With the sun still high in the sky, the black carapace of Chul E’tana crested a massive dune in the sea of sand. The Arachkin’s fangs chittered and his golden yellow eyes searched the golden grains for where to go next. On his back, the young human boy Jake squinted and pointed off in the distance. He directed Chul’s attention off to their slight right, and Chul turned his attention towards a speck in the distance. From their elevation, the two could see a collection of objects jutting out of the stale surface. The heat distorted the air but through the haze, both could see outlines of a distant village.

Chul took in the view of their surroundings and created a route in his head that would lead him to their destination. After verifying and checking it twice, Chul descended off the dune with a slight hop, plunging towards the low sands beneath them. His sharp feet cut through the side of the dune, creating an avalanche of dust as he surfed the wave of glittering brown gold. The Arachkin’s eyes remained focused and steady as he slid down to the dune’s base. Riding the momentum when he reached the bottom, the Arachkin slid into a powerful stride. Jake held on tight as the eight-legged Guardian plowed through the desert, racing around the next dune into the shade of another which towered high enough to block out the sun for a decent stretch.

The two had traveled for a fraction of the time it had taken Jake to reach the Ravine. A testament to Chul’s size and pace. The creatures of the desert had made Jake wary of traveling and he had to take a few detours to avoid falling prey to a few. Chul had no such worries. Add in his magic and the Arachkin made easy work of the ocean of heat. He wasn’t alone in his ability to survive in the harsh environment, though.

The Village, and dozens of others like it scattered through the desert, stood as a testament to Humanity’s strength and willingness to survive. A tiny miracle in the endless sea of sand positioned perfectly beside a lucky oasis. After generations of living beneath the sun’s rays and basking in its heat, inhabitants of the desert developed bronze-like skin and a culture built to withstand its perils. The People of the Sand developed dark brown eyes, black hair, tougher skin, thicker soles on their feet, and nimbleness to their step. Surviving in the desert required walking long distances quietly. Attracting unwanted attention in the sands would bring death to any of the unwary.

Thus, while Chul used magic to regulate his body temperature and protect himself from the heat, Jake sat upright on his back largely unphased. He did take off his shirt and place it over his head after a little while, but that was only to keep the sand from getting in his hair. Chul’s running was kicking up quite the mess.

Chul navigated the final stretch of desert expertly, just like he had for the distance prior. He clung to the shade where he could and frequently perched onto the peaks of dunes to verify his direction. Once they were close to the village, only a short sprint away from Chul, the Arachkin slowed to a casual walk. He climbed one of the last dunes and peaked over the top, his eyes and Jake’s head the only things emerging into view as they both looked towards the village.

It was smaller than the average village in the desert, a reflection of the smaller oasis within it. The number of tents was far smaller, numbering less than thirty. The outer clay wall was set low with much of the protection coming from large, spiked poles that had been brought from other villages to create the perimeter. Two gates were established that worked to funnel the occasional visitors and caravans; one to the front of the village and another oriented off the left. A massive dune protected the backside of the village and the oasis took up the right side.

“Shall we exchange places from here?” Chul asked. The Arachkin was content with striding up to the front gate. However, both he and Jake doubted the posted guards would take kindly to the sight of a massive spider sprinting towards them. On top of that, it was trading day and Jake could see several people and animals loitering around the front gate.

Trading Day, or trading three days since the caravans tended to hang around for three days now and not just one as they used to several generations back. Once a month, caravans would make their stop in the village to resupply, trade, and sell wares, and collect water to support their continuous journey through the desert. The caravans were a group of merchants traveling together both for efficiency and safety. With them they brought travelers from far-off lands, Adventurers looking for the next big job, and Mercenaries ordered with protecting the caravans.

In total, ten caravans circled the desert. All followed the same strict circuit to ensure they were able to stop at each village on schedule. The “Golden Trail” was created at the birth of the country, decided upon, and organized by the Council of Elders. The caravans were meant to act as a steady and reliable way for villages to connect, they established a movement of goods, and they provided transportation for those who could afford to move or needed to for a living.

In the early years of civilization within the desert, villages functioned primarily in isolation. Since the creation of the caravans, several villages have prospered and many more have cropped up within the desert as new oases were found. At first, only three caravans walked the sands and villages would have to wait months for a visit. Now with ten caravans, Trading Day happened monthly. On top of the increased number of caravans, their sizes have also increased allowing for a further increase in the movement of goods and people.

“Good idea.” Acknowledging that Chul walking up to the gate was a terrible idea, Jake agree and slid off Arachkin’s back, plopping down onto his battered sandals. Chul lowered his body to the sand and his body glowed as his magic triggered. The magical spell of size reduction he knew was convenient for this task and the massive spider shrunk down so that he could fit in Jake’s palm. He wished he could be smaller, but any more would damage his magic circuits.

After a few moments of adjusting to his smaller form, the Arachkin crawled into Jake’s lowered hand. He nestled comfortably into the crook of Jake’s neck and took his turn riding along. The boy put his shirt back on, giving something for Chul to hide beneath once they reached the gate, and then crested the dune. He glanced up towards the sun to judge the time and huffed as he realized how much later in the day it was. It was around lunchtime, which meant the bazaar would be busy.

The distance from the dune to the gate was longer on human foot and took Jake quite a bit of time to reach the tail end of the queue lined up in front of it. As an inhabitant of the village, Jake bypassed the line. The caravan had arrived later than usual so several merchants were still being processed and Mercenaries loitered near the tamed Dunebeasts and Caravan Lizards. Adventurers who had come looking for a payday were organized to the rear, as they needed to be checked separately.

Walking alongside the caravan, Jake was easy to pick out and a few guards took notice. The one in the tower whistled for the Captain’s attention. The Captain, a familiar face, looked up and then out. He spotted the boy and his eyes narrowed. Jake clenched his teeth, ready for the berating he was about to likely get. The Captain held up a hand to the merchant, apologizing as he stepped away. Seeing trouble, Chul crawled beneath Jake’s shirt and hid on his back, flattening himself against the boy’s skin to hide his presence.

“Boy… You have a lot of explaining to do. Your Aunt raised hell yesterday.” The Captain growled, his expression hardening further. Jake bowed his head.

“Sorry, Ata.” He answered. The Captain whistled for one of his men to collect the boy and Jake was escorted through the archway. The Captain tapped him on the head with a roll of paperwork before leaving him to walk. Jake sighed and rubbed at his head, following behind the guard as he walked up to the small shack jutting out of the base of the tower. Standing inside, picking at her gauntlet, a short young woman was leaning on her elbows. She huffed, blowing a stray strand of hair out of her face. The boredom and displeasure were written all over her face.

