Only Zarune is older than us.

Extract from a letter, hidden in the secret archives of Irvanon.

Two threads are knotted, four are woven, eight are knotted, sixteen are woven, and on and on... The world is transformed before him, reality aligns itself, even the very tapestry of existence takes on a new form. A flame is like a shadow, inaccessible, unreachable. No matter how hard you reach for it, all you feel is its warmth. Yet Jonah knots, yet Jonah weaves, the flame takes the shape he desires, a spear of fire and destruction. Jonah reaches out, and he has grasped it. If solid can turn into fire, can't fire turn into solid?

Jonah took his Svärdstav of fire and spun it around him in one of his fighting forms. Flames followed the movement of his fire weapon, creating tongues of flame that moved with it, he had created a fire so powerful that it would cut through steel.

Jonah released his weave, blowing softly he looked at his hand, whose steel glove had begun to melt. No matter how much he created a weave of air to reject the heat it wasn't enough. He had tried with ice and almost burned himself from the steam his weapon had created in contact with his hand. The rock was turning into magma and he had only managed to get rid of it before it reached his flesh by a quick reflex.

Yet if he could not hold his weapon for the moment, that he had managed to make the fire condensed enough to hold it in his hand, for a while at least, was already an achievement. If he wanted to be able to hold it safely he would have to find a material that could withstand its heat, or find a way to turn his hand into a flame. Perhaps there was another solution too, he needed to think about it.

Maybe it wasn't even necessary, he could just create his spear and throw it like he would a fireball, but it would take a lot more skill on weaving in air, and in the physics of movement for that. And for the moment his simple creation required a lot of concentration, and while his fire spear was far more deadly than a simple fireball, it was still the most effective and fastest way to get rid of an enemy.

Moreover, he had not yet decided if he wanted to specialise in the path of the fire, certainly, this offensive capacity was important but weaving allowed him to play with many natural laws. He could focus on electricity like Aurora, would a flood of lightning be more devastating than a torrent of flame? What if he didn't want to follow the warrior's path? Earth could be a weapon, but it could also be used to build. Water pressure could be powerful, but could also be used to irrigate a field. The fire was useful for many jobs, but it was not necessary to have a great mastery of it for them, his current skills would be enough.

Jonah would like to believe that he could do without a fighter's path, but he feared it was not possible, worse dangerous. He had too much to lose, facing a world far more dangerous than he was used to. He had to have the ability to face it.

With the mastery of fire, comes the mastery of magma, and at the end of it, all is plasma. He could create a weapon made of water, to use the pressure to create highly condensed projectiles, but it would be impossible for him to have the speed to hit his target with enough force to be useful. If he used fire to accentuate his projection then it would be his projectile that would explode. To achieve this he would need to master fire, water and air, at least, to the skill level of a Master.

As for all the other weapons Jonah could think of, the level of skill needed to make it functionally required mastery of too many elements, and he had to use them all at the same time. A prism could only hold so much colour. Maybe it would be possible for him, who was supposed to have no limit, but Jonah didn't know enough about his particularity to say so yet. Perhaps, his limit was just much larger than the other Eldars but there was always a limit.

If he focused on fire, he might already have a secure weapon to fall back on, only then could he begin to focus on mastering another form of weaving.

Similarly, if he would be unable to reach the level that Brenin believed Leila could achieve in internal weaving, and he believed in the prince's skill in this area, he could at least try to control some of the processes. Instead of transforming himself completely, if he could transform a part of his body he could then use this new weave he had just created as a bladed weapon. With his level of augmentation mastery, he would already be very difficult to stop.

And as his colours grew in his prism, his power would grow as well. If he trained his mastery he would then be able to make several weaves of this level together. Perhaps then in the distant future, he would be able to surround himself with spears of flame that would advance with him, serving as both weapon and shield.

- Well, that was impressive.

Jonah turned to find Breenin standing next to him, hands on hips, a big smile on his face and approving eyes.

- Usually, a Weaver focuses on one area, r all of them if he's a generalist, but with much less possibility of Weaving for one colour. You have succeeded perfectly in combining internal and external weaving, congratulations.

Cheeks a little red from having made a spectacle of himself, Jonah says.

- There's still a lot of room for improvement.

- Sure, but this is an important first step. Be proud Jonah.

With that, he patted him on the shoulder before heading out the door.

- Show-off.

Turning, Jonah found Leila standing next to him, hands on hips, a mocking smile on her lips.

- Show-off.

Turning again he found Aurora, this time in the same position as Leila but with eyes sparkling with happiness.

- Show-off.

- WHAT I...!

- Haha, just kidding buddy, a well-done for impressing all the Eldar present.

