Maybe saying they were too calm was ignorant of me, maybe they were kind enough to refrain from showing resentment at the time, but in isolation their resentment must have been too much to handle. Those two were always good natured, sometimes to a fault, Iliana more so than Maggie. They are good in heart and spirit, I suppose kindness hid what they truly wanted to say to the reverend, even if they felt immense pain and sorrow.

As I walked out of the room, Emily was standing to the right of the door, my watch showed 6am, around the time I would wake for work on a weekday.

“Em, bad news, it may cost everyone a decent morning.”

“Oh, Warrior Bona, what is it?” Emily was staring out the window at the bright sunlight washing over the hilly fields, upon my monotone delivery of bad news, she turned to face me. She was stunning, her face reminded me of girls on a magazine cover at the checkout aisle, her hair was tied in a bun, and her uniform was a tight fit. That possibly iconic face had a look of worry, as if she had just failed her job.

“I realize I don’t have any shoes, or clothes. Am I supposed to impress Knight Freya looking like a bum?” I was wearing what I always wore to bed, blue polyester gym shorts, and a grey shirt I had for years, a shirt so thin and holey I had to avoid stretching it when putting it on, else it would unravel.

“I was informed that your closet, and wardrobe has clothing and shoes.” She said trying to stand up to me, as if I questioned her work. Reminds me of the mechanic shop, when a part was broken, and I had forgotten to mention it to the guys, they question if I had broken it. Then I had to explain someone else has been here and broke it, look at the evidence. Evidence being age of jagged pieces, and lack of fragments.

“Underwear?” I asked, worried this world may not wear them, but realizing I said it in their language.

“Oh, yes those should also be in the wardrobe. I believe I saw them when going over your room.”

“Mmmm…, okay, be back.” I headed back into the room to look for everything. In the closet were 6 shirts, three were a light brown buckskin shirt, and the others white cotton shirts. In the wardrobe there were 4 pair of pants and 2 smaller pairs of what looks like pants but cut high up, all were buckskin…, I was worried about the girls. At the bottom of the wardrobe was a pair of buckskin moccasins, and some cotton socks. I threw on a white cotton shirt, undies, pants, socks, and shoes then headed back out.

When I opened the door, Emily stood straight and looked out the window like a soldier at attention. I gave her a, what in the world, look and told her to loosen up a little. As if someone released her strings, she slouched slightly to stand more naturally and looked at me.

“Warrior Bona, I…,” She looked at the floor in front of her feet before continuing.

“Oh, Reverend Mirth informed me that he couldn’t tell Warrior Iliana and Maggie about this morning. They had informed their servants to not let anyone in, and the servants stated that they seemed severely distressed. He wanted me to ask if you could fill the two of them in if their servants didn’t know.” Emily continued looking down. Yeah, somethings wrong with my assistant.

“Al-right-ty, I’ll go check on them. Em, when I get back, can we talk, man to man? Or man to woman?” She shivered lifting her shoulders and shaking her head. I heard her gulp, and her answer was soft, broken.

“Ye-Yes, Warrior…, Bona.” She had a smile that wasn’t fake, or real, it was a smile of acceptance, of one that knew trouble was coming and accepted it.

“Jeez you suck. Look, you’re not in trouble, I want to know what kind of assistant, or servant these geezers gave me. Em, don’t worry so much.” There are stories of people being given troublemakers or incompetent employees to cause misfortune unto those they don’t like. Was this a case where Mirth disliked me enough to give me someone incompetent? When I see the guy, I’ll ask, right now I have to go see about those two. What did the servants mean by severely distressed?

Emily nodded and leaned against the wall, then quickly stood back up. I shook my head and decided to head out before she embarrassed herself more. Closing the door behind me, I walked over to Maggie’s room, her servant greeted me, I nodded in her direction, went up to the door and knocked.

“Hey Maggie, it’s Bona, can I come in?”

“Uh, just give me a second.” Maggie’s muffled voice came through the door.

“…” One second later.

“Okay times up.”

“Wait!”

“Okay!” When I think about Maggie, I always think about the oldest sibling that had no one to really turn to. She was the pillar, and she had no foundation. Always helping, always watching out for her family, cooking when her mom couldn’t, babysitting when her parents were out.