“Elana,” the escorting guard called out, getting her attention. Caught off guard, the girl snapped to attention, acting as if she had always been so.

“Y-Yes! Oh, it’s yo-Jake!” A whirlwind of emotions shot across her face in the span of a second as she realized she wasn’t in trouble and then she spotted Jake. She scrambled out of the shack, nearly tackling the other lazing fellow who was next to her. She danced around the corner of the shack and practically tackled Jake to the ground, her arms wrapping him up and yanking him into her chest. Jake let out an annoyed grunt and stiffened, wincing as he pried her off him.

“Space! Personal space!” Jake rumbled as he pushed her off finally. Elana let out a laugh and planted a hand on his head. She was barely two inches taller than him but because of her being three years older, she had always treated him like a kid. Even now as he stood on the edge of being considered a full adult she continued to tease him with it.

“Sorry. After yesterday, I thought it was necessary.” Jake swatted her hand away from him and stepped back. Elana grinned and planted her hands on her hips. Even with her leathery guard armor on, it was hard to conceal her wide waist. She had complained that the uniform was too tight and revealing when they’d given it to her, so they had modified it to have a longer skirt and a shirt that connected to it. It looked more like a dress. “Where did you go? Everyone was worried about you.”

“Do you know where Auntie is?” Jake asked. He assumed that she would be working at the bazaar. But, if he knew her, she was likely at the Guardhouse causing a scene. From what it sounded like, she had already done that.

“Actually, that’s why the Captain was angry with you. Your Auntie came to us yesterday and said you had left after saying something about the Ravine.” She rolled her eyes, sighing and letting her shoulders loosen. From her body language, it sounded tiresome. “We sent a search party but we didn’t find anything. The Captain told her to just wait and you’d show up eventually.”

Jake’s lips pressed together and he resisted the urge to look over his shoulder towards Chul. The Arachkin remained motionless and silent, leaving Jake to deal with things himself. The boy sighed and scratched at his head, unsure of what to say and how much. The trip to the Ravine was no lie. However, he wondered if his Auntie would even believe him. Elena might but she would just as quickly berate him for being so stupid. She knew of his wish to be an Adventurer and had argued with him over it once. He knew her enough to tell that she was more than happy to argue over it again.

“I should’ve kept my mouth shut.” Jake grimaced and lowered his eyes, remembering how his Auntie had yelled at him for even mentioning the Ravine. Elana picked up on his shift in emotion and placed her hand gently on his cheek. Her touch was soft and far warmer than the rays of the sun itself.

“Don’t beat yourself up over it. Auntie was pretty mad but I bet she’ll be happy to see you.” Elana’s glossy lips curled into an easing smile and she gave his shoulder a light rap of her knuckles. “Come on, let’s go see her.”

“I guess,” Jake muttered. Auntie was initially the first person he wanted to see and talk to before he had returned. Now, not so much. He could already imagine how this was going to go. Elana winked and called out to her fellow guards, letting them know she would be leaving for a bit. The guard in the shack waved her off as he yawned. The Captain didn’t even look at her, busy with his paperwork. Elana shrugged and the two stepped off, heading into the village in the direction of the bazaar.

With Trading Day in full swing, the village was alive. The bazaar was a mess of merchants vying for stall space and customers trying to barter for a deal. The merchants who had come with the caravan sold everything from wares, supplies, and food, to personal effects in hopes of making as much gold and coin as possible while restocking their supplies. In a world where survival was more important than wealth, money came second to useful supplies.

But, money meant you could buy protection in the sands. For those with dreams of a better life elsewhere, they would need that protection to cross the barren gold sea to survive to the next village. There, they could set up their next of kin to hopefully take the next trip to the next place, and eventually, their lineage would reach the cities beyond. An expensive investment. One that was made more often than some people knew. However, that debt was paid in blood more often than in gold.

Along with shouts for a good deal, several local men and villagers called out to Elana, vying for the beauty’s attention. A few new Adventurers also looked her way. She kept a bright smile on as she returned their greetings and waves smoothly, masterfully wading through the sea of affection without missing a step. She was a strong warrior, a beautiful woman, and one of the most intelligent mages in the village. Just her being a mage alone caused her popularity to spike. A child birthed from her womb would carry the potential to be a powerful heir, especially if a male mage was her partner. Even if not, a man with good genes paired with her would still increase the chance of a capable child.

The number of marriage proposals was high. The number of “dates” she had to go on because of her popularity made it difficult for her to enjoy an evening alone and in peace. As a guard, Jake found her being pestered quite often during her rounds through the village. Thankfully her Captain was aware of the problems and tended to keep her close to the gates. That way, random passersby couldn’t disturb her during her duty day. Usually.

“Hey Elana,” Jake piped up as Elana waved off another suitor. She sighed, tired already, and then let out a soft grumble to acknowledge him. “Have you ever thought of leaving this village?” He looked up at her and at that moment, she saw the almost perfect outer shell crack ever so slightly.

“I have, but I don’t think I ever will.” She frowned and her hands slid behind her back. “I don’t think I could stomach leaving it all behind, you know?” She forced a smile as she gave the tents a wide look. “The men are ugly, there isn’t much excitement, and my future is pretty bland. I’m almost destined to just pop out kids and pass my days watching them grow.” She rolled her eyes, obviously annoyed by that fact.

“But, this is home for me.” She looked over at him, staring at him for a few moments. “Leaving it behind would be hard.” Jake met her eyes, resonating with her words a bit more now that he had experienced being outside of the village. It wasn’t for very long but when he looked back toward the desert and had the opportunity to leave, it scared him. He felt fear toward the unknown world beyond the sand. He also missed the safety and warmth of his Auntie’s tent. Indeed, the village was boring and the people in it just as stale… but it was home.

“Home, huh?” Jake muttered. He looked away and stopped walking for a moment. He looked at the noisy bazaar, his eyes glazing over the various faces and animals as he took in the scene. He then looked toward the gate and toward the few guards standing around it, a job he was likely to get in the coming months.

Home.

“Jake?” Elana asked behind him, bringing him back to reality. He snapped out of his thoughts and turned to continue walking.

“Nothing,” he muttered quietly. Elana gave him a sidelong look but she didn’t prod. She only gave him a slight nudge as they walked.

“So? How was the Ravine?” She spat out randomly. Jake practically choked on his saliva.

“What-” Jake tried to interject but Elana rolled her eyes and pointed at his shirt.

