed against the rock, tearing through the mountain as though it were nothing but butter before a hot knife. I felt sparks hit the side of my face as the ground was made molten by the scorching touch of his Weapon. I jumped to my feet, ducking to avoid the second whip from wrapping itself around my neck and tearing my head from my shoulders, even as I felt Elora press her spiritual self against me, bolstering our power and reaching for the Technique we had crafted.

“First Sword: Rionna!” Our combined roar was silent, a lingering shout that echoed out through our souls. I reached to Tess, to Storm, and looked without looking. The wind painted a picture of my surroundings in shining hues, allowing me lock onto Mastan's position. He was already moving once more, so I didn't have time to think. I swung Rionna, my sword of stars singing as she cut the very air.

We'd only been sparring like this for the last three days, but that had been more than enough time to learn the extent of my limitations when going up against someone like Mastan. The fact of it was he was too fast for me to utilise the full power of our Technique. If I allowed the power of our Aurum and intent to saturate the blade in preparation, I had already lost. I'd tried more than once, much like I had when we fought on the Sky-Bridge, but it had been for naught. Mastan was more than capable of attacking and disabling me before I could bring it to bare. So, to make up for my short-coming, I had been working on quicker variations of First Sword: Rionna. It was difficult at first, but I was beginning to get the hang of it. The resulting variant didn't have the cutting power or range of a full powered slash, but it was infinitely faster and less Aurum intensive.

I felt the drain on my soul as the invisible force that bound us together and powered our Gifts was drained. Thankfully, it wasn't severe. I'd been trying to pay more attention to our Aurum, unwilling to leave all the heavy lifting to Tess and Elora. I needed to be just as aware of how far we could push ourselves as they were. If I made a mistake, if I pulled too much from either of them, it would end in Repulsion, with the two cast out and all three of us vulnerable to attack. I'd already done that too many times in the past, asking for more even when the resources weren't there. Luckily, we'd yet to experience Repulsion, but at the rate I liked to push myself it would be all but inevitable. If I knew just how much Aurum we had, then it would be all the easier to keep them safe and not repeat the mistakes of the past. It was an obvious lesson, one which I should have been practising since I first Bonded with Elora. It was now highlighted by Mastan, who insisted that I take a more active role in helping to manage our Gifts, especially seeing as a better understanding of Aurum would mean that I wouldn't push myself too far when using the Eye while not Bonded.

As much as the man grated on me, as much as his presence was infuriating, I couldn't deny he'd been helpful in a number of ways. The first of which was that fighting him showed me just how unmatched I was when fighting a Master.

A flash of silver followed my swing and I felt the surge leave my body as the shaped Technique copied my sword's path, rending the air where Mastan was standing. Only, the King of Lightning wasn't standing there anymore. He'd vanished, both from my physical and Gifted sight. My attack had failed to even scratch him, but I wasn't deterred. I hadn't managed to hit him once with First Sword and I didn't think that would be changing anytime soon. I looked to Elora and Tess, positioning Rionna across my torso as I awaited his inevitable return. I didn't have to wait long.

Mastan reappeared before me, a smile on his lips as his beard moved with the wind. His hands were absent his Weapons, the long whips being next to useless when used from so close a range. I lashed out with Rionna, pushing with Storm as I aimed to slice the man in half. Mastan's gauntlets, shining white and blazing with the wild power of his Element, appeared on his arms as he blocked, grabbing a hold of Rionna's blade and trying to pull her from my hands.

I didn't try to fight it, instead going with him as he lifted me into the air with ease. I banished Rionna at the peak of my flight before summoning her once again and lashing down at him as I soared above his head. Mastan ducked, avoiding the slash and summoning a whip, flicking his wrist in a strange manner and sending the deadly tip towards my body.

The past three days had given me much experience with fighting against the unusual Weapon. I couldn't say I'd ever met someone wielding one before, not in any combat setting anyway. They were just too cumbersome and unpredictable to be thought of as a viable implement for dealing death. Despite knowing that they impracticable in a mortals hands, I couldn't begrudge the Knight his skill, able to attack me from nearly any direction with relatively few movements. It made his fighting style unpredictable, wild. Much like the Lightning he controlled. Combined with his speed and ability to maintain the distance required to utilise them to their maximum and it all spelled trouble for any opponent he faced.

Panic touched at my heart as I realised his intent. I was stuck in the air, unable to change my path. I also wasn't guaranteed to block with Rionna. Using my sword to deflect the whips had only achieved marginal success in the past. The most likely outcome was that Mastan's Weapon would simply curve around the blade and strike me regardless. So, in my desperation, I reached for the Storm.

I touched against the Wind, feeling it through the Eye as it whipped against me. Disconnected from the ground as I was, I could feel it all the more acutely, the way it washed over my body like a wave. The more exposure I had to the Element, the more I was learning how it operated. It was much like Lightning, the need to be wild and free dominating its personality, but Lightning wished to burn as bright as it could before fading. The Wind simply wished to be. There was no need to be seen nor admired, existence was enough.

I tried to grab a hold of the Wind, to force it to push me aside and out of harm's way, but I failed once more. For a second, I believed I had made a connection, but it faded before I could secure my hold. The tip of the whip struck my chest and I felt the callous Lightning run through my body, causing my jaw to clench and my body to seize. I struck the ground, Rionna vanishing into light as I collided with the stone. Thankfully, my empowered body saved me from getting anything other than bruises. Mastan was careful now, his strikes measured and calculated to make sure that I wasn't down for too long after our bouts. I think it was his concession to Tess, his fatherly instincts, greatly diminished though they may be, on display.

Well, that's what I would like to believe. More likely that it was Theadora that was quelling Mastan's instinct to kick the shit out of me. Whatever it was, I was grateful.