When I started hanging out at her house, I felt she was thankful that I was willing to bare some of her burdens. I remember how she looked embarrassed when she screwed up around me, how happy she seemed when I watched her siblings, when I offered to cook something. She would come to me for guidance, and ask that I teach her about cars, or archery. I came to believe she was happy to depend on someone else that wasn’t her parents.

“Okay, you can come in now.” Maggie’s muffled voice woke me from my reverie.

When I opened the door, I expected to see a closet ready to burst open from a large mess stuffed into it. I wondered what the wait was for, till I saw Maggie sitting at her desk, facing me. The room layout was the same, her desk was to the right of the door, bed in the far-right corner, perpendicular to the back wall. The bed was made, her room was spotless, but her face showed something was not complete in this room.

Those emerald eyes I loved were not shining, they were red and puffy, as if they have been drenched and rubbed multiple times. Seeing her like that was not pleasant, I forced smile for her while walking over to the desk and leaned against the wall just to the right of it.

“Get any sleep?” I decided not to bring up the obvious remnants of a teary night, to avoid being a comfort to her.

“What do you want?” Maggie looked annoyed, perhaps my plans are coming to fruition.

“Our training starts at 10am, be ready before hand, and…”

“I know, Julia told me everything. Knight Freya will be by at 10am, food anytime, yada yada.” She rolled her eyes and shook her head. I assumed Julia was the name of the maid outside.

“Okay, pissy pants. Wake Iliana up and get some breakfast, I’m going to explore around for a bit.” I looked her in the eyes and poured what little warmth was within me into a smile, trying to copy the Reverend’s smile from last night. I didn’t want to comfort her, but I can’t let her fall into despair.

“Bona, d-did you sleep…, well? I mean, how…, um….” Maggie looked lost, I took a deep breath and thought about what to do. Though I didn’t want to concern myself with her, Maggie’s heart still mattered, if it was broken, I wanted it fixed. Ideally both Maggie and Iliana would live as normal a life as possible in this world if they would just fall in line. Yet seeing her broken up, putting on a brave front taught me that no matter the ideal circumstance I have in mind, Maggie must feel the heartbreak of loss as I once did when everything had to change.

Still, I didn’t want to treat them as damsels, they can make their own decisions, chose their own battles. Though I wanted them to stay out, if they chose to stay by my side, I will never deny them, because they mattered. Even if it goes against my image of the value of life, these lives mattered to me. And right now, one of those lives was losing its way.

“Maggie, get ready to learn how to beat some asses.” I pushed myself off the wall and walked out without looking back. I didn’t know if what I said would ease her sorrows, I was hoping it was a weird enough of a phase to get a giggle out of her.

I walked past Iliana’s door and ignored her maid’s hello. I assume she was still asleep, or just as broken as Maggie was, if so, Maggie hopefully could deal with her better. When I think of Iliana, I think of a girl who is always trying to be the boss, but helping others feel important and loved. She spoke to everyone and wanted everyone to believe she was just as dependable as her older sister. Iliana was kind, charismatic, a leader, and the first girl to treat me like I mattered. At first it seemed like it was just who she was, kind to everyone. But that opinion changed when she stuck to me, when she smiled radiantly at my entrance through the church doors and came running up to me to give me a hug and talk to me.

Iliana baked cookies for my birthday, asked me if I was going every time a teen event was brought up and exchanged food with me when the church went out to eat. It sucked when she stopped smiling, when she gave me an annoyed look when I spoke to her. I stopped trying after two weeks, when I saw her put a hand to her head and turn away from me to talk to someone sitting next to her when I went to say hello. That pain isn’t a phantom, it’s there right now, in my chest, in my head, it is real, and even after all this time, it hurts. Iliana…, the kindhearted, the loving leader casted aside a friend without warning. With Maggie, it was a slow good-bye, less texts, less phone calls, less hang out sessions.

“Ha, those two girls shouldn’t mean diddly squat to me. Why?! Why are they still dear to me?!” I said through gritted teeth as I turned right at the t-intersection to explore unfamiliar grounds. I heard footsteps behind me and turned to see Emily hurrying towards me.

“Em?”

“Ah, yes, Warrior Bona?” Emily came to a stop and stood patiently waiting for me to say something.

“Never mind, you’re my servant alone while I’m here, I get it. I guess I can make use of you, lets walk.”

“Yes, Warrior Bona.”

There was not much to the building we were in, the general structure was a square design, the Western wall had one double door leading to a large palace, the Southern wall was an exit leading to the workers housing building a 40 or so meter walk, and the Eastern wall had a door that opened to a path leading to a field for horses, and a forest. According to Emily, we were in an extension to the palace meant to house noble’s merchants and their servants.

