Together.

She had certainly lived up to that promise. Kelunad had grown up fast, in mind and body both. Though, in this particular case, the body was most noticeable, since his size now dwarfed the young human woman. Yet she never strayed far from his fights, as he never did from hers. Always, the lithe huntress followed him in battle, whenever it gave chase. Each time he got attacked, Ravena was there, peppering his assailants with Spell and insult both.

Though in this particular fight, he would have to leave her behind.

“Why are you leaving me behind?” she screeched.

To say she was not happy would be the mother of all understatements.

“Because this is not a normal fight.”

“When have we ever had normal fights?”

“…point taken. Even so, they would not consider my victory as true if I take you with me, even should I win.”

He motioned and Ravena turned to glance at the five waiting in the makeshift ring. They were grinning and flexing. She was only seconds away from casting when Kelunad spoke again, distracting her.

“It is what I choose. Will you respect that?”

“Of course!” she spluttered. “I just don’t like it. Why can’t you join my faction? You’re basically one of us anyways.”

Ravena had done well for herself. They were in their third year now and only she had managed to join a faction.

Well. Not ‘join’.

Miffed at the lack of ‘quality nature mages’, Ravena had pulled together all the nature-oriented mages she could find, including a few factions of low repute and mixed them together. Her ‘Naturalists’ faction was young and shoddily put together. Which did nothing to endear them to the academy at large, which mostly still considered them an abomination, going against everything they perceived to be.

Yet the wild mage didn’t care. Regitris had said nothing against them, even going as far as mentoring Ravena and Kelunad here and there. With his tacit blessing, her group not only survived, but thrived.

It was an alluring temptation. But Kelunad had mastered himself now. His battle-fury was almost gone. He only felt the bloodlust when he wanted to feel it. And that is why he was about to fight.

“Because I choose. We are free, Ravena. And that means free to choose as well. And I choose them.”

“But… the Martials? Really?! They’ll think you’re going back to the… you know. The old ways.”

“Then let them think.” He shrugged.

She looked ike she was about to say something else, when one of his opponents called out.

“Hey, orc boy! You gonna fight or we have to wipe the floor with your lady friend first?”

Kelunad turned an inquiring gaze towards Revena, who had just gone blank.

“Right. Changed my mind. Kill them.”

“I will not.” He laughed. “But I will defeat them.”

***

Needless to say, he won. Not handily, but enough to make an impression. Kelunad was now a Martial and well on the boy to becoming a high mage of his faction. Changing it, in the process of climbing ever higher. Ravena had continued to solidify her positions as well. Her faction and herself suffered more challenges, but the young woman was resourceful and she had a card up her sleeve. Namely, a powerful orc with a group of battle-maniacs at his back. The Martials gained magical expertise, the Naturalists gained a powerful ally and everyone was happy.

Excepting the decreasing, thought not yet insignificant number of bigots and supplicants.

Their third year came and went and the two friends found themselves in their fourth year. And whether it was because of seniority or just because they had made a name for themselves, Regitris the Ascentionalist, had taken them as formal pupils.

Ravena had been grinning for a week after it happened.

Thought Kelunad suspected her good mood was caused by something more than just the opportunity to learn from such an august personage.

That is how they found themselves discussing with the old elf, in his parlor, after just completing a high stakes mission. The artifact they had recovered laying on a dais before them.

“I must say, your blending of mages from your respective factions astonished me. Indeed, it looked almost like an… army.”

“Thank you, sir.” Ravena chirped. “But that was all Kelunad. He’s the reason why we adopted those, uhm…”

“Battle formations.” The orc completed. “Formed by the Spell repertoire and martial ability of the mages in question. But Ravena was the one that actually ‘did the deed’. She and the mages under her were the ones who retrieved the artifact, while I and the others fought the constructs.”

“You are both to modest.” Regitris smiled, before turning his eyes to the artifact in question.

It was a wand, though a curious one at that. White, pearlescent and spiraling.

“That is a unicorn horn.” The elf simply stated.

What?

“What?” Ravena said, choking in her drink.

“And here I thought mages of your… inclinations would more easily recognize it.” Regitrs laughed.

Of course. I knew I felt the pull of magic. I thought it to be simply a powerful wand, but… of course.

Kelunad’s people dealt with unicorns before. In the past. Symbols of purity and strength. He had never seen one, had never met anyone who had seen one, but he knew they existed. In lesser numbers now than… before.

“I suspected that the artifact in question was an old object of power, but even I didn’t dare hope it was something like this. But let us turn this discussion into one of learning. Do you two know why this ‘wand’ is so precious?”

“Because the unicorns are all but gone?” Ravena asked. “And incredibly hard to find. Which means unicorn horns are rare too. Therefore valuable.”

“A good answer.” Regitris nodded, turning his eyes to Kelunad.