“I’m not stupid, Jake. You're covered in dirt anyways.” Jake looked down to see that he was quite filthy. His nails were black around the edges from his clawing at the wall. His shirt and skirt were covered in mud, dust, and dirt. His sandals were tattered by the rough terrain and the descent. Not to mention his pack was dirty from the fall. It was really hard to cover up that he hadn’t had an easy time.

“Not going to argue this time?” Jake scoffed as he crossed his arms. Elana just shrugged.

“I thought about it quite a bit. When we were sent out to find you, I was pretty mad. Still am, actually.” Jake felt a shiver go down his spine as she gave him a brief, harsh look. “But, I know you enough. When I saw you standing there as filthy as you are, I already knew you’d gone.” Her voice trailed off towards the end and Jake found it hard to hear her over the noise. She stopped just outside of the large tent which was their destination and she gave him a soft smile.

“I’m just happy you came back.” Without another word and not letting Jake say anything in return, Elana stepped around the corner of the tent to the wide-open eating area. There were dozens of low tables set out in the sand, several higher tables organized beneath the tent cover, and a long bar set up with high stools. People were gathered all through the area, both seated and standing. Waitresses danced amongst the patrons and servers moved quickly to and from, bringing out drinks and food to the tables.

Jake frowned, staring at Elana’s back for a few moments before he followed her into the crowd. As expected, a few men made jokes and tried to get her attention but Elana ignored them as she approached the bar. Behind it and just off to the side, a few women were standing in a gaggle. Elana asked for Jake’s Auntie and the girls all pointed to the back of the tent. Just as they did, the woman emerged with a handful of fresh plates covered in food.

“Oh!” Elana quipped. Jake’s eyes widened as his Auntie’s eyes locked on him. She froze in place, like a statue as she stared at him.

“Aunti-!” Before Jake could even get the word out, the woman was on him. She dropped the plates on the counter of the bar, safely emptying her hands before she scooped the boy into her arms.

“Oh thank Shalam!” She said into his ear, her arms squeezing him into her. Jake’s chest tensed up and he struggled to return the hug. He patted her back, tapping out as he found it hard to breathe. Chul moved nimbly to avoid the arms, barely dodging them.

“Auntie. Auntie Rayne. Can’t breathe.” He gasped. The woman ignored him for another hard breath before she pulled away, her arms gripping his shoulders. Her face was already wet with tears, her eyes visibly red from prior sessions of crying. Jake opened his mouth to speak but the expression on her face caused his voice to catch.

“You foolish boy… I was so worried.” She whispered, kissing his cheek and his head. Her hands brushed through his thick black hair, her fingers practically touching all over his face as she brushed off the dirt and sand. She placed her forehead against his and took in a deep breath. “Are you hurt? Where did you go?”

“No, Auntie. I’m fine.” Jake sighed and grabbed her hands, stopping her loving touches of his face. It was kind of annoying. He took in a long, deep breath, and then looked up at her. “I saw it, Auntie.” He whispered. “I saw the bottom of the Ravine.”

For a moment, she just stared at him. Her eyes searched his face, looking for some proof of a lie. However, all she found was evidence. The boy had mentioned it to her a few times. She had yelled at him frequently for it, demanded that he never go near the Ravine, and had even struck him when he’d tried once before. Now there was no doubting it. He had gone against her wishes and played the same act his father had- he’d run off to do something stupid and left her behind to worry over it.

“I warned you, boy.” Her voice cracked slightly and her hands tensed around his. She pulled them away and that soft expression on her face hardened. “I warned you about leaving the village. Do you know how dangerous it is?!” She snapped at him.

“I warned you never to go near that place! I told you to stay near the village because of the Dunebeasts!” She yelled. A few close tables quieted, their attention drawn to the scene. Jake clenched his teeth and felt his heart rate spike.

“I’m not going to just sit around the village and do nothing, Auntie. I scouted the way to the Ravine, I knew it was safe and even told you it was safe!” Jake retorted, but she would hear none of it.

“Quiet, boy! You know nothing of the sand’s dangers!” She shouted. Jake’s mind whirled as his anger leaked into his face. His cheeks reddened with heat.

“I do! I’ve heard stories and asked Adventurer-” He started to talk, but his Auntie just rolled her eyes and clicked her tongue.

“It’s always stories with you, child. You never listen to reason, do you?!” She balked and grabbed at his shirt. Though her arms looked frail, her grip was intense. “You were told to not leave the village, and you left!”

“Yea, I did!” He shouted back, his eyes narrowing. In that moment of tunnel vision, he failed to catch her other hand move. He felt the sting before he heard the crack of her palm over his face. His vision blanked for a moment as he was knocked sideways into the sand. A trained hand and a powerful swing developed over many years of child-rearing and dealing with Jake’s bullshit.

Jake gritted his teeth, feeling the pain of the smack pulse through his face. His senses were a bit unsettled and his thoughts scattered from the hit. He could hear ringing in his right ear, a result of the impact. The boy rolled slowly to his hands and knees, his eyes taking in the view of his Auntie looming over him. Elana had moved to his back, checking to make sure he was okay.

“You never listen to me. You never have. And you are going to get hurt because of it, Jake. I tell you these things to protect you, not to cage you. Your father’s stories and the tales from these rotten adventurers are nothing but exaggerations of danger.” His Auntie tried to give him her reasons but the instant she raised her hand to him she had already lost her argument. Jake tuned out her words and collected himself. When he could finally stand, he gently nudged Elana back.

“I’m tired of arguing with you, Auntie. I’m going to become an Adventurer, and I don’t care what you think.” Jake scowled at the woman, his hands curling into fists as he steeled himself. The second smack came just as expected but he was ready this time. His head turned and his cheek burned, but Jake held his footing. After taking a moment to let his vision steady again, he looked at her once more.

“You may want to protect me, but that’s for yourself. Not for me.” Without another word, Jake stepped back and then strode towards the exit of the tent.

“Jake!” His Auntie howled. “Don’t you walk away from me!”

Jake didn’t look back, ignoring her screaming as she followed after him. Once he was outside the tent and clear of any tables, the boy turned and jogged off. He spat out a mouthful of spittle, clearing his mouth of the remnants of being hit. He didn’t see blood but it certainly hurt enough to make him think he might have cut his cheek.

“Not quite the welcoming you expected, was it?” Chul asked over Jake’s shoulder. The boy sighed and stopped, turning back to look in the direction of the tent. He stared, wondering if she might send Elana after him. Thankfully she hadn’t, for whatever reason. That was the real surprise.

“No, actually. I expected that. It’s just the slaps hurt a bit more this time.” Jake smirked and found a way to chuckle. He cut the laugh short- it hurt his face to laugh. Just in case his Auntie changed her mind and came after him, Jake continued to walk to the destination he had in mind to hide out in for a bit. He sought out the village’s Oasis Marker.