Mustapha took him by the shoulders before spinning him around. Contrary to what he let think, the Eldars weren't looking at him, they were focused on their training. He could only see Mat in the corner of the room looking at him with a frown, and Marie sitting not far away, on one of the benches around the room, waving at him.

- Pfft! Of course, my human is the best! He's got great colour!

- Your human?

The fairy's head had popped out of Mustapha's pocket to make her comment, when she realised that Aurora was not far away she had dived back into hiding with a hysterical laugh.

- Shoo, shoo!

Mustapha waved his hand in Aurora's direction. She raised her chin in the air, made an offending noise, and took Leila's arm to leave with a dignified step, in the beautiful electric blue dress that Zarune had given her. Leila let herself be led away by her friend, glaring at the fairy and her protector. Yet she could not hide the smile that grew on her face.

- You're tough, Mouse.

Mustapha laughed.

- Come on, don't tell me that wasn't fun!

- Okay, maybe a little.

Bending down by his friend's pocket, Jonah said.

- It's okay, she's gone.

A suspicious little head popped out of the pocket to look around discreetly. Before flying out with a triumphant air.

- Ah, the bright-girl was afraid of the great Vuur!

Aurora must have heard her because she turned around in their direction, and when she pretended to come back, the fairy squeaked before leaving to hide behind Jonah, despite the apologetic smile he gave her, she left with a harumph.

- No kidding this time, you're getting pretty impressive with the Weave. I feel like I'm getting nowhere with it.

Turning to Mustapha, Jonah raised an eyebrow.

- Wasn't it you who managed to make yourself so fast that you caught an arrow in flight that was about to hit Imoran?

- Just a stroke of luck, my friend. Just a fluke.

From his tone, Jonah realised that he didn't want to talk about it. So he took Mustapha with him and said.

- Come on, we've had enough training today, and although it's best to avoid the city, the rooftop parks of the Palace are enough.

Jonah went with him to a corner he had discovered yesterday with Aurora as they walked around the palace together discussing Weaving. It was on the lowest roof floor, just across the river Tua. Yesterday at dusk you could see the reflection of the sun on the water as the last of the boats arrived in port. Here there was only silence and the sound of waterfalls. If you disregarded what was behind you would feel as if you were in the middle of a waterfall in the middle of the rainforest. Which in a way it was, but yesterday Jonah had felt free of the responsibilities and difficulties ahead. He hoped to offer that same freedom to his friend.

- Nice, how did you find this place?

They were surrounded by trees, all of which he hid from them except the river and the giant trees in the distance.

- By chance, while we were walking around.

- We were?

- With Aurora.

- Oh! Well done, brother!

Mustapha gave him a friendly tap on the shoulder. Jonah quickly tried to deny this misunderstanding.

- Not at all! We were just discussing the Weaving together, and then we ended up here.

- Um, um.

- I'm telling you!

- Well, I didn't think you were that dense, Jonah. I'm disappointed.

Jonah froze.

- No, it's not that. I can't afford a romance, not in this uncertain situation.

Mustapha looked at him seriously.

- Isn't it precisely because it is uncertain that it would be a good thing? You have to take the time to smile in difficult times. I thought I told you that.

Jonah had never thought about that. Well, if he had thought about it, he had rejected it.

- It's not the right time. Besides, who says she's interested?

- You're not still thinking about Leila, are you? Because that horse is already gone, and you're not gonna catch him.

- No... just not right now. What about you? I saw how you looked at Imoen.

- How do you know that ship hasn't already sailed?

- Seriously?!

Mustapha made a gesture of locking his mouth, before throwing the key into the river. Jonah didn't know if he was joking or not, but he was glad that his friend was in a good mood again. They were able to rest quietly for a few hours before having lunch together, and each of them occupied themselves for the rest of the afternoon.

As the rest of the day progressed, something happened to disrupt the third quiet day in Tera.

Furious, Jonah shouted.

- What does this mean? Why did you bring him here?

Turning angrily to the princess.

- Zarune, did you know about this?

Brenin calmly grabbed the young man's shoulder.

- Jonah, she didn't know.

Jonah pulled his shoulder away from the prince.

- You knew?!

- Yes.

Taking a deep breath to calm his rage, Jonah spoke tremulously.

- Why?

- If one of you was dead...

- So you're willing to go there?! Have you no modesty?

All the other humans in the room had fallen silent, the hostility on one side merging with the coldness on the other. Though Jonah noticed the embarrassment and disapproval for his brother, that Zarune tried to hide. His support did not diminish his anger, however.

Laying a trembling hand on his latest best friend's face, he could feel how cold Lucas' skin was. In a whisper he said.

- You're going to kill him.

Brenin hesitated before saying.

- He's dying Jonah, he's going to die, no matter what we do.