“A unicorn’s horn can be used for any number of purposes. Yet when used as a whole, as a ‘wand’, it greatly magnifies the Spell a mage is capable of casting. Even allows one to cast Spells they were not capable of before. And it had its own mana reservoir, allowing the mage to cast without worrying about depleting his mana.”

“Well, the mages of old still had to worry about that, since their Spells could level mountains. But good, very good Kelunad.”

Ravena shot him a slightly annoyed look, to which he simply shrugged.

You will not gain his affection by knowing everything. If indeed, that is what you seek.

“There is one more ‘quality’ to it. And I trust you both to know when and when not to speak of it. A unicorn hair is a piece of almost-living magic. Natural magic. Not nature-oriented, but natural, magic that is not called forth, but simply is. You are right, Kelunad, in that this horn can be used for any number of purposes. But in the hands of someone who is…. naturally inclined, such as a |Shaman| or a |Wildspeaker|, this wand could not only amplify one’s magic, but also redirect one’s will. One’s thoughts.”

I see. Dangerous, for all it is beautiful.

“Which is why I plan to break it apart. The Artificers have staked quite a high bid and other factions desire pieces of it as well. Including my own.”

“Wh- but… sir. This is an ancient artifact. Even if it is dangerous, could we not simply… ward it?” Ravena tried.

“I fear Gnosis already has enough warded artifacts and each year a few of them get loose. That is one of the reason why we ended up with the upper and lower floors, in the long run.”

“But… could we not simply hold it until a nature-oriented mage capable of using it develops?” she asked and Kelunad saw the old elf frown.

Mistake.

“My dear… I will say this as pain as I can. I know you two already suspected it, but I will take this opportunity to be frank. You two have been despised since the moment you have walked in Gnosis. Ravena, because of your people’s magic and Kelunad, because of your people themselves. And yet you have grown.” He smiled. “And I cannot express how proud I am of that. You have mastered your people’s Spells, without falling prey to their follies, dear girl. And you, Kelunad, have mastered the sins of your ancestors and turned their strengths to a good cause. You grew and are still growing. But.”

He took a deep breath, more troubled than they had ever seen him and carried on.

“But the are thing we do not do. Magic we do not suffer. Do not ask me to explain. The story is older than I am and full of loss and pain. Even so, you two know we mages today hate the wild. And the green as well. The horrors that came before… we must allow them to resurface. Even if I must break a peerless artifact to do it… I will. For if it were ever to break loose, if its magic was activated by its own or even if someone were to steal it, I fear the consequences that would follow. That I know will follow.”

He looked at them and we looked old then. Old and weary.

“That battle has ended. New hopes, such as you two, come forth, proving for all to see that even the green can be harnessed, if caution and will are applied. But if I were to allow this… ‘wand’ to exist. Me. And elf. They would question my sanity and call you the reason of my ‘downfall’. They would come after you, like never before. And I cannot lose you two.”

’you two’. Yet your eyes lay solely on her.

“Please tell me you understand.”

Twin voices answered him and time carried on, as it always does.

***

Their conviction proved to Regitris that they could be trusted. Their deeds as well. Kelunad had fought and debated and learned, until he was the uncontested ruler of his faction, even if not in name. The Martials still had a head, but Kelunad would have to wait until he graduated to contest him. That time would come as well.

Ravena had grown as well. She had entered a growth spurt, fueled by magic and body both and where before a lithe young woman stood, not a full-grown huntress danced, deadly and fierce like any orc Kelunad would have loved to bond with, should he had never left his people.

They factions were string now, on par with any but the Ascentionalists. And that was because next to their own achievements, they also had Regitris to thank. The elf had taken them as his protegees with a vigor, training them, teaching them, guiding them. Many called him mad. Called his sanity into question for taking the likes of them under his wing. Yet not as many as before. Kelunad and Ravena had, after all, grew to be powers in their own rights.

And that was how they found themselves, at the end of their fifth year, hours away from being declared full mages of Gnosis. Only a final test before them. One they would take together, like their first and every one after that.

“Think they’ll try to cheat again? Throw something impossible at us?”

“Most definitely. Yet, when have we not battled the impossible?”

“True.” She laughed. “Oh well. We do it the old way, right? You go first and start stabbing it.”

“While you lay back and swear at it.”

“I’ll have you know that my swearing can now be considered cursing.”

“Of the magical variety?”

“…maybe?”

No more quips after that, since the magical veil before them disappeared and they received a full view of the arena. Not so dissimilar from the one many years ago, yet this one allowed the spectators to be viewed in turn. Heard too and the two listened to more cheers than jeers.

And before them lay their test.

“Please. No. Have mercy.”

The shriveled-up form before them, ghastly in part, withered and begged, but never strayed his eyes from them.

“No.” Ravena muttered. “No… what is this? Why would they- No.” she said, turning frightened eyes towards Kelunad.

So this is the test. You wish me to kill… him? To kill my past. Me and Ravena both, I suspect.