The Marker was a stout, single-room square that was used by travelers in the olden times before the village was formed. Travelers could drink from the oasis and rest inside the small adobe-made building out of the sun to cool off. A small cut in the sand was also made to allow water to flow into a little pool inside it. Just enough water flowed in that could be used to bathe with and a few small basins were provided for those wanting to wash themselves down.

For Jake who needed a place to escape from his Auntie regularly as a kid, the Oasis Marker proved to be a comfortable hiding spot. The Marker had several places to sit and plenty of cushions scattered about that one could lounge on. In a back corner, Jake had collected enough cushions so he could flop down and sprawl out on top of them. It had become one of his favorite places to nap in the middle of the day and few disturbed him whenever he was sleeping. Though, before he laid down, Jake needed to clean off the grime from his trip. He could smell the filth on him.

The boy snatched a small basin from the front of the room and then made his way to the back of the water pool. There were a few others inside, including a woman with two children, so Jake made sure not to disturb any of them. He dipped the basin into the pool, filling it halfway with liquid. Then, he grabbed a fresh cloth hanging off a nearby rack that he could use. He dropped the towel into the basin and let it soak.

While he waited, he shed his shirt slowly, giving Chul enough time to move from his back and into the fabric to remain hidden. He rolled the band of his skirt to pull the fabric higher up his legs, exposing his lower thighs so he could wipe them down easily. With the mother and her children around, he respected their eyes and kept the skirt on. There was also the potential for Elana to come looking, and the idea of her stumbling into him naked made him uneasy.

He started at the top of his body and worked his way down, splashing the water on his face and rinsing his hair with the water. He ran his fingers through his thick black mane of his and noted that he needed a haircut. It had been a few weeks and he preferred to keep it short. He could feel some knots in it, too, but the only brush he had was in his Auntie’s tent. It would be better for him to wait on that, so he continued with the rest of his quick bath. He kept the towel thick with water and began to wipe himself down. The dirt wasn’t sunk into his body too far and the sweat came off quick. Though it had dried on his skin, his skin was used to the liquid and helped repel it a bit.

Jake stood up once he had to wipe off his legs and slid his feet out of his sandals, standing on top of them so he could wipe off his feet without getting sand grains stuck to his wet soles. With that, he knelt back down and then dropped the top of his head into the basin, running his fingers through his hair once more as he soaked it in the water. He made sure to cleanse it as much as he could before pulling his head free. He shook off the wetness, kind of, and then wrung out the towel into the basin’s nasty water.

Satisfied, the boy lifted the basin and walked out of the Marker. The moment he stepped out into the light, the sun began to dry his skin and his hair. It felt cool and quite nice. He carried the basin around to the back of the Marker, away from the clean water of the Oasis, and then poured the water out onto a much larger stone trough. The water inside was being evaporated naturally, keeping the filth from mixing with the clean water beneath the sands. He then passed the basin to a man sitting beside the trough and hung his towel out on a thin line strung between a waist-high pole and the Marker itself.

By the time he returned to the Marker, his skin was mostly dry. He stood out in the open air, ran his fingers through his hair, and waited patiently for the air and sun to do their work. There was a light breeze rolling over the dune behind the marker, and it tickled his skin as it brushed by. He wasn’t outstanding there very long before he heard footsteps approach the marker. Figuring it for another patron, he ignored them and continued to bask in the sun.

“Knew you’d be here.” Incorrect with his guess, Jake was surprised by Elana who stepped around the corner of the adobe building. She stared at him, her eyes meeting his before she very blatantly looked down at the rest of his body. As if toying with him, she stared at his shortened skirt and an odd expression crossed her face. He suddenly felt uncomfortable beneath that stare.

“Did my Auntie send you?” Jake sighed as he fixed his skirt, unrolling the top of it to extend it back down his legs. Elana let out a huff, acting disappointed as she was robbed of the view. Weird woman.

“No, but I wasn’t about to just let you run off.” Once Jake was finished with his skirt, the boy ran his hand over his skin to spread the remaining wetness out. He could tolerate what was left and decided to start walking towards the Marker again. “Your Auntie was upset when you ran.”

“She was upset from the beginning,” Jake scoffed. Elana grabbed his shoulder to stop him.

“She was crying, not shouting.”

Jake hesitated. He stared at the sands ahead of him and his open mouth closed shut. His lips pressed together firmly as his hands curled into fists. He had thought she would have been pissed, not at the point of tears. He didn’t understand why she would cry after practically smacking his face off. It didn’t make much sense to him for her emotions to sway so quickly.

“Your Auntie wasn’t angry that you left. She was terrified that you wouldn’t come back. That’s why she called on the Guards. That’s why she was so angry with you.” Elana tried to explain his Auntie’s emotions to him, but he still didn’t understand. She was always so angry and so mean about his desire to become an Adventurer. There was never an ounce of her even trying to understand why he wanted to, nor did she ever even attempt to talk to him about it. It was always yelling. Always slapping. Always an outright shutdown of his dream.

“I’m tired,” Jake tried to brush off Elana’s hand but she squeezed his shoulder. He frowned and looked over at her.

“You should talk to her, Jake.” Elana was serious. She gave his eyes a long, hard look before she let go of him. “You might not ever get the chance to again. You should know that by now.”

Life was a gift and it wasn’t without end. That end could come at any moment. In seconds, the fire of a person’s life could be snuffed out. There is no justification. There is no fairness to it. There is no waiting or bought time. Death is inevitable, and once a person is gone- they’re well and truly gone forever. And Jake understood that rule very well. So did Elana.

“I will,” Jake muttered and turned his head away first. Elana sighed and turned around, heading in the direction of the main gate.

“You better, or I’ll be the one to hit you next.” She held up a clenched fist and shook it angrily a few times as she strolled off. Jake watched her leave, staring at her swaying figure until he could no longer see it.

The boy then stepped around the corner of the Marker and looked in the direction of his Auntie’s tent. It was obscured by a lot, so he just looked in the general area of where it would be. If she wasn’t so stubborn and so defiant when it came to listening, Jake felt like he might be able to truly talk with her. To fully understand her hate of Adventuring more than her disliking of his father. Maybe then he would be able to talk it through with her, truly and fully. But, his faith in that was quite low. He had a feeling he would have to run away from her forever and one day, accept the regret of that decision.