We were currently occupying the temporary rooms meant for the noble’s merchants, and the room where we were summoned was for storage. Iliana had the master bedroom, which was larger than Maggie’s and my room, it was more furnished and had better bedding.

Architecture in Astrum had all windows placed high up, near the roof, with sconces to deal with the lack of light making it in. Supposedly, it was to help citizens feel secure, and free to do as they please in their own homes without persecution. I will not deny there is purpose in placing windows high up, but to use mana to open them, to have to constantly use interior lights because the sun is just hitting the walls, it seemed stupid to me.

I checked my watch and found that I barely knocked off an hour of time and decided to get something to eat. Having walked in a full round about, I headed to the kitchen to advise them I wanted something to eat.

“Em, you hungry? Want something?” I looked at her standing behind me, she stood there and looked at me like I was some kind of strange animal.

“Umm, Warrior Bona, I must decline, I cannot eat with you.”

“Yeah, I don’t feel like I care enough to push.” I said while scratching my head, then walked past her and exited the kitchen, heading for the dining hall.

Maggie and Iliana’s assistants were standing at the entrance, off to the right. Julie, Maggie’s assistant opened the door for me and Em walked to stand beside Iliana’s assistant on her left. Maggie and Iliana were sitting further down the middle table, they didn’t seem to be talking, and neither of them turned to look at who entered. I sat at the very front of the table and heard Iliana mumble something under her breath in the dead silent, large room.

I sat there wandering, what do they mean to me? Being around them did not bring warmth, worse it does not bring nothing, there is a coldness that keeps me on alert. What are the signs they will abandon me again?

Wait, why do I care if they do?

I heard chairs scraping from inside the dining hall, I heard two pair of footsteps approaching me. My heart was beating, where were they going, did I offend them? They were gonna leave, I was gonna be alone. It’s for the best, let them go. You mean nothing to them.

Again, the sound of chairs scraping, this time directly to my right, and in front of me. This whole time I was staring down at the table, I was worrying about pity things I should have moved on from long ago.

“Bona, I…, thank you for visiting me this morning. Sorry I was so pissy.” Maggie’s voice came from my right, I did not look up, I did not even reply with a sound.

“You still need time alone? We can go back to where we were sitting. Or should I say where we were waiting for you, Doofus.” Iliana said.

“No! I mean, do whatever the hell you want.” I looked up at Iliana and glared, she just smiled back at me.

“You two haven’t gotten your food yet?” I said noticing the empty table in front of them.

“Nope, we told them to wait till you were ready.” Iliana replied triumphantly, as if she just did something worthy of praise.

“Illy quit acting like you came up with that idea. You need to learn to give other people credit.”

“Ugh, fine. Good job thinking about Bona, especially since he only checked up on YOU this morning.” Iliana pouted in my direction and folded her arms.

“Jeez you two, shut it. I only went to Maggie because she was closes, and I told her to wake you. Meaning I left you in your older sister’s hands. Tell me, did I do wrong?” I said, irritated.

“Uhh, sorry Bona, I didn’t mean to make you upset.” Iliana looked down and folded her hands on the table.

“No, you didn’t, Iliana, I’m just still upset over this whole situation.” Iliana looked up at me and smiled again. Then she frowned and looked to my left at Maggie.

“Yeah, me and Aggie were…, being crybabies about it a little bit ago.” She quickly turned to me and rapidly said, “But that doesn’t mean we need you to beat up everybody and their grand babies.”

Maggie chuckled, “I don’t think he has fallen so far Illy.”

“Mmmm, I sense a strong connection to the dark side in this one. One must be diligent in seeing such evil blossoming, just look at the horns sticking out of his bald head.” Iliana put her hands to her head imitating horns.

“Iliana, when we learn to use magic, can you promise me one thing.”

“What is it, doofus?” Iliana tilted her head and showed a taunting smile. It seems she changed quite a bit as well.

“Learn how to use some sort of mana defense. I think I’ll be hitting you with a lot of thunder bolts.”

“Okay, oh, oh, I-I see. Ha, Mr. Punchable face, same goes to you.” Iliana threw a finger at me, pulling it back quickly as I went to bite it.

“Ewww, that’s freaking gross.” Iliana said to my stoic face.