- No...

Looking at his friend, Jonah could not lie to himself, pushing his prism to allow him to see the tapestry of the world he tried to perceive Lucas' prism. His prism pulsed, it was getting more and more painful. Just as he was about to push again, a hand grabbed his shoulder cutting off his concentration.

- Jonah!

Furious he turned to find Aurora, tears streaming down her face. He froze, opened his mouth but could say nothing. Leila reached out and took Aurora in her arms, giving Jonah a serious look. The young man turned back to the Eldars.

- Then you should have left him in peace in Irvanon! Let him die in safety. Not this!

The Eldars looked at him in silence, both the military and the princely siblings.

- Get out.

The coldness of the room became more intense.

- Brenin, please get out.

The prince looked at him with sad eyes, before nodding.

- I understand, let's go.

- Your Highness...!

- Silence. Out.

Jonah sat down on a chair next to Lucas' bed, before taking his head in his hands. He felt a hand on his shoulder, he did not look to see who it was. After a moment the hand left. He didn't know how long he stood there with his head in his hands. After a while, he did end up letting his gaze wander on his friend.

Of course, he suspected that something like this would happen. Lucas was not well when they arrived here, and the more time passed, the worse it got. Jonah just didn't understand why, there was no reason for it. It was just like he had given up.

He had fallen into this magical coma and then he had not been able to make him react. Yet he had tried, he had gone to see him every night he had spent in Irvanon. And then he'd gone off to accomplish that damn mission, he'd left him with the Eldars in complete confidence, trusting in their word that they'd take care of him. So much for trust, not only did they want to use them for their dark scheme, involving them in a war they had nothing to do with, but they don't just give orders. No, even if they found themselves unable to move, they would try to use them. Even their cold bodies are just another means to an end for them.

Jonah's prism burned, an inner fire he had painstakingly carried and nurtured ignited. He was trying to find the reason within himself to stop her from doing what he wanted, but it was so difficult. He wanted to get out of that room, to go out and burn them all. How dare he use his friend like that?

Jonah thought with his mind in chaos, he felt his eyes flare with rage, the chair he was sitting in was starting to burn, he was going to...!

I hope for your sake that you'll be able to keep this state of mind

A simple sentence was said not so long ago.

Jonah fell to his knees, his mind empty. The fire he had begun to evoke died down. He was alone in the room, apart from his dying friend, he was alone. No one had seen him lose control.

On his knees, staring at the floor, Jonah shed a single tear. Rising to his feet, placing a hand on the forehead of his last best friend, who had been with him since childhood, he made a promise.

He kept this promise in his heart, to remember, never to forget. He had failed to save his friend, but that would not stop him. He would continue to fight no matter what, he would become strong enough to protect his loved ones. He would never give up, not in the face of loss, not in the face of rage.

Jonah walked out of Lucas' flat. They were in a wing of the palace not far from his own flat and his friends', but still far enough away from them. He didn't know why they had transported him so far from the others.

Zarune was in front of him with her arms crossed, watching him carefully, worried even though she hid it well, Jonah had come to know her, to consider her a friend. He looked at her, she said nothing.

- How much time did he is left?

Without waiting for her to answer, Jonah walked in search of the outside. He needed some fresh air. She followed him.

- I don't know, it could be tomorrow or a month from now. Her transport didn't change her condition. His ailment is not physical.

Jonah turned to her, impassive.

- Do you know what's wrong with him?

The princess hesitated.

- I don't know for sure... but I have my doubts.

- What is it?

- I can't tell you. Not now.

Jonah walked in silence.

- More secrets.

- You'll understand, I...

Jonah turned abruptly to Zarune, about to open his mouth, before giving up. They stared at each other for a moment before he turned around. Then he froze. A metre away from him was Mat, he hadn't heard him coming. Jonah shuddered, for a second he had met his gaze and read madness in it.

Zarune walked past him, also obviously surprised to find Mat here.

- What are you doing here, human?

Mat looked at her, then smiled.

- Am I being held in residence now?

Just as Zarune was about to answer, he raised a hand to interrupt her.

- Don't say anything, I'm not in the mood, I'll leave you with Jonah. Continue your little conversation.

- You!

Before she could say anything more he was gone, Zarune, furious, hesitated between pursuing him and staying with Jonah. In the end, she stayed by his side.

During their little altercation Jonah had wondered, had he seen that glint in Mat's eye? Why would he want him dead? No, he must have imagined it. Grief was still affecting him.

He started walking again, heading for that spot near the docks. Zarune stayed with him, supporting him. Jonah couldn't bring himself to blame her for the choices his people had made. Who knew how far he would go to protect his people?

As he looked out into the silence of the night, Jonah was grateful for her presence.