One of the more contested laws of the Imperatrix revolves around the common language: Hymerian. Our esteemed sovereign has, ten years after the War, instated the rule forcing every Imperial citizen to speak Hymerian, and only Hymerian. Whether spoken or written, all countries in the Empire were to use the one, common language. The other languages were abolished. Even though this law was not followed in remote regions adjoining the provinces of Striavie and Jarulam, the provinces of Leïn, the Western plains and Fir have completely renounced their local dialects.

Imperial Domestic Policies, Chapter Two: Culture and Economics.

Nay’s growth spur had been spectacular. In less than two months, she grew almost twelve inches (30 cm), making her almost as tall as Ra’fa, and very slightly taller than Marke.

Even though her face had kept its androgynous features, her body could not be mistaken for anything else than a woman’s anymore.

Nay had only been dreaming of this day since her mother had bought her that blue dress years ago, but now that her wish had been fulfilled, she only felt regret.

Because she had to relearn everything.

Her techniques, her way of moving, her sense of balance, where to put her weight…Everything had changed.

She and Marke were forced to go back to training with wooden weapons after he had seen her trip on thin air.

Moreover, the Academy’s students, aware of her newfound weakness during the lessons, were feeling empowered by the fact, and started ‘pranking’ her as they did with Trinne and Joanna.

To that were her breasts.

Karmena’s diagnosis had been more than correct.

This was her major problem, what created the most imbalance during her fights, and the main target of mockery. She had had to ask special outings just to buy bigger and bigger brassieres.

To top it all off, her sense of the Rreico had become chaotic and unpredictable. Sometimes she could almost see the life’s rhythm with her eyes, as if trying to get out of her skin. The ability to see something that was invisible was disturbing her perception so much that her reading of the Rreico had deteriorated.

These changes where devastating for the teenager’s morale.

She felt like she had lost her touch.

From the outside, you could have thought the feeling ridiculous, as she was still very effectively defending herself against most of her peers, but to her, this loss of capacity was dramatic.

She had finally managed to get at the level where she could be equal to the Virnyl guards and her father.

And now she had to relearn everything.

The comforting words of Marke had not helped.

“To improve, going back to the basics is always most effective…” He had said.

But Nay was not trying to improve, she was trying to regain lost abilities.

So, Nay was despairing.

One thing made her get out of her bed in the morning.

Lisana’s angelic face.

During those unending last weeks, that had been her only real solace.

Because the Academy’s apprentices would soon have their first leave, a one-week holiday. Nay would be allowed to see her sister for the first time in six months.

During the day, as Lisana had only access to the Ducal plateau to go to the Sage-Brother’s school.

Nay would wait for her at the southern gate. They would climb the sinuous road together to the school, and after the younger sister’s lessons, they would be free to do everything they wanted until the evening.

Waiting for that day with her beloved sister was not without worries.

Would Lisana even recognise her?

Nay herself found it hard to find the remnants of her usual reflection in the mirror of her room.

Marke had assured her there would be no problem, that everything would be fine.

But still, the young Legio was terrified. What if her sister stared at her as if she were a monster?

She had almost gotten used to her nightmares; they had been less distracting over the years.

But now, as if they responded to the chaotic nature of her Rreico, they had started to become unbearable.

She always woke up with an abomination of a vision, blue eyes like the ocean. They looked anything except dangerous, but Nay was so afraid of them she trembled and sobbed for hours.

The hope of seeing Lisana helped her hold on.

She stood in front of the gate where she had met the Commandare for the first time. She still asked herself sometimes why a man such as him had been there. She focused on the thirty or so individuals, mainly men wearing merchant clothing, grouped around the other side of the gate waiting for it to open.

Nay’s right foot was hitting the ground repeatedly, in an anxious rhythm, out of her control.

“Nay, are you alright? Have an appointment with the boss or something?” One of the Virnyl guards, called Troy if Nay remembered well, addressed her.

After her numerous duels with them, Nay was getting to know them all, to the point of even remembering their names. Quite a few them had been corrupted with the Commandare’s philosophy of life, and they enjoyed the company of Nay for reasons she felt were not good ones.

She was certain some had to be envious or jealous of her, being their idol’s favourite, but if they were, they had never shown any of it.

To be honest, Nay had to admit she did not hate them, too much like Marke for her not to like them a bit.

Nay answered while sighing: “Sure, tease, I’ll take my revenge during our next duel.”

It made the young man laugh. Troy had been a Virnyl guard for less than two years, and he had no stars on his multi-coloured armour. He was one of those Nay could still beat, even if with difficulty.

“Next duel, I’ll beat you, Yaeda-milk.”

Nay clenched her teeth hearing the nickname. It had appeared a few weeks prior out of a student’s mouth, and since then, everyone used it.

Before being able to retort anything, the other guard posted at the entrance stepped between them.

“Troy, Nay. Stop. We open the door.”

As usual, Yinnerik was not the talking kind. Nay had respect for this man.

He had five stars on his armour, proof of five important military feats. He was not the Virnyl guard with the most stars pinned on his chest, but he was one of their best swordsmen, nonetheless.

He was not the fastest nor the strongest, he had no special techniques or complex plans.

He was simply calm and collected, from beginning to end.

Nay had never managed to get hold of his Rreico.

He never made mistakes and forced you to make them.

Nay’s thoughts ceased. She forgot all about him. She had just spotted blonde hair with an accessory that she would never have been able not to recognise.