Maggie slapped me on the back of my head and said, “Bona, no! That’s my little sister. And you two need to stop bickering, it’s getting annoying.”

“Would you two stop ganging up on me? Look if it’s not to late, I recede whatever invitation you believe I gave, please go back over there.” I made a gesture with both hands waving towards the other end of the table.

The two looked at me and replied…,

“”No.”” I looked at both of them then shook my head and rested my chin in my hands, and my elbows on the table.

“You two sure about fighting Mirk’s war?”

“It’s Mirth, ahhh, I swear, you’re just doing it on purpose.” Maggie said. I turned to look at her and realized how stunning she looked; her curly hair was framing her face. The greens in her eyes were glowing again, and her rosy complexion was apparent, she looked out of place, too perfect to actually exist.

“Whose Mirth?” I replied. “Anyway, kidding aside, what are you two thinking?”

“I know what I’m thinking, you won’t be fighting alone.” Iliana said.

“Hmmm, I see.” Honestly, I didn’t. When exactly did she see me as a friend, as someone precious to her? But I wasn’t going to have her explain, I know once we got back to our world, we would go back to ignoring each other again.

“Well, Illy’s reason is similar to mine, except that, I wouldn’t feel safe in this world if you weren’t always around. Yeah, you’ve changed to a complete jerk to everyone, but not to me or Iliana. I think your still kind.”

Her smile reached her eyes, it reached the air around her, it touched my soul, my heart. I didn’t feel that cold, that desire to be alert. I looked down on the table, finally releasing my chin from my hands and in a monotone voice replied…,

“Eww, gross. Stop saying sappy stuff like that I may just throw up in diabetes.” Maggie and Iliana giggled, and giggled, and giggled.

I wanted to feel nothing but happiness, but I didn’t, that moment where that coldness left me was miniscule. It was back, and I knew this relationship wasn’t going to last, these two are too far for me to hold onto.

The food came in while the two sisters were telling me about their little baby sister, their friends, and their hobbies.

We said grace for our food, this time I remember its taste, it was eggs, potatoes and a vegetable that tasted like beet, but cut into apple slices and looked like apples. This gave me hope that this world may not differ to drastically from ours. It’s amazing what you can ascertain from a meal.

While eating I pondered on what Iliana said, how her and Maggie were crying over what happened to us. I felt it was justice to destroy this world for what they’ve done, but Maggie’s words hit me as I thought this. When we were first summoned and I gave the Reverend a hard time, she was right that he was a lifeline to learn about what has happened, now, if he is true to his word, he was looking into how to get us back.

What exactly is the right choice? Would I need these two to be my other mind, to counsel me before I make decisions? If this world ended from my actions, I wouldn’t lose any sleep over it, but if my actions prevented these two from going back to their family, how could I bare it? Seeing how broken up I was in witnessing Maggie in that state of loss.

When I checked the time, it was around 8am. Mirth entered at 8:15, Maggie and Iliana were in the middle of debating whether I should grow my hair out or keep buzzing it somehow.

“Listen here, Aggie, Bona needs to keep cutting his hair so his hats can stay on… granted he probably didn’t come here with one, but when he starts wearing a hat again, you’ll see how important short hair is.”

“Illy, you are too young to know this, but girls like longer hair on men.”

“Somebody kill me.” I said, wondering if I should grow my hair out. Then realizing that Maggie never liked me in the first place.

“Hello warriors. Did you all sleep well?” The two stopped yapping and waved at the Reverend, thank you, Mirth.

“Oh, hello, just so we are clear, would you prefer we called you Reverend Mirth, Mirth, or Mr. Mirth?” Iliana asked.

“I am not a stickler about my title, call me whatever you please, as long as you call me Mirth.”

“Whose Mirth?” I asked unapologetically.

“Morning to you Warrior Bona. Again, I’m sorry about last night.”

“Hey Mirk, is Em incompetent? She seems scared, useless, and unexperienced.”

“Huh? I wouldn’t know, I had no play in who you were assigned, Warren, the head Butler here decided on your assistants. You should be able to find him in the workers building to the South.” He pointed towards the back wall.

“I will be with you this one time for training. Knight Freya sent a message asking me to explain the history of Mana as told by scripture.”

“Out of curiosity, is this your place?” I asked.