With that weighing on his mind, the boy returned to the inside of the marker. The mother and her children politely excused themselves as did two men that were chatting together. This left Jake by himself inside the Marker. He walked over to his shirt to find Chul hiding within it and motioned for him to come out. The Arachkin crept from beneath the cloth so Jake could put it on. Then, the two moved to the corner where Jake had his cushions set up. Chul skittered beneath a few near the edge while Jake flopped down into the middle, letting the cushions support his weight. It felt like he was laying on air.

“I understand now why you try so hard, boy.” Chul suddenly spoke. Jake closed his eyes and sighed. “My mother was much the same. Always fearful of danger to my brothers and sisters, and she was always very heavy-handed when it came to our curiosity. I had run off several times and returned to a battering, but it wasn’t until many years later that I learned those beatings were out of love for me. Not out of hate.”

“I know, Chul.” Jake opened his eyes, staring up towards the ceiling of the Marker. “...I know.” He mumbled.

“Do you?” Chul crept up onto the pillow beside Jake, his eyes blinking as he looked at the boy.

“Auntie raised me. My mother died when I was too young to remember her face and my dad ran off. He told me it was because his friends needed him and he wanted to support me with his earnings from Adventuring...” Jake stopped to chuckle and closed his eyes again. “...but Auntie told me it was because he was scared. He didn’t know what to do without my mom when it came to kids and used Adventuring as an excuse. So, Auntie became my mom, but she never let me forget that she was Auntie.”

Chul stared at Jake for a few seconds before he curled up into a small ball. The Arachkin’s eight legs pulled inwards, forming a palm-sized fuzzball. “My condolences,” he muttered. Jake shook his head.

“It’s fine. Happens, I guess.” Jake huffed.

“I can empathize a little. I too lost my mother when I was fairly young.” Chul admitted. Jake lay there, quiet for a second. When Chul didn’t continue, the boy looked at his companion. Chul’s fangs chittered before he turned away. The Arachkin took in a long breath.

“I was an adolescent, much like you are now. My mother was far smaller than most Broodmothers, so we lived in a less protected area as she had been pushed out by the others. Her brood was also far smaller, as my father was not potent enough to give her a full set of hatchlings. It made her protective of us and we lived relatively secluded for much of our lives. Mother always went out to Hunt and only took my larger, older twin brothers with her. The rest of us were made to wait.” Chul paused, his fangs chittering again as he took in another breath.

“Our nest was attacked by Adventurers that had been hired by a nearby village. They had spotted her and my brothers on a Hunt. Fear inspired them to hire the Adventurers who accepted the challenge. My mother and brothers sacrificed themselves to protect my sisters and me. I had tried to warn her before, telling her of what I had seen during one night that I had snuck out. I warned her of the Adventurer’s camp near the entrance and even tried to show her… But she would not listen. She punished me for running off, for scaring her, and I was told that my first hunt would be postponed…” Chul’s eyes lifted as he turned back to Jake. He inched forward just a bit.

“I live every day wishing she had listened, regretting that I had not been more forceful, but since living those years after- spending my days protecting my sisters until they were large enough to protect and hunt for themselves, I quickly understood her reasons. I understood her fear. Even if there were Adventurers outside, what if they had seen me? What if they had killed me?” Chul’s eyes lowered again, for only a moment before he looked up again.

“It is not the parent’s duty to listen but to teach. It is yours to learn, grow, and earn their trust. If you want her to listen to you then you must show her you are capable of earning that right. It will take time. Do not rush to danger, to death. She will come to understand your feelings so long as you can carry the burden of her worries.” Chul extended a foreleg and brushed it over Jake’s cheek.

“Reassurance is not best done through word, but through action,” he said with a little chitter of his fangs. Jake’s lips curled into a tiny smile as he nodded.

“Thanks, Chul.” He reached up and scratched at the back of his companion. Chul’s eyes closed, his body shaking a bit as Jake tickled the fuzzy carapace.

“It is my pleasure, friend.” The Arachkin let out a rumbling laugh before backing away and moving slowly into the pillows. “Get some rest, boy. I think tomorrow will be a good time to begin training for your future, yes?”

“No, I’m going to start right now.” Jake watched Chul crawl out of sight and then folded his hands neatly over his chest. He stared up at the ceiling of the Marker.

Just like Chul had said, Jake would need to prove himself to his Auntie if he wanted to earn her trust. He wanted her to believe in him, to be comfortable with him setting off after his dream. While he doubted she would ever give him her full blessing to do it, he at least wanted to tell her with confidence that he wouldn’t just disappear. He wanted to be able to look her in the eye and know he would be back for dinner at some point. Both for her sake, and his own. Leaving her with such worries didn’t sit well in his stomach. If he wanted to be better than his father, that would need to be his very first step.

The boy closed his eyes and took in a slow breath. Chul wanted to wait until tomorrow, but Jake was impatient. There was plenty of sunlight left and he was curious to figure out what his Blessing truly was. The Dragon God, Lady Ferynith, had explained to him that he was permitted to access something called The Eternal Library. Whatever that was, he figured now would be a good time to try it. What did she mean by access, though? Was it a spell of some kind, or maybe an artifact? Maybe it even had something to do with the mark on his chest.

She hadn’t given him any real instruction other than to “think” of the Library. With no real picture of it, he didn’t exactly know what she had meant by that either. Did he just have to think of the word Library? Or should he just think of a place with a bunch of books? It was all confusing and honestly, really annoying. Regardless, he decided to start with the action requiring the least amount of brain power-

“Please take me to the Eternal Library.” He thought.

And the moment he did, a large sigil appeared at the forefront of his mind. It was extremely complex with lines crossing and intersections all over it. There were hundreds of tiny letters he couldn’t read and several layers of circles stacked on top of one another. At the top of the outermost circle, a small dragon head peered down at him. Its eyes flashed red and then the sigil itself flared blue. A moment later, Jake felt light and his consciousness slipped from his body. A similar sensation to falling washed over him as he plunged into the darkness of his mind. The air whistled for only a breath before white flashed in front of his eyes, blinding him and forcing him to slam his eyelids together.

The feeling of falling disappeared and the softness of cushions were replaced by something far more sturdy. Jake’s hands brushed over something rough, ground that had been cut into. He opened his eyes to pale white walls and a large foyer for an entrance which led to what looked to be a bunch of rows of bookshelves, tables, and a staircase leading to even more bookshelves. The floor matched the walls- white and smooth. The bookshelves, tables, and chairs looked a soft brown and the books in the distance were a bunch of different colors. What stood out the most was a tiny figure sitting on a table just in front of the threshold separating the open atrium from the even larger inner space.

Jake swallowed a lump in his throat and warily rose to his feet. He took a second to look around and saw that there were no windows, no doors, and no escape. The walls were supported by pillars built directly into the walls themselves and the ceiling was well out of reach. He stood on top of a similar platform to the one he had been standing on in the Ravine- a raised circular bit with a large sigil carved into the white stone. There were a few steps leading up to it, but nothing fancy to it. Other than the raised sigil platform, there was nothing else. Quite bland, all things considered.

The boy took the emptiness of the space as his cue to get a move on. With nothing else to look at, he figured it was best not to loiter. With no way back, there was only forward. He stepped down from the platform and walked, slowly, through the large archway into the other room. Which, turned out to be an entire building and not just a room. Jake’s feet planted in place as his eyes widened. His head tilted and his jaw dropped, his lips left agape as he stared at the marvel before him.

Bookshelves stretched in every direction. Floors stretched so high into the air that he truly never thought they would end, only to be stopped by a far distant skylight that let in an endless amount of light streaming down to illuminate the gallant architecture. Jake couldn’t hope to count the number of shelves nor the books filling them. Lady Ferynith was not lying when she said there was “boundless wisdom” in this place.

“Whoa…” Jake finally mustered a word to describe what he was seeing. And he just so happened to do it when his eyes finally settled on the only other living being in sight- a small, very small, individual sitting in the same place she had been when he had arrived. On that note, she also hadn’t stopped staring at him.

“That’s your first word?” She raised an eyebrow, staring at him with a disappointed look on her face. Jake raised his hands and shrugged. The woman, or fairy(?) sighed and her wings unfurled from behind her. They fluttered to life, lifting her body off the edge of the table so that she could stand on it.

She stood barely a foot high and was the definition of a “yellow fairy”. She had tiny, beady red eyes and she wore red lipstick to match. Her neat hair was a bright yellow, matching the aura she radiated and the color of her semi-translucent wings. She wore a very light pink one-piece dress and a pair of tiny pink heels to go with it. Her legs were covered by white stockings, but they were sheer and easy to miss. The woman adjusted a pair of glasses that were set perfectly atop a sharp and characteristically small nose and then she crossed her arms over her almost flat chest. She was curvaceous but nothing in particular stood out. Yet she radiated a very powerful, womanly aura that made her come across as a perfect fit for the role of the librarian. Even the bun her hair was styled into matched the allure of her role.

“You must be the guest I was told about,” the fairy sized him up, her eyes taking in his figure. She didn’t seem impressed. Jake didn’t blame her. There wasn’t much to him if he was being fair and honest.

“Uh, is this the ‘Eternal Library’?” While it should have been obvious, he still made the point to ask. The fairy blinked a few times but eventually nodded.

“It is.” She answered with a very matter-of-fact tone. Jake’s lips pressed together as he took another moment to look around, letting himself revel in the sight of it all once more. But, not too long of a moment. She didn’t look like the patient type.

“So, it’s real?” He said, the question falling out of his mouth before he could stop it. She raised an eyebrow again, then sighed.

“Yes. Real in the sense that everything you see is real. The books are real, we are real. The tables, the shelves, the walls, the air. It’s all real. But-” She stepped off the desk, her wings moving into action to carry her form up close and personal to the boy. She rose to be almost in his face so she could reach out and place her hand on the tip of his nose. “-you are here only in form.” She gave his nose a flick, causing him to flinch as she created some space between them.

“Quite a young one, aren’t you?” She hummed, looking him up and down again. “Most guests here are old and wrinkly, or they are blessed with long lifespans. You are Human, though…” She paused, her eyes checking over his ears and eyes before she looked down at his lower back, likely for a tail or something sticking out. Seeing nothing, she shrugged.

“Regardless, I am the Librarian. You may call me Yir.” She took an elegant curtsy, bowing deeply at the waist. Jake scratched the back of his head, unsure of what to do. Did he have to bow, too?

“I uh, I’m Jake. Jake Furrow.” He spat out his name at least and dipped his head slightly. Though, not very far. Yir didn’t say anything about it and just nodded.

“Well, Jake Furrow. What brings you to the Eternal Library?” She asked politely.

Once more, he was honestly unsure of how to answer. He looked up at the Library and pressed his lips together, thinking over what he should say. Lady Ferynith had mentioned that the Library had a lot of things to learn, but he wasn’t quite sure of what he needed to learn. Adventuring was easy to say but he was well aware that it was as dangerous as it was difficult. Jake’s father was a simple swordsman. The man didn’t do anything else than swing his sword and spit out orders in the middle of the fighting. His compatriots were always the ones doing everything else- magic casting, arrow shooting, shield-carrying. While he was the leader of his party he lacked any special skills that made him stand out. That bit always made Jake wonder why those others followed such a boring man.

“I’m not really sure, but I-” Jake stopped and gave his ‘gift’ some more thought. Lady Ferynith had mentioned that she gave him something called “magical prowess”. Something about him being capable of learning a bunch of spells and elements.

“Magic. I came here to learn magic.” He spat out. His eyes settled on Yir’s as he nodded resolutely. This place was a magic cultivation building. That’s what it was. That was why Lady Ferynith had given him access to it along with his affinity for magic. If he could use whatever knowledge was stored within these walls, there was no doubt that Jake could become a capable Adventurer. He could become a strong mage and lean on that power to forge his path through the world. All he would have to do is let his gift from the Dragon God guide him.

“Well, that much is obvious since you’re here.” Yir tilted her head and crossed her arms again. “But what do you want magic for?”

“I uh-” Jake stuttered again, scratching at his head as he put his reasonings together. “I want to become an Adventurer, and magic would help with that. I guess?” He wasn’t quite sure how to answer as he didn’t know much about magic in the first place. He had seen a few glimpses of it but nothing he could use as a foundation. Yir’s blank expression told him that she wasn’t quite sure how to respond to his answer.

“Right,” she cleared her throat and planted her hands on her hips. “Well, then you certainly will be able to learn magic here. There are books to cover every subject and every element. There are thousands of spells and just as many texts on these shelves to help you learn them. You just need to know what to look for. As long as you have the mind, patience, and determination to learn, you will be successful with the right reference to help guide you along.” Yir turned and waved for him to follow. Jake nodded and did so, the two of them moving through the ground floor. They passed by the rows of tables as she guided him to a staircase.

“You are welcome to use any book from the shelves so long as you return it to where you found it. If you have trouble looking for a specific text or if you need help finding books on a topic, feel free to ask me or one of the assistant fairies floating around.” Yir waved her hand again, motioning for Jake to look off to her right. There, in between some bookshelves, another tiny fairy fluttered around the books. The fairy had a small stack of books floating beside them and they were neatly returning the texts to the shelves they belonged to. Whether those were misplaced or new editions, Jake wasn’t sure.

“Understand that while you can learn how to perform various spells here, I ask that you do not practice them here,” Yir looked at him sternly over her shoulder. “Your body here still maintains its connection to your body in the Overworld via mana, which means you are still capable of casting within these walls. If you damage any books, the damage is real and I will not be happy.”

“U-Understood.” Jake could feel the pressure of her words and took them to heart. No Casting in the Library. She smiled and continued to lead him along. They reached the second floor and Yir curled around an elegantly carved banister. The stone railing was formed into the shape of a very detailed Dragon head, one that looked vaguely similar to the Dragon God herself. While it might have been made in her likeness, it lacked the unique jewel that was lodged in the crest of her skull.

Yir led him a little ways off from the top of the staircase, passed a seating area with chairs and tables, and then she hooked right towards a small archway. The path was lined by bookshelves on the left and smaller half-sized bookshelves on the right. Truly, Jake was surrounded by knowledge in this place. Beyond the archway, sadly, another boring room like the foyer awaited him. It was a small, empty white room with nothing but a raised pedestal in its center with a separate slab of stone sitting on top of it.

“This is our Assessment Room,” Yir said aloud, her voice echoing a bit in the space. Jake hummed lightly to himself to sound amused by what he saw. He was not. “Step up here,” she ordered. The fairy floated off to the side of the pedestal and directed Jake to where to stand next. The boy followed orders and moved up the steps to stand directly in front of the pedestal itself. The slab set on top of it looked clear but it was very, very thick.

Yir waited until he was standing where he had been told before she lowered herself down to the slab. She placed a hand on it and closed her eyes. Her hand glowed brightly as she began to mumble words he couldn’t understand- a foreign language of some kind. The slab reacted, its clear inside turning clouded and opaque as a white cloud spread through it. Yir’s hand pulled away as the cloud filled the stone and she waited until whatever she’d done finished.

“Now,” she raised a hand and looked up at him. “Place your hand on the center of the slab and take in a few deep breaths. You might feel a strange sensation but don’t fight it. Just relax.”

Jake nodded and once more did as told. He raised his left hand and placed it down firmly onto the center of the slab. He steadied his breathing and shut his eyes. He let himself relax, easing into his mind as he cleared it of stray thoughts.

“Now, remember how it felt when you triggered the sigil to get here. Think of that moment you felt the spell trigger.” Yir whispered. Jake focused on that moment, the moment the sigil appeared in his mind. At that moment he felt light but he remembered a sensation of warmth had spread over his body just before he fell. He focused on that, tried to remember it, and found it came more easily to the front of his mind.

Suddenly, a bright light flashed beyond his eyelids and he felt that heat again. This time, it started in his hand that was touching the slab. Jake took in another breath and embraced that heat. As it grew in intensity, he found that it was malleable. He grasped the fire and drew it out, pulling it up from the slab and into his hand. Once there was more and he had a firmer hold, the boy was able to pull it up into his arm until it finally surged through his chest and into the rest of his body. Like a flame, the feeling burned and expelled the chill he had felt ever since he’d come to the library. He felt the heat of the sun, the warmth from the sands, brush over the hairs of his skin. He felt at home again, comfortable in the heat. However just as he had grown warm, the burning was splashed away. A powerful torrent of wetness snuffed out the fire, dousing him from head to toe as though he had dove into the oasis. In a moment, his body was soaked through with the feeling of moisture.

A powerful gale blew him dry and lulled him into a sort of dream-like state as it whisked the water away. Electricity shocked him back to life. Then a feeling of being dry and heavy weighed on his shoulders. That pressure weakened, trading for the feeling of weightlessness. Jake felt cleanliness spread through his body and his mind similarly felt light as the dangerous worries and thoughts he had were pushed away. But, that brief sense of calm and peace lasted far too briefly. Faint whispers, cackling and laughter, and a dreadful sense of uneasiness and filth weaseled their way into his body. Sickness twisted in his stomach as pain seared through his very bones. He gagged. A vile stench filled his nostrils and a putrid taste gurgled out from his throat onto his tongue.

Such a feeling was there for longer than he wished, but like all of the other strange occurrences, it lasted only briefly before vanishing with a heavy exhale. Without the gross thoughts or taste of death spewing out of his mouth, his body felt rejuvenated. His muscles relaxed and his mind calmed. His tastebuds reset and his nose was cleared. Only then, did the light beyond his eyes fade. It had only taken a few moments but it had felt like quite a long time. Instinct told him to open his eyes again. When he did, Jake was surprised to see that the slab in front of him was no longer cloudy nor clear. Instead, it was now a swirl of various colors, and Yir stood off to the side with a perplexed expression.

“Interesting,” she mused as her lips curled into a smile. “It seems you have quite a lot of work ahead of you, young one.” She let out a giggle as she peered up at him.

“What was that?” Jake asked, curious about the sensations he felt and also the reason for the change in the slab. Yir’s smile widened as she slapped the slab a couple of times.

“This, my boy, is what we call an Assessor, and it does just that. It assesses your compatibility with the various magical elements within the Overworld. In other words, it tests what types of magic you can use based on the type of mana you have within you. Each person has a different natural affinity with different elements, and the Assessors tugs on your mana to see which elements it reacts to. When it finds you to be compatible with an element, it changes to that color to show it.” Yir then looked at the slab and her little finger swirled over it once.

“You, my dear boy, are compatible with all of the elements. Fire, Water, Wind, Thunder, Rock, Light, and Dark.” She paused and hopped up slightly before her wings carried her up into the air. “Usually the slab only shows one or two colors but yours has a little bit of everything.” She hovered over the top of the slab, her finger pointing out the various visible shades within it. Red, blue, yellow, black, white, brown, and even a light green- one color to represent each of the different elements. Jake stared at the slab for a moment and felt a bit of pride in himself for such a feat.

“So does this mean I can use whatever I want?” If it were true that he could utilize every element available, then Jake would likely be able to become someone really strong. Right?

“Sort of.” Yir’s smile faded as one of her feet dropped down to tap the slab. Her toes shimmered and then the slab began to glow a faint yellow around its edges. Suddenly, it shrank down into the size of a tiny pebble. Yir waited for it to finish shrinking before she tapped it with her left hand. The pebble reacted with a shiver before lifting off the ground and following behind Yir as she floated towards the door. “Even though you have an affinity for various kinds of magic, it doesn’t mean you can use all of it.” She waved at him to follow.

“Why? If I have the affinity, I should be able to use it all! That makes no sense!” Jake was frustrated by that knowledge. If he was capable of using everything and had the opportunity to become powerful, then why couldn’t he? That didn’t make any sense at all. It just didn’t seem fair.

“In a perfect world, you would have no problem using all of the magic your mana can handle. However, to use the magic, you have to understand how it works. You have to mold your mana to the element you are casting and utilize that mana to support the foundations for the specific spell. If you cannot create the proper foundations, or if you do not understand what you are actually doing, then the magic won’t work. Or, if it does work, it’ll be ineffective.” Yir led Jake out of the assessment room and once more into the library. As she explained the workings of magic to him, she led him to the fourth floor and into a small study room. One similar to that of the assessment room except there was a table and a chair instead of a lone pedestal.

“Consider healing magic, a subclass within the Light Element. You might think that you can just hold your hand out, rattle off an incantation, and expect the injury to be cured. But that is wrong.” Yir set the pebble down on the table and then landed beside it. “If you want to heal a broken bone, or repair a stab wound, you need to understand the body. You need to be familiar with the bone structure, the flow of blood, and with the various organs inside a person's body. You need to know how the body functions or your magic might do nothing except stop bleeding or work as a painkiller.” Yir stepped away from the pebble and then fluttered up to the wall where a lone bookshelf housed a small number of books. From it, she plucked an excessively thick book labeled ‘Magical Foundations - Volume I’.

“Yes, you are correct in thinking that you can use all sorts of magic. You have the compatible mana to cast any spell you can understand. But that is the handicap of magic and that is also why magicians are so few or why they always seem so weak.” The book was placed on the table, and Yir directed Jake to have a seat.

“You must understand how Magic works, first. Once you learn how it works, how to control your mana, and how to mold it, then you can use it.” Yir huffed and kicked open the cover of the book, flipping it to the first page beyond the table of contents.

“I warn you, though. Most mages specialize. Based on their Assessment, they tend to focus only on one or two types of magic their entire lives. Even then, very few become powerful enough to use it as anything more than a tool to benefit themselves. It is rare to see it used efficiently in combat, as incantations take time. And you will never have enough time in combat where trained soldiers will prioritize lopping off your head.”

As the lecture rolled on, Jake took a seat and stared at the book in front of him. The words on the pages seemed a bit confusing and very difficult to understand, however, they also seemed… familiar.

“Is there a way to cast magic without incantations, then?” He asked, curious and eager to find an alternate way to use his magic. At his question, Yir only smiled and puffed out her chest.

“Of course! Once you fully understand how to control your mana and you can perfect how to cultivate it then the incantations will become more of a hindrance to you. Such advanced familiarity will take time, patience, and a lot of practice. It is easy to use certain magic over others. Battle magic is far more complex because you have more variables to your casting, while Transformation Magic, Healing Magic, and other magic dealing with stationary objects or fewer factors are a bit easier to either shorten the incantations of or remove them entirely. That capability varies from one mage to another, so don’t feel frustrated if you can’t do it when someone else can. It just means you haven’t practiced enough yet or their compatibility is higher.”

“I think I get it,” Jake nodded and clenched his teeth.

“Do you?” Yir hummed, and Jake nodded again.

“Yes. I may not know it perfectly, but I do understand. Kind of…” Jake grimaced as his eyes continued to glaze over the paper. His head hurt already from just the little bit of information but if he wanted to become a mage, and if he wanted to become strong enough to help his Auntie worry less, then he would need to put a lot of time into studying. Something he did not like the sound of. The village had a meager education system but it was mainly to keep the children occupied for a few hours each day. Nothing was more advanced than the teachings of basic essential life tasks and minor arithmetic.

“Good. I will be around if you ever have any questions, and this room is yours to study in. But again, no practicing! I don’t want to have to clean up the messes in here and I will not have you destroy any books.” Yir huffed and sighed as if remembering something she didn’t want to. “Now, barring any questions, I’ll leave you to it.” With that, Yir fluttered towards the door. She didn’t make it out before he looked up towards her back.

“Oh! Uh, Miss Yir!” Jake called, remembering a key detail to the Library that had troubled him in the first place. The fairy paused and turned about nimbly in the air, still floating back towards the door. She must have really wanted out.

“Yes?”

“I know how to get here, to the Library I mean. But how do I go back?” Jake reached up and lightly rubbed the back of his head as he grinned. The only reason had made it to the Library in the first place was more from casual curiosity. He hadn’t thought about the chance that he might end up stuck here.

“Oh, it seems she did not tell you.” Yir stopped floating away and sighed again. “To go back to your body in the Overworld, return to the center of the tower on the bottom floor and then back into the foyer. Stand on the sigil there. Close your eyes and all you have to do is put a little mana into the floor and you will be returned.”

“Understood, thank you Miss Yir.” Jake hopped out of his chair and jogged out of the room, a wide grin crossing his face.

“Hey! No running!” Yir yipped as he passed her. Jake flinched from her voice and slowed to a quick walk. He chuckled at the scolding but was happy to hear that she was more than just a lecturing librarian. Maybe, if he was nice enough and lucky enough, she might help him with his studying. She seemed to be very knowledgeable about magic. If he could get her to give him some pointers or maybe help with a spell or two, he might be able to get a headstart when it came to his training. The sooner he learned magic and could produce results, the sooner he could go back to Auntie and try to gain some trust.

Returning to the foyer, Jake stepped up onto the raised platform in the center of the room and positioned himself in the middle of the sigil there. He looked down at the sigil, his eyes taking in the intricate work of the lines. The sigil matched the one he had seen in his mind, but with a few minute differences.

Before he triggered the sigil, he turned around and saw Yir standing atop the table she had been on when he first arrived. He flashed her a smile and waved, thankful for her assistance. The Fairy returned his smile and bowed at the waist again before fluttering away and off into the library. Taking that as his sign to head out, Jake closed his eyes and sought out the warmth of his mana. He found it, barely, and pushed it down to his feet. It was barely anything more than a brief tickle of heat down his legs, but it seemed to be enough. The next thing he knew, he was opening his eyes inside of the Marker’s open room. The comfort of the cushions was now all over his body. During his time in the library, his body must have slumped down and sunk into the pile.

The boy looked around for a moment, then sat up and blinked. He checked to see if there was anyone else in the room. Seeing no one, he then looked at the pile of cushions.

“Chul,” Jake called out to his friend. The cushions shifted a little as the Arachkin emerged, poking his head out from the cover of the soft objects. He let out a hum, his fangs chittering as he gave the boy his attention.

“I’ve decided,” he said aloud. “I’m going to be a mage.”

Chul stared up at him, his eyes blinking a few times as he tried to register what the boy had just said to him. As for the child, Jake’s lips curled into a huge grin.