“Excellent! Unpredictable and unthinking. You are growing, Orin,” Mastan said as his Weapon and Armour vanished, “Going with the attack and allowing me to rip you into the air? Inspired, truly. You are beginning to think, beginning to surpass yourself.”

“I'm not even sure what that fucking means, Mastan,” I groaned as I pushed myself to my feet, Elora and Tess already hard at work as they sought to heal my wounds. Luckily, I only had a few painful bruises and little else, “Care to explain?”

Mastan nodded eagerly, his smile returned and eyes thoughtful, “Of course. I noticed that during our battle on the Sky-Bridge-”

“You mean the ambush?” I muttered bitingly, loud enough for the man to hear.

“-You were decidedly... I'm not sure how to phrase it. Mortal? Simple? You need to stop fighting like a mere man. You haven't been one for quite some time.”

“Again, I'm gonna need more than that,” I said as I spat on the earth, wiping the blood away at the corner of my mouth as I stared at my still shaking hands, “How is my style of fighting simple?”

“Your style is not the issue. Boldrin has taught you well. Your aggressive techniques play well to your nature in most respects. My meaning is that you are still thinking in terms of how to fight me on your feet, without taking into account how to use the landscape, or even your own body, to the fullest. You are stronger, faster and more powerful than any normal fighter could ever hope to be. To fight as one is like doing battle with one hand tied behind your back. You fight in two dimensions when you are capable of so much more. You have Resonant Strength, why not pick up a boulder and throw at me, causing distraction? Why not churn the rock at your feet with Storm, creating cover amid dust clouds while you are still able to sense the flow of the wind? When we spar you rarely go on the offensive, instead you react to my attacks and defend. Your two Resonant Gifts give you such variety, it would be shameful not to utilise them to their fullest potential. I will grant you that the disparity between our abilities is great, but that is no excuse not to use everything at your disposal to win, regardless of our ranks. ”

I thought on that for a moment, thinking on what I could've done to improve my performance. It was hard to admit, but I couldn't say I was fighting at my best, spending far too much time on the back foot rather than seizing the initiative, taking the fight to him. Such inaction was understandable, especially when facing an opponent like Mastan who could strike from anywhere at anytime, but I might have been able to break the cycle if I was the one throwing attacks his way.

“He's right. We could be more creative with Storm and Strength.” Tessa's admission was a begrudging one. Her emotions had been all over the place after our battle on the Sky-Bridge, but she had since recovered, the rage she'd felt towards Mastan having faded to a simmer. She now treated her father with an impassive coolness, the relationship they'd once had, and could've had again, all but dead thanks to the fucker's actions. I hated him for that, but I knew, as Tess did, that he was the best chance we had of growing stronger. Vera and Annabelle could only take us so far, they had little to no information on how an Heir grows in comparison to a normal Knight. Mastan had the knowledge of a family that had been there since the beginning, since the First. We accepted that we had little choice in the matter, but not a one of the three of us was too happy about it.

“I agree, with my rather limited experience,” My Princess said sheepishly, “We do have decent stores of Aurum, picking up a boulder and throwing it at Mastan well within our capabilities. Who knows, we may even hit him, that would be fun.”

Tess laughed at that, causing a grin to spread across my own lips. Mastan caught the look as he clasped his hands behind his back, “I'm assuming that your Smiths agree with me?”

“They do. I get what you're saying, Mastan. We'll think on how to incorporate our Gifts more creatively in battle.”

Mastan nodded, “Excellent, that is all I ask. You'll find that once you do, a whole new skill set will be available to you. Punching, kicking and slashing is all well and good, but it hardly pushes your limits.”

I nodded, shaking my head as exhaustion touched at the edges of my consciousness. Elora, Tess and I had been Bonded for nearly two hours now without a break, and that was while fighting. It was beginning to wear on me a bit and I knew that the girls could feel it. Still, I refused to show weakness in front of Mastan, instead summoning Rionna to my hand as I hefted the blade, “Another round?”

The King of Lightning immediately shook his head, “No. Learning to maintain the Bond with multiple Smiths can be taxing. Count Verdun was the same, as is Alice. It takes time for the soul to begin getting used to the feeling of hosting more than one visitor. Saying that, you have already improved tremendously. Theadora has been keeping track of your soul's state. It was stable until but a moment ago. Now is the time for a short rest, our sparring is done for the day.”

Elora and Tess left my soul, forming before me and appearing from light. Tessa immediately turned away from her father, looking to me with concern in her stormy eyes, “You alright?”

“F-Fine,” I said, not convincing anyone, least of all myself as I put my hands on my knees, trying to feign the act as brushing some dust from my breeches. My exhaustion was palpable, but it was accompanied by satisfaction, “We're getting stronger, slowly but surely.”

“We are,” Elora said as she helped me to stand upright, my Princess' small smile a beacon that warmed me and her touch helping to repel the annoying feeling of weakness that had sunk into my bones, “But you mustn't push yourself.”

“The Princess is right, Orin,” Mastan said as he approached, only coming to a stop when Tessa threw him a glare of warning. I thought I caught a look of hurt in Mastan's eyes for a split second before it faded and his smile appeared once more, “This is an important phase in your training, laying the foundations for how you will grow as a Knight. I'm afraid there are no shortcuts. Thankfully, we have all the time in the world. The Hall cannot touch you here and, by the time you leave, you shall be ready to face any obstacle in your path.”

“Even Samuel?” I joked as I looked to the man, not expecting the dark look that crossed his features.

“Yes, even Samuel, though I suggest you don't seek him out anytime soon. That feat will remain beyond you for the immediate future. Even Count Verdun at the height of his powers had trouble with that one.”

I growled at that, looking to the cracked stone of the arena Mastan had chosen as the site of our training sessions. It was around a mile outside of the Nest, one of Dealanaich's lesser peaks that was attached to the D'viritazi home by a long and winding trail that curled around the mountain. Even that had become a form of training, with Mastan making the three of us run the path as fast as we could. It was more difficult than the distance would suggest. Much of the ground was uneven and unstable, the blackened rock beneath our feet sharp and cutting. Tessa and I could handle the trail without much issue, but Elora was another matter. My wife had been training intensively since Myrin, but it had been a relatively short time since she'd begun in earnest. She needed more rests than Tess and I, her stamina waning faster than our own. Still, I was proud of her, the Princess pushing through her pain to try and keep apace with us. I viewed it as more training in a way, keeping an eye on Elora to make sure she was alright while maintaining the Storm Eye at Mastan's request.

The three of us had told him all we knew of our abilities. Holding back would be foolish at this point. I trusted the man enough to believe he would help me grow stronger, even if his methods and personality were questionable at best. Mastan seemed particularly focused on Storm, which was not unusual given it was born of the Element he himself harnessed. He told me that whenever I was outside of the Nest I should be channelling the Eye, pushing it as far as it could go. He'd even devised a test of sorts, appearing at random on the trail between our training ground and the Nest, expecting me to tell him how many times he was within range of my Storm Sight. I'd yet to catch all of his appearances, but even that had improved in the last three days.

I looked to our surroundings. This was my third day in Ragora and the sight of the lush jungles still took my breath away. We were on the other side of the mountain now, well out of view of Nian. I expected that was by design, to prevent the sounds of our clashes from travelling down the mountain like an avalanche and causing panic in the civilians below.

I knew there were only three cities on the Island, with Nian being the largest by far. Still, it was strange to see so much untamed wilderness. Even in Venos, vast as it was, you could rarely spend a day travelling without seeing some sign of man's existence, yet here there was nothing. It was a strange balance and one I found that I enjoyed. Being so high in the clouds, atop one of the largest mountains on the continent, the air felt cleaner, the chill sharper. I knew that the heat of sun would soon follow but, thankfully, it was on the other side of the mountain and not punishing us with its presence. I knew we would be long gone by the time it fell upon our arena, the sting of it too much to take for long. Something I'd learned on the second day here, when I'd dozed upon our balcony and seared my skin near purple. It was gone a moment after when Elora had healed me, which was a boon. Though, I did slightly resent my Princess for fetching our companions so they could laugh at my foolishness before giving me relief. I smiled at the memory, pulling on Elora's Bond sharply and causing her to look at me with quizzical, golden eyes. I winked at her, a talent that was restored with the use of Storm.

I'd thought my chances of feeling any sort of peace in Nian was close to nil after what Mastan had pulled on the bridge, but I'd been feeling more at home every day. The joy of staying in one place, safe and secure, overtaking my dislike for the King of Lightning The man stayed away from us when we weren't training, something which I was thankful for as it gave Tess time to relax, to let her tension diffuse. She never let her guard down when Mastan was nearby, expecting another trick, another game. She hadn't spent much time with her sisters, not alone at least. Things were still rather awkward, but they were getting better with every meeting. Seeing her smile again after what Mastan did was more pleasing to me than having my burns eased by Elora's steady touch of the Healing Gift.

“You should forget about Samuel, lad. At least for now. He can't touch any of you here.” Boldrin said as he wandered over to us. We were not training with the King of Lightning alone. True to her word, Vera had not left our side, often Bonded with Annabelle. She had been grim, taciturn, her failure to keep us from being attacked by Mastan eating at her despite both Elora and I forgiving her for the misstep. In truth, it was nobody's fault but Mastan's, yet Vera saw it otherwise. Boldrin was of one mind with the First Knight and Smith, adding his own efforts to their endeavour. Now, whenever we went to training, we were accompanied by all three of them, my former commander running along the path with us as Vera followed from a distance while Bonded. I couldn't help but wonder at Boldrin's endless stamina. I knew that if he wasn't holding he could've outrun both Tess and I without breaking a sweat.

Mastan didn't seem surprised in the least that Boldrin, Vera and Annabelle wanted to be a part of the training regimen. In fact, he'd welcomed it, incorporating them into our sparring. Upon arrival I was to fight Vera, Boldrin and Mastan while not being Bonded, the aim to increase the potency of the Eye. I couldn't honestly tell if it was working, considering I spent more time on my back than I did upright, but I was getting a better feel for how the wind moved around them before the inevitable, and a large piece of wood smashed into my skull. That was something at least.

“I agree with Boldrin, Lord,” Vera said, her eyes fixed on Mastan despite speaking with me, disregarding the fact that she was agreeing with the man in question, “Push Samuel from your mind.”

“Easier said than done,” I grumbled as Tess took her place by my side, “We were thinking of little else on the road. Everyone talks about how strong he is, but he must have a weakness. No man is invincible.”

“True, and Samuel is no different. He can bleed and he can be killed. His legend has grown, the tales of his brutality, unfaltering loyalty and power are many, but he is human. Lady Vera and Boldrin are correct, Orin. Push Samuel from your mind. Even if he appeared before us now, he would be unable to touch you.”

The confidence in Mastan's voice made me want to believe the man, but the thought of the Knight of the Hall still gnawed at me. Vera had sent a messenger to Venos the day after we arrived to inform the King and Queen we had reached our destination safely. The distance between Myrin and Nian was great, I was doubtful we would receive word anytime soon, but the very act of sending the missive had made Samuel loom large in all our minds. That didn't change the fact that they were right, of course. Worrying about it solved nothing, but it wasn't in my nature to push such issues aside, “Good to know.”

“Let's head back to the Nest then,” Boldrin yawned as we made for the path, “I have a bottle of shit wine with my name on it.”

“Hold a moment, please, Boldrin,” Mastan raised a hand to stop my mentor from leaving as he looked to us once more, “My wife has something to add.”

At those words, light flowed out of Mastan's chest, taking the form of an elegant woman as it faded just as fast as it appeared. Theadora D'viritazi was beautiful, easily identifiable as Tessa's mother and the picture of a Lady. Her skin was dark and complimented by the locks of hair that fell about her shoulders. Her eyes were stark in contrast to her skin, the stormy grey being the same shade as Tessa's and just as sharp. She looked to each of us in turn, her eyes lingering on me for but a second before they focused solely on Tess.

I was more than a little surprised to see the Lady of House D'viritazi, a feeling which was felt by all of my companions. Usually Mastan would leave before Theadora could make an appearance, the Smith remaining in the soul of her Knight for the length of our sparring sessions. An invitation had been extended to Tess for her dine with her mother alone, but my savage Smith had refused it, claiming she didn't want to go without me present. As much as she had calmed since the Sky-Bridge, Tess was still unwilling to let me out of her sight for long. I expected she held her mother to account for the incident that took place that night as much as she did her father. After all, she had aided Mastan in luring Boldrin, Annabelle and Vera from us. I didn't believe things were as clear cut as that, despite knowing of Theadora's dislike for me, but I said nothing to change her mind. I knew my Smith well enough by now that once she made a decision I would be unable to change it. I saw Tess tense as Theadora's gaze fell upon her, but she held the stare regardless, her jaw clenched as though expecting an attack.

“First, I must apologise for being absent during your training. I have been watching these past days, learning your strengths and weaknesses,” Theadora began slowly, her speech hesitant, a complete contradiction to the powerful aura she exuded, “I believe that we should begin separate training. I would like to take you and your Sister-Smith with me, Tessaraina. I believe I have some exercises that will help with your control and improve your Gifts. This is an offer, nothing more. I know you do not wish to leave your Knight-”

“Why would I need to leave him?” Tessa's eyes narrowed suspiciously as she interrupted her mother, looking to her father as the embers of rage were stoked in her chest. I could feel the ebb and flow over the Bond. It was the first time she'd spoken during our training, her response to her father's actions being a stony silence, “Is this another trick? Another test?”

Unlike with Mastan, the hurt in Theadora's eyes was all too visible, shame quick to follow as she looked to the shattered rock beneath her feet. I knew then why she had refused to see Tess until now, why she'd extended a tentative invitation through a servant instead of coming herself. She knew of the part she played, the blow she'd struck between the connection she shared with her daughter, only newly tied and weakly bound. But this was different.

The one between Tess and her mother might be salvageable, if only barely.

“I know you do not trust us, Tessaraina. Nor should you after your father's... display,” Theadora's eyes flickered to her husband, something hidden there, gone before I could discern its root, “But please, believe me. No more games, no more tests. Your Knight would stay here to further his education with Mastan. You and Elora will come with me to the library for instruction. I will show you the way of D'viritazi Smiths and try to help the Princess down her own path. You can trust me, Tessaraina, as you once did all those years ago.”

“I believe I can help this along,” Mastan said with a small smile, looking to his wife who'd been about to continue speaking, “Why doesn't Lady Annabelle accompany you and the Princess, Tessaraina? I'm sure she would be of great value, especially to Elora. Unfortunately, our information on House Brand is quite limited. Vera and Boldrin can remain here and help me train Orin. It will be a handful of hours, nothing more. We will make this a part of our daily routine. A few hours of sparring and combat refinement before we each separate for individual training. Nothing untoward, I assure you. I have learned my lesson.”

“You said the same in the Great Hall three days ago,” Tess hissed, her hands already going to her daggers, “And that ended with my Knight almost-”

“Tess,” I grabbed a hold of Tessa's arm and pulled her grasping fingers away from her weapons, “It'll be fine. I'll see you soon.”

Tessa's eyes widened in protest, her body tense as she seethed, “Orin-”

“We need this, Tess,” I whispered to my Smith, pulling her close until my lips were at her ear, “The more we train, the better prepared we'll be when we leave this place.”

“I know that, but this is-”

“Take a breath,” I murmured, “Touch the Bond.”

Tess stared at me for a moment and I wondered, for an instant, if I was about to be stabbed, before she closed her eyes. She inhaled, pulling in the rapidly heating air atop Dealanaich. I felt her touch upon the Bond, watched her take a firm hold of it with her spiritual self. The result was better than I expected, the rage that lingered within her dying down once again, “How are you?”

“Better,” Tess replied, her voice small, vulnerable, “I still feel it.”

“Any time you feel it coming back up again, think of me and touch the Bond,” I said in response, “You have nothing to fear, nothing to worry about. I'll see you soon, I swear it. Elora?”

My Princess came up beside Tess, smiling gently at her Sister-Smith. I could feel her own unease over the Bond but she was hiding it for Tessa's sake, “Orin's right, Tess. We do need this. How many chances will we get to learn from someone like your mother? We've been in the dark for far too long, we need to learn how to be an Heir's Smiths.”

It was the same argument we had made that night on the Sky-Bridge, when Tessa's emotions had threatened to consume her. For the last three days it had continued to fester and nothing I did seemed to help. I think the issue was deeper, stemming from what happened in the arena when we were in Yelmora, when she lost control, when madness consumed her at the thought of my death. I knew there were some things that required time and, just like Tessa's interactions with others, this was another that couldn't be solved with a soft touch and a kind word. This was the first step in that. The separation would serve a dual purpose in my eyes, allowing for Elora and Tess to receive training while also showing my savage Smith that I wouldn't die the moment she turned away.

Honestly, it was a lesson I myself should heed.

“Fine, we'll go with you.” Tessa said, the biting tone still present as she spoke to her mother, but accepting nonetheless.

“Lord-” Vera's protest was quickly overruled as I raised a hand to stop her before she could continue.

“We have to show some trust, Vera,” I didn't like it any more than she did, but if we didn't try to make this work then what was the fucking point of us being here?. I knew it and so did the First Knight. I looked to Mastan, gifting him with a smile that didn't reach my eyes, “No more bullshit, Mastan. You pull anything like you did at the Bridge and we are gone, Samuel or no Samuel.”

“As you say, Orin,” Mastan replied with a bowed head, “No more. Believe me, I have no intention of harming you, nor of playing any more games. I want to make you and your Smiths strong, nothing more.”

“As do I,” Theadora said as she smiled at Tess, though it was a shaking and awkward thing. For some reason, I think it was the first she'd given in quite some time, “Nothing more.”

From the look of anxious longing that Theadora was giving Tess, I didn't entirely believe that. I truly did want for them to have some kind of relationship. I valued my own with the Sister more than nearly any other. It had shaped me, made me a better man in so many ways. I hoped that Tess would find some semblance of the same.

“Then we should depart,” Elora said as Annabelle shimmered, appearing out of Vera's chest with a look of bitter frustration on her face. The two had never looked more like sisters than in that moment, their expressions almost an exact match, “I'm sure you have much to teach us, Lady Theadora.”

“I believe I do, Princess,” Theadora said, her eyes becoming hard once more, though not hostile, “Much of what I have to teach Tessaraina will be equally beneficial for you as well. Matters of your Elements, however... Well, we will tackle such a problem as it arises.”

Elora nodded politely before turning to me, wrapping me in a hug as she kissed my cheek demurely by way of farewell. I could feel the tension in her, that which she had successfully hid from all others with her confident facade, but was as easy to read as a book to me, “Be careful, love. I don't trust him.”

“I will,” I replied, giving her a kiss in turn before turning to Tess, who was staring at the ground at my feet, “Remember, touch the Bond and breathe.”

“Do you do the same when you think we're in danger?” Tessa asked sharply, her tone light but I could feel the fear flow over our connection.

“I do,” I said with a smile, “It even works sometimes.”

Tess chortled, punching me on the shoulder and turning away without another word. I saw a single hint of hesitation in her steps, as though she wanted to turn around once more, but it was banished in the next second as she continued onwards to join Theadora and Annabelle, who were leaving to walk the short journey back to the Nest. I wasn't worried about their return. The path was easily navigable and there was little chance they would be lost on the winding trail with Theadora leading them. Elora looked to me one more time, her eyes bright, before she joined Tess.

I watched them leave, straining to keep my own hammering heart from tearing through my chest. Tess wasn't the only one who was having problems with their protective instincts. Part of me, and no small part at that, wanted to tear after them, but I sought control. Taking a deep breath, I touched the Bonds gently, sending a small pulse of comfort along their lengths. It was more for me than it was for Elora and Tess, in truth, the answer from them both was enough to calm me down.

It was strange, really. It wasn't like they were going to the end of the continent without me, yet we hadn't had any real degree of separation since Myrin. I knew the Bond played a part in my anxiety, its need to be close to Elora and Tess pawing at my subconscious, but I was also painfully aware that my own feelings were just as culpable.

“A difficult thing to do,” The voice of Mastan D'viritazi was the last thing I wanted to hear at that moment, his words grating as they fell from his mouth, “But a brave one. Thank you for convincing Tessaraina. I know this is hard, Orin. Separating from your Smiths, especially when the Bonds are as young as yours, is difficult.”

“I am aware of that, Mastan,” I growled, trying to push the thought of my Smiths from my mind but knowing that task was beyond the means of any Resonant Gift, “So distract me. What training did you have in mind?”

Mastan nodded solemnly, “Straight to the point then. The first thing I wish to discuss is your style of combat.”

I frowned, folding my arms, “You said there was nothing wrong with it.”

“And there isn't, but improvements can always be made,” Mastan said as he began to pace, stroking at his beard errantly, sky-blue eyes deep in thought, “You fight like Boldrin.”

“Nothing wrong with that, Mastan,” My mentor chuckled as he leaned against a large rock on the perimeter of our impromptu arena, “I do alright.”

Mastan smiled, “You do, old friend, this I know all too well, but Orin is not you. I assume you have noticed what I speak of?”

Boldrin scratched at his own beard, the straggly mass streaked with grey, “Aye, I'm aware.”

“Care to fill me in, boss?”

“Mastan's saying you fight too much like Boldrin, Orin,” Vera chimed in, her posture still defensive as she strode forward, “Too much power and little of anything else.”

“Nothing wrong with a bit of power,” Boldrin huffed, looking to Vera with mock hurt before turning to me, “But Vera's right, son. I knocked a fair few of your bad habits out of you on the road, but you could still improve in some areas. Problem is, my art is based in my size. You can get away with using it like me for the moment, you're big enough for it, but you'll need something more when fighting another Knight. You can't judge a book by its cover when it comes to those fuckers. You need to assume that you're slower, that you're weaker. Another problem is that I taught you to fight humans, not monsters.”

“That isn't true,” I protested, “You taught me how to fight like a Vigilant on the road, how to improve my stamina, my speed, how to kill a Knight.”

“Aye, but most of what I know of the Vigilant won't be of any use to you,” Boldrin said with a shake of his head, “The Vigilant fight in packs, a dozen or more men working as one to take down a Knight. You'll more likely be facing them alone, or in small groups. That's not to say that what I've taught you is for naught, but it needs to be supplemented, added to.”

Mastan nodded, tapping a finger against his chin, “I have a few exercises that I can teach you, various stretches and the like, which should offer you more flexibility and range of motion. There are also a few manuals in the library that I will have sent to your room, sword styles that my family has gathered or devised over the centuries. Peruse them at your leisure. Remember always that your power as a Knight is tied to your mortal body. That becomes less of a problem the more your strength grows, but that is some way off yet. From this point forward, I would like us to focus on the assumption that the opponents you will be facing will outclass you in almost every conceivable way. Any objections?”

“None from me, that's a good approach to take,” Boldrin laughed at the expression on my face, “Come on, lad. You'd be the first to admit that you often bite off more than you can chew. You Bonded with Elora after you nearly got killed in a suicidal attack on Hammond.”

“Aye, I can't argue with that,” I chuckled with a roll of my eyes.

“Can you please look at us when you're speaking, Orin?” Vera said, a shiver running through her voice, “This staring into space shit is starting to concern me.”

“I agree, lad,” Boldrin said, “I know you can still see us, but it ain't polite to not look at someone while talking with them. Erin taught you better than that.”

I frowned at their words, unsure why they was so uncomfortable, until I realised I still hadn't turned away from facing the trail. I was watching them through the Storm, keeping track of their locations with the help of the Wind. I laughed, slightly embarrassed as I turned to Vera, “Sorry, First Knight. I didn't realise I was doing it.”

“Incredible! Complete awareness without reliance on physical sight,” Mastan laughed in wonder before shooting a glance at Boldrin, “I was hoping to find out how long he could keep that up.”

“Sorry to ruin your fun, Mastan.” Boldrin grumbled with a roll of his eyes.

“How is your Aurum, Orin?” Mastan asked, disregarding the giant who sat near him, “Is the drain significant?”

“About the same as it was before,” I replied. I had been maintaining the Eye now since we'd left the Nest and I found that if I wasn't focusing on it, just passively employing it in the same manner as my other senses, my Aurum depletion was severely reduced. Of course, that changed when I actively tried to apply the power hidden within the Storm, guiding the Wind to remove me from the path of Mastan's attack as an example, “I tried to use it to dodge your strike. I just wasn't fast enough.”

“Ah, I believe I felt that, a shift in the breeze before I struck. The Gift Tessaraina has crafted for you is truly a marvel. I wonder just what you will be able to do once you've mastered it. I have been theorizing that it may even be able to take you to new heights when channelling Lightning without a Smith. The ability to be able to 'see' your Element will be a great boon as you will soon discover.”

I felt my eyebrows lift at that, a little excited at the prospect of being able to access some of my power without Elora and Tess. I didn't think I'd have much use for it in general, considering I was never more than a few feet away from the girls at any one time, but to have that trick in my back pocket would make for a painful surprise for any who thought me weak without them, “Is that what you're going to teach me?”

“In due time,” Mastan said with a nod, “For now, we have a far more pressing issue to discuss. Namely, your manner of compression. May I ask where you learned it?”

“Elora taught me, back in Myrin after we Bonded,” I said, wondering where he was going with this, “Why?”

“It's a well established method for the Brand family,” Vera spoke up, slightly defensive, “Gida taught it to Cellus herself.”

“That's all well and good, but an Heir needs a more complicated method if he is to take steps towards pulling his flames into his core,” Mastan replied politely to the First Knight before addressing me once more, “Your current practice of compression is solid and dependable, but it is flawed in that it only accounts for one Element. You have three, Orin. You need something more all-encompassing, one which could also account for the increase of power that comes with Bonding again. You still have three Thrones in your soul available.”

“I don't have the intention of filling them any time soon,” I said firmly. I knew that I could have five Smiths, as Alice did, but the thought of adding someone else so soon after Tess didn't feel right. Shit, it had taken me long enough just to realise that Bonding with my savage Smith was the right thing to do. I didn't regret Bonding with Tessa, not in the least. In fact, I'd wished that I'd done it sooner, but that didn't mean I had to rush to gain more power. Part of me wished that I wouldn't have to Bond again, but I knew that was a fool's hope, “I have Elora and Tess. They're more than enough for me.”

Mastan raised a hand as though to forestall any more protests, “You misunderstand me, Orin. Believe me, when Theadora and I began putting lesson plans together, the first thing we discussed was filling out your roster of Smiths. I even considered making inquiries with the other heads of the Five Houses, but I have since changed my mind in that regard.”

“Changed your mind?” I asked the man, curious as to his reason. I was also astounded that he seemed to be believe he had a choice in who I would be Bonding with.

“I have,” Mastan said, “I would never have thought to pair you with Princess Elora. Her family is young and Darkness is rare, but not necessarily extraordinary. Yet look at what happened? You Bonded with Elora and discovered a powerful, nearly unique Element in her blood that gives you untold combat capabilities. I believe you have only just begun to scratch the surface of what you and your wife can do with Space. I, for one, am excited to see how you grow. The fact that you have already taken steps towards building upon it without a shred of instruction is admirable. This happened because you were allowed to operate as you willed, without the oversight of the Hall or anyone else. Even with Tessaraina, it was your choice to go forward with the Bond, and not because tradition demanded it. I think allowing you your independence in this matter will be for the best. You will Bond when you are ready and, when you do, I'm sure the choice you make will be the right one.”

I couldn't help but shake my head at his ego. He believed he was 'allowing' me to be independent and free of the choices he made for me? Just when I believed I was getting a handle on how the man operated, he threw out a comment which made me realise just how strange his mind truly was. I didn't even think he knew he was doing it, it just came naturally to him, the way his thoughts lined up inside his head, “Thank you, Mastan. That's very kind of you.”

The man nodded solemnly, missing the sarcasm in my comment, though it was clearly picked up by Vera and Boldrin, who smiled, “No, thank you, Orin. You're changing the way the world perceives Heirs. It makes me wonder what would have happened if we'd allowed Alice to grow on her own, free of the influences of her father, the Hall... I felt for the poor girl, you know. The last thing she wanted was to be a Knight serving the Hall. Having the blood of the First run through her veins makes it all the harder.”

“Does Alice know I exist?” I don't know why I asked, but it seemed important somehow. I realised that I shared something with her that I just didn't with anyone else. For a while now, I'd been told I was special, that I was powerful. That power came with responsibility, one which I still hadn't managed to come to terms with. I wondered if she'd managed to do what I could not.

“She's heard the rumours, as is the way with these things. She mentioned it to me once when she visited with Tristan and her Smiths for some training,” Mastan began his pacing anew, “I told her nothing. Better to keep her in the dark, lest I push the bounds of her loyalty too far, It was decided, against my will I'll note, that she not be told of you until absolutely necessary. The Hall thought you dead, Orin. Three of the Five didn't want to trouble her thoughts without cause. If she doesn't know by now, however, it is only a matter of time. My fellow Masters still view you as a threat. When they discover Samuel has failed they will intensify her training, push her to become as strong as possible.”

“To kill me.” I said with a grim smirk, looking to the glorious view to my left, “It's strange to think that we're being pushed against each other by a bunch of scared, old Masters. Especially seeing as I have more in common with her than near anyone on the continent.”

“It is, and scared they are,” Mastan said, his eyes lighting up, “But that is changing, Orin. I have earned great support amongst the Masters of the continent, including one of the other Houses. I believe that, in time, I will bring them around to my point of view.”

“You seem to think that I would be willing to speak with them even if they did?” I chuckled at the man, “They burned down the place I was born, turned it to ash and killed my parents. I may not remember it and I may not have known who they were, but I still owe them a debt for bringing me into this world.”

“Yes... Of course you would see things that way,” Mastan touched at his beard, “I am sorry, Orin. I tried to stop it, I truly did. I failed and you were robbed of a life because of it.”

“I found another, Mastan,” I said to the King of Lightning. I didn't say it to ease the man's conscience, just by way of explanation, “I had a family, a life. I had a mother in the Sister and a father in Boldrin.”

A sharp sniffle caused me to look to my mentor, who was staring at the view offered by Dealanaich. If I didn't know any better, I would have assumed from the sound that the man was on the verge of tears, but Boldrin the bold was not one to cry. Vera too was watching the mercenary with a raised brow.

“Let us move onto more pleasant matters,” Mastan said after a moment's pause, pulling my attention from the giant, “I believe I have found a new method to help with your compression. If you would take a seat, Orin, I will guide you through it.”

I did as requested, going to my knees and feeling the sharp rock dig into my legs. I got as comfortable as I could while Mastan copied me, taking a seat opposite and a deep breath, “The technique you have been using up until this moment is not complete. For a normal Knight it would be fine, but it is both far more difficult to Compress as an Heir and infinitely easier.”

“What do you mean?”

“If you continued as you had been, you would have found it near impossible to bring your flames inside your core. Eventually you would have reached a wall you could not overcome,” Mastan explained, “Your flames are painted black now, marked by the Dark, but that was not always the case.”

“They were clear up until I Bonded with Elora,” I nodded with a frown, “But what does that have to do with compression?”

“You are currently, passively, channelling the Dark Element,” Mastan said as he continued to take breaths at seemingly random intervals. Three deep inhales followed by a steep exhale and then a series of shorter, more abrupt variants. He moved a hand to his chest, using it to show that I should emulate him. I did, following his lead until our breathing was attuned, “I believe it is because of your own natural affinity for it over Space and Lightning, but that cannot be allowed to continue. To grow, to keep apace with your power, you must change. It is in an Heir's nature to change. Adaptability is etched into the very fabric of your being.”

I closed my eyes without even thinking, allowing Mastan's voice to guide me as I fell down and deep into my soul. It was harder to concentrate, the relatively simple breathing exercises of Elora's method nothing when compared with this new version. Still, even with the added difficulty, I already knew the way to my soul space.

I appeared within the endless black, staring up at the towering abyssal flames of my soul that hissed silver sparks in welcome. I was struck by how much smaller they'd become since I'd first Bonded with Elora. My compression training, the Severance and even the battle at the arena in Yelmora had all resulted in bringing the flames down to less than half the size they once were. They were also far more tame, less wild. There was a purpose to their movement now, a grace that had previously given way to raw and unadulterated rage.

I prepared to infuse the flames with my consciousness, to once more begin the agonising act of compression, when I heard a voice that gave me pause, “Not this time, Orin. I want you to think on Space. Picture it in your mind, what it feels like to wield, to hold in your hand. Imagine the power of it flowing through you much like it does when you use First Sword. Capture that image and hold it close.”

I did as the King of Lightning requested, focusing on the distant but always near concept of Space. I couldn't see the silver eye as I could when I was Bonded with Elora. She was the key to unlocking it, to unleashing it. The only mark of Space were the sparks that soared off the tongues of my fiery soul. I imagined Rionna in my hand, honing in on the strength that filled me when I lifted her into the air. The Idea of silvery light flowing through my blood and bone, pouring into her as I prepared the First Sword.

It was a hard thing, more than I expected. The Dark was easy to picture, easy to understand. Space was something else entirely, operating in a way that was as alien to me as the stars themselves, but I understood enough in order to at least grab some small piece of it.

“Good, Orin. I can feel you are ready. I want you to push that into your flames, the Idea of Space. Keep the picture clear and do not falter.”

I felt sweat pour down my cheeks in the physical world as I clenched my hands on my lap. This felt harder even than normal compression. I pressed the Idea forward, forcing it toward the flames at the centre of my self. It was much like what I would imagine pushing a boulder up a hill would be like while in the rain, mud beneath my feet as I was pelted by cold drops. The distractions threatened to ruin my intent, but I just about managed to stay the course, to continue to push for all I was worth.

Then, with an act of herculean effort, I felt the image sink into the flames.

A ripple spread out from the void coloured fire, one which was tinged with white. It ran through the endless black, disappearing into the distant horizon as my flames changed.

A new colour began to spread from the centre of my core and my soul shivered in time with my body. I felt exhaustion overtake me as I watched with rapturous eyes. It was over in seconds and yet, to me, it seemed far longer. The black of the Dark was consumed by the silver of Space and, in the time it took me to blink in the physical realm, my fire was transformed.

I felt the oppressiveness of my primary Element in those silver tongues. They moved slower now, almost like they were made of some sentient form of metal. Lightning still raced across the surface but now it was joined by sudden flashes of darkness as my secondary fell into the background. The sparks were gone, for they had joined with my soul in full. There was no warmth there now, no welcoming feeling that I often associated with the Dark. It was replaced by the sovereignty of an Element unchallenged by any other.

It was baffling and beautiful in equal measure. I felt no different. The fire was still very much my soul, just garbed in new threads. For some reason, Space felt closer. It was almost as though I could sense the entity that represented it, something which I had never been able to do before.

Then my split focus got the best of me. My breathing was disrupted and I opened my eyes, once more in the world of the living. I took a breath of the crisp air, staring at a beaming Mastan with bleary eyes as I fell to my hands, retching onto the mountain. Thankfully, I'd yet to eat that day, otherwise I was sure I would have emptied my stomach. The backlash of losing my concentration was intense. I closed my eyes as the ground spun.

“Congratulations! Your first change, your first step. I didn't expect you to get it on the first try. I need to remind myself not to underestimate you.”

“Are you alright, Orin?” I felt Vera's concerned hand upon my shoulder and nodded quickly to put the First Knight at ease.

“Fuck me, that was something else,” I said, my words were stiff, my tongue thick. I felt like I hadn't talked in quite some time, “I saw them change. Black to silver, Dark to Space. How the fuck does that work?”

Mastan laughed joyously, a hint of pride in his eyes, “It is how Heirs become one with their Elements. You find this exercise difficult now and will do for quite some time. But, with enough time and practice, you'll find you are able to change your Element at will.”

“Why would I need to?” I asked slowly. I sensed Boldrin standing behind Vera, his expression just as nervous as her own, through the use of my Storm Eye, “I thought I had access to all of my Elements at once?”

“You do!” Mastan said as he jumped to his feet with ease, “But by channelling one Element at a time, like Space instead of the Dark, you will find it easier to reach for its power. It will also becomes less Aurum intensive. This sort of thing comes naturally to a normal Knight, but they only have one or two Elements to pull from. You, on the other hand, have three and will no doubt have many more in the future. You said you were having problems with manifesting Space and Lightning in the physical world, while the Dark came easily. This is the reason why, and what I meant when I mentioned it being both easier and more difficult for Heirs.”

“You were manifesting Space, lad,” Boldrin said, his concern not alleviated in the least, “Silver sparks flying off your skin. You looked like you were miles away and right in front of me. Never seen anything like it.”

“Well, that's something at least,” I replied with a grin, pleased that I'd finally managed to bring the Element to bare. I knew I had First Sword, but this was a clear sign that I could grow the power beyond that. It was something I could work toward, without having to wait for inspiration to strike as it had in Yelmora. One thing had left me rather confused though as I turned to Mastan, “But how does this help with compression?”

“Ah, of course,” Mastan said with a chuckle, “Forgive me. Seeing you take such a leap has made me forget myself. While Compressing from now on, you should periodically switch between Elements. It lets your soul grow used to their presence in a process known as saturation. It takes time, but it is very necessary. Eventually it will allow you to pull your flames behind your core when the time comes. The danger is spending too much time on one while not giving attention to the others. You are a man of many Elements now, Orin. You must respect the bloodlines of your Smiths in equal measure. To not do so would mean being unable to reach your full potential.”

“Fuck,” I grumbled, “It was hard enough just making Space take the place of the Dark. How am I going to compress on top of that? Let alone change to Lightning?”

Mastan shook his head helplessly, “There is nothing that will make it easier, Orin. If you were younger then the strain would be far less than it is, but because of your age-”

“It makes it all the harder,” I said with a sigh. Nothing could ever be so simple. Despite that, I wasn't deterred in the least. I'd struggled through compression easily enough over the past months, I could struggle through it a little more. I looked to my soul, seeing that the black of the Dark had returned. That was a comforting sight, almost as though it were an old friend, “So lets do it again.”

“Orin, you should rest. It's been nearly two hours.” Vera said gently.

I was surprised by that, looking to the sky and seeing that the sun had begun to crest over the peak of Dealanaich, the first of its rays shining down upon us. Still, a little sunshine wouldn't kill me, “Once more. This time I won't be standing about staring at the flames, promise. I just want to see if I can manage it without the pain near killing me.”

“I'm game,” Boldrin laughed, “If only to see Tessa and Elora's faces when you turn up burned purple again.”

I laughed along with my mentor, the thrill of success making me giddy as I concentrated once more. I felt excitement run the length of my bones as I began to breathe in the manner Mastan had shown me. I was making progress, real progress, and under my own power. I needed to keep going, to keep growing.

For Elora. For Tessa.

I sank into my soul.