“Oh, the palace? Yes, it was granted to me by the king. I have been using it to house merchants owned by nobles. The main palace is currently being converted to a church. I have never wanted to live in such luxury, I believe to reach the hearts of the people I should live as one of them. I currently live within the city of Capella in an orphanage.”

“Wow. That’s quite a gesture. Oh, how are those summoning priest?” Iliana asked.

“Warrior Iliana, thank you so much for your concern over my people. The five priests are currently recovering. When one uses mana, it brings them closer to the power wielded by God, as mortal beings it is not wise to seek such power. But it is inevitable that we must achieve as close to his all-mighty power as possible to do…, such amazing feats.” Reverend Mirth’s explanation ended in a low note, realizing that though it was an amazing feat, it was still wrong.

“Like stealing away the lives of three young adults. That is quite a feat.” I replied.

“I must be going. I hope you were all well rested. I didn’t really get a reply to that, ha. I will see you all in the field to the east. Knight Freya should be around soon to take the three of you there.” Reverend Mirth waved and walked out the open door, Julie reached in and closed the door behind him.

“Damn that man and his lack of door closing.” I muttered under my breath.

“Well, I have to ask, what do you guys think about the clothes they gave us? I see you all are wearing what you wore yesterday. Maggie, is that the same sweater I got you for Christmas?”

“Yeah, it is. Honestly, I can’t believe the lack of clothing they gave us, t-shirts and leather pants? Seriously, you see the fancy duds the reverend wears. Ohhhh, I’m gonna knock some sense in who ever stocked our closets.” Maggie looked furious, that glow in her eyes became a fire, and the atmosphere around her was heating up. I learned firsthand this day that a girl’s wardrobe was a sensitive thing.

“Oh, I got no complaints, I mean the dresses were a bit too colorful, and the shoes aren’t as comfy as sneakers, but they didn’t have to go and overfill everything. I could barely move the clothes aside to look at them.” Iliana said looking annoyed.

“What? Iliana, you’re saying you got dresses and more than one pair of moccasins?” I asked, curiously.

“Yeah, wait, do you not like your dresses Bona?” I was amazed at how she seized the opportunity to fit a taunt in just the right moment. I chose to ignore her.

“Maggie, did you get like 6 shirts, 2 pants, undies and 1 moccasin with some socks?”

“Yeah, about sums up what I got.” Maggie’s reply was more of a growl, her eyes focused on her little sister.

“Woah, Aggie I did nothing wrong, honest. I didn’t know they only gave you shirts and pants. Do you wanna come by my room and divide up some of the stuff they gave me?” Maggie suddenly cooled off; a smile as wide as the Grand Canyon carved itself into her countenance.

“Yes! Oh please, please can we? Let’s go right now, before Knight Freya gets here.” Maggie stood up and ran out the door, taking a left like a drag car.

“Huh, well okay then…, Bona where should we meet?”

“Eastern wall, or if you take a right and head to the corner out this door, another right, there’s a door on the left leading to a path which leads to the field Mirk was talking about…” I was interrupted by a loud yell.

“ILLY! HURRY!”

“K, we meet there. Bye.” Iliana rushed out to the dying screams of her older sister.

Knight Freya met our assistants at the front door, and they led her to where we were by the path leading to the field. She wore a loose white t-shirt, relaxed fit leather pants, and boots going up halfway to the knees. They looked like combat boots with brass fittings for the leather strings tying them down. Her hair was the color of one of the moons in the sky, a very light purple, as if it was solid white with a slight bump in it’s hue. If I had to guess her age, it would probably be in her 50s, she looked aged.

“Warriors, I feel great honor in being in your presence.” She bowed to us, her voice resounding through the air as if she spoke through the wind itself.

“I am High Mage Knight Freya Vega; I have served the kingdom for hundreds of years. The Astra family has granted me special permission to extend my life, a power I hold solely, in exchange for my service.” She raised herself and looked us over. I was really bad at guessing age, a few hundred years off is too high a margin.

“Shall we head to the field; I shall share a small explanation of mana along the way.” Knight Freya said with a straight face and stood there waiting for our reply.

“Lead the way.” I said with my own straight face.

Mana in this world works by moving your hands in the air in a specific way to get the mana to do what you want. For example, turning on the sconces was a motion of flattening your hand, lifting it while turning it like you were doing a thumbs up, and while lifting, closing your hand at the same time.

The mana existed in the atmosphere around us, the motions we make with our hands, bodies, and tools pushes the mana around. This is our way of talking to it, telling it what we want it to do. But the mana listens to everyone differently, some may make different symbols/movements to turn on sconces.