The one before them was an orc. A pitiful orc, barely any muscle on it, wrinkled skin hanging loose on his frame. He held on to a staff of rotted wood and its apparel screamed of forbidden magic.

Well. Forbidden only by Gnosis.

Kelunad looked ahead and saw that Regitris was not watching them, head in his hands. Instead, another Ascentionalist walked forwards and spoke to them, voice magnified.

“This, my dear Gnosians, is an enemy of Gnosis. A |Shaman| and |Witchdoctor| both. A former Graduate from our most esteemed academy. One that swore to follow our beliefs. Before depredating himself. And more, this rotten waste of flesh had turned arms and Spell against us. Against Gnosis! He had been found conspiring against the academy, looking to break into our halls and steal that which he cannot rightfully gain.”

“No.” the pitiful orc called out, as best he could. “No, I only wished to give liberate it. I tried to trade, but you would not list-“

“Silence!” and the roar hit the orc at the same time the mage’s Spell did.

“What did you try to liberate?” Kelunad asked, voice calm, but blood boiling.

“M-magic.”

“This retch attempted to steal tomes. Warded tomes. Locked tomes. Tomes that would unleash the old enemy, that would teach mages to bring into being the old horrors. Natural magic. Of course, the wrong type of natural magic.” The mage said, smiling like a dagger. “Not the ones you esteemed mages practice.”

Little wonder he is an elf.

“Enough.” A voice said.

He heard Ravena’s breath catch, as he saw the old elf rise. He looked at her and the hope in her eyes hurt him like a physical wound.

Do you not see his pain? He will not help him. Nor us. Their pettiness has finally gone above him.

“It was mark on our honor that we have to… to execute him as we will. A fouler mark indeed that we use his punishment as test for our graduates. Yet… the academy decided, so it must be so. But please, understand.”

He was pleading.

“This… orc. Misguided as he may have been, had been trying to steal tomes from us. We caught him as he was organizing an attack. He had composed a warband. For that… the punishment is clear. I only wish it was not you who had to administer it.”

“Personal wished mean nothing.” The younger elf said. “Yet… this is a worthy test for you two. Kelunad of the Martials and Ravena of the Naturalists. See what the old ways bring forth. You call yourselves the new hope of the old world. Nature put to use by magic. If that is so, prove it. Show us your determination. Your loyalty. And kill this wretch.”

For the first time in his life… Kelunad wavered. His bloodlust was coming back. Only not for the crying orc. Bur for them. Them who had attempted to thwart them at every turn. Who hated them, for the simple act of loving a different aspect of magic. For being a different aspect of magic. He wanted to rage.

But hand caught his arm.

“No.” she said, quietly.

He looked at her and the emptiness in his eyes frightened even him.”

“Ravena.”

“We have to do this. It’s…. it’s not just, but the rules are there. And… we can’t be pulled back into the old schemes. The old hatreds.”

“So we only accept the new ones?”

“No.” she said. “We just… survive. Fight. Fight and reach for the power to change things. But to have it… we have to actually get there first.”

He looked at her a second. An eternity.

But hand in hand, they walked forwards again.

The fight that followed was brutal. Not hard, simply… ugly. The orc tried to fight back, but he was tired. Depleted. They fought, Kelunad with all his rage and Ravena with all her sorrow. She screamed an cursed and cried as she cast and each time she hit him, each time she scored blood, Kelunad thought she saw her kill a part of herself. They fought, until the arena was stained dark red and the young woman he so respected was on the floor, crying.

“You… you have won. The test is finished. And the punishment doled out. Come forth, mages of Gnosis.”

They were all looking at them with respect now. Even the young elf. How they loved to see mages with as little heart as them. Regitris himself came down from the podium and Ravena started to run, barreling into him, hugging and crying like she was a child and not the deadly fighter they all saw.

Time passed in a haze for the next few hours. He didn’t know how, but Kelunad walked the castle. In a daze, but always in his best friend’s tracks. Even in that state, he feared she would so something… drastic.

So he followed her. All the way to Regitris’s chambers. He stood, watching, slowly clearing his mind, until she saw her knock. A moment later, the elf opened his door.

“Ravena? Dear girl, are you alright. You look-“

He didn’t get to say anything more, since she kissed him. Wildly, almost thoughtlessly, before pushing him inside and slamming the door.

I should be happy. This is what she desired for… some time. It shouldn’t hurt.

So why does it do?

***

The next morning, his friend walked past by him with a smile Yet her eyes were still vacant. Cold.

She walked up the podium in the great hall and addressed the entire faculty.

“I’ll keep this short. I am Revana, but I guess you all know me by now. So hear me. I am officially renouncing the Naturalists and joining the Ascentionalists.”

He heard confused murmuring, even shouts, before the Ascentionalists started clapping as one. Behind her, the old elf was smiling magnificently.

I hope you find happiness.