Troy opened the gates.

The hair disappeared inside the entering mass of merchants, horses, and carriages, but Nay found back her sister quickly.

Lisana stopped a few feet away from Nay, a weird look on her face, directly meeting Nay’s eyes.

She had grown, realised Nay with a pained heart.

The teenager knelt while trying to hide her breasts, trying not to confuse her little sister too much.

“Lisana, it’s me, do you reco…”

But before she could finish her sentence, Lisana started crying.

“BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIG SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIS…” She howled, rushing into Nay’s arms.

Her hug was much stronger than before, Nay noticed. She was Marke and Ra’fa’s daughter after all, so it did not surprise her much, but she guessed Marke had begun training her somehow.

In any case, she was now standing out in a rather humiliating manner; her sister did not want to let her go.

“I missed you so much too Liz, but you have to go to school, we’ll be able to see each other afterwards.”

“NO!” Shouted the little girl so loudly that Nay’s ears started ringing for a while. She tried to get her off again, to no avail. Nay decided to just carry her little sister, still in tears, towards the Sage-Brother’s school. Fortunately, it was not built on top of the plateau. Her sister was not heavy, but her arms around her neck were not letting much air pass.

Once arrived at the school, a woman with white clothing came to meet them. Those garbs were usually worn by priestesses of Lebe’s faith. Nay remembered her parent’s warnings about them. Even if they were known pacifists, Marke and Ra’fa seemed to fear this religious branch of the church.

The priestess sighed as she saw both sisters, and she came closer. Nay quickly gazed upon the temple behind the approaching woman. It was not a school per se, nor even a normal-looking building; truly, it was a church to Adienha, distinguished by its white marble, the goddess’ statues, and the silvery engravings.

“Nay I suppose?” The priestess held out her hand.

“Oh, yes, nice to meet you.” Nay held out hers in return.

Instead of shaking it, the woman took it then kissed the top of her knuckles. Nay managed not to jump backwards to avoid the unforeseen physical contact, she was still carrying her sister after all.

“I am Unya, priestess of Lebe. I oversee the teachings of the girls here, as the Sage-Brothers have no wish to do so themselves. I have received Adienha’s full wisdom, so there are no worries to be had on that end.”

Nay did not worry about the woman’s expertise, she oozed intelligence. Still she was slightly worried, because this woman’s Rreico was quite similar to that of the Soi matriarch.

She preferred not to say anything and just nodded with a forced smile.

The priestess continued, this time talking to Lisana.

“Miss, you have to let go of your sister.”

“No!”

“You are currently strangling her. Actually, I’m quite surprised she managed to get here at all.”

The worshipper of Lebe was exaggerating, but it was true Nay’s neck was starting to hurt.

This seemed to take Lisana by surprise.

“I’m strangling her?”

She kept her arms around Nay, but this time changed positions so as not to hurt her.

The priestess sighed.

“You will not let her go, will you?”

“No!”

“My guard, do you have something planned today?”

“I am not a guard yet.” Answered Nay, a bit bothered by the woman’s way of speaking. She was not surprised the priestess knew about her, even if she was not currently wearing the reinforced red clothing that the students of the Academy wore. Either Lisana had talked about it, or the priestess had read the announcements on the billboard in front of Adienha’s library. Nay’s entrance ceremony had been described on a paper displayed there for quite some time. Nay preferred to think about something else than that story.

“But no. I have nothing planned today.”

She was thinking of just waiting for her sister to finish school.

“Good. Miss Lisana, as I am aware of your circumstances, and that I am immensely generous, I will not object to your sister’s presence with us today. But only today. If you continue this behaviour tomorrow, I will ask the Academy to prevent you and your sister to meet.”

Lisana looked at her teacher with anguish.

“I won’t be able to see big sis anymore?”

“No.” The white priestess responded.

Lisana quickly accepted her teacher’s conditions.

The priestess winked at Nay before whispering in her ear.

“You can relax, I have not the authority to do such a thing.”

Then she tried to nibble Nay’s earlobe.

The young Legio backed off.

The priestess only smiled.

“Uni, don’t bother my big sis or else…” Lisana threatened her.

“Sorry miss, it won’t happen again. It is simply that I’ve never tasted a body like that before.”

Nay just now understood why Marke and Ra’fa both feared Lebe’s worshippers.

They could not all be like that though, right?

Not having much choice in the matter anymore, Nay entered what now seemed like a dragon’s lair.

Unye was a good teacher. Nay liked the Sage-Brother Berth better, but maybe it was just because what he taught was of Nay’s level.

To the six to ten years old girls, the subjects taught here were still quite high, to be expected of an education reserved to bourgeois and low-class nobles.

Nay had managed to convince Lisana to pay attention to class, claiming to want to see what her little sister was capable of.

At the end of the day, Lisana went to the toilets before leaving school, and Unye took the opportunity to talk to Nay alone.

“Considering how the day went, I think you should come every day. I have never managed to make her this interested in my lessons before.”

Nay gave her a shy smile.

“I am only here for a week, after that I…”

“I know, I know. By Lebe, you should loosen up, it was a joke.” Said the priestess who was not looking into her eyes anymore. “You know what? I could help you with that…”

Before Unye was able to finish her thought, Lisana came to Nay’s rescue.

“BIG SIS! HUG!” She commanded, arms wide open.