We arrived at the field, the reverend was sitting in a chair, we headed for him. When we were close enough, he stood up and the chair vanished into blue mist.

“Hello Knight Freya.”

“Hello great hero of Adventurer’s Bride.”

The two greeted each other like old friends.

“Adventurer’s Bride?” Maggie asked.

“Oh, it’s the name given to the town of Denebola by all adventurers since the first man to use mana traveled to it.” Knight Freya explained.

“Please stop with the formalities, I feel like an elementary student going to the museum. With the short explanation we’ve been given I have a general idea about mana in this world, but I want to know the full explanation, if there’s more.” I couldn’t care any less about Denebola, about the first mana user, about the relationship between the knight and reverend.

“Yeah, hearing about it, it sounds like the force, but instead of using your mind to control it, you use your body.” Iliana remarked excitedly.

“Well Warrior Iliana, one can use their minds to speak to the mana as well, for example…” Behind Freya the air seemed to warp like light was refracting off of something invisible. An instant later there was a solid ball of steel, and it moved high up, then shot down, slamming itself 30 meters behind us.

“Mana is alive, it is in essence God.” The reverend said with a thousand-yard stare.

“Mirth, give the Warriors a history lesson.” Knight Freya formed seats for all of us made out of steel, we sat, and Reverend Mirth explained from the scriptures about how Mana came be.

Before there was a globe, there were two brothers one believed in isolation, the other in personal guidance. In a bet between the two, they both decided to create their own world with their own creations and run it how they seem fit.

His story goes on further, explaining about creation, and about the man called the first adventurer that taught the world how to use mana and seek personal help from God. But in summary, the God that believed in personal guidance came to the world when there was misunderstanding between his creation and decided to manipulate things on an even more personal level.

Atop all the highest peak of this globe he spoke words of peace. All people across the globe listened to his words and were torn over their decision of greed and blood. When he finished sharing his peaceful words the God said one last thing.

“I will share my power, the weakest among you will be strong. I will share my power with all, be wary in it’s use. I am your God, understand this is my power.”

All the corporal bodies, atop all the high peaks burst into a blue mist. The sky above formed a second moon, a blue moon. The scientist of this world claim that the moon was to stop God’s power from destroying the world, it controlled and replenished the mana. The religious scholars called the blue moon, God’s lasting love for all of mankind.

Since that day, mana has existed, but it wasn’t until the first adventurer showed up that people actually learned to use the power. His legends are in the scriptures, and are written in children’s books, he was the main driving force that led the world to peace, and to the state it is in today.

“Outstanding job, Reverend. Now, I want to explain that just because mana is in the air, it cannot be used frivolously. And most armies have very little mages. Using mana takes a toll on the body, and in battle it is often not used due to its negative effects. I am sure you all felt some of it when you were being summoned. The effects of using mana.” Freya stood and walked in front of us as she was sitting to our left. Her seat vanished in that blue mist and she stood with her arms behind her.

“I see. Using mana puts pressure on your body, as if the mana were crushing us, along with incinerating us. I heard Mirth saying that using mana brings you closer to becoming like God. That sorts of explain a bit about Moses and the burning bush, a story from the scriptures in our world.” Maggie pointed out.

“When you said extending your life was your sole power, how?” I asked looking Freya in the eyes.

“Ah, well, mana responds best when you know exactly what you’re doing. For example, my mother had a bone disease, I studied bones, and the cells of the body. I can tell you everything there is about bones, and human cells. Sadly, I was not able to save my mother, I was only 7 when the disease was made known to me, and it was too late by the time I had the connection that I do.

But a swordsman can create a gust of wind so sharp it could cut through body armor by just a swing of the sword. An archer can manipulate the mana to move his arrows unnaturally. A blacksmith can create mana weapons that can cut through any weapon. If there is something you can do without doubt, the mana works better for you.”

“Hmm, as a mechanic, I used to always be cautious of how I moved my body, now I know exactly how to position myself to give me full power without hurting myself. Let me try something, Knight Freya, can you make something extremely heavy.” She nodded at my request and created a large boulder made from steel.

“Question, what’s up with all the steel, were you studying the chemical compounds of metals?” I asked curiously.

“No, actually, what you’re looking at is dense bones, but I coated it in grey matter, a tissue in the brain and spinal cord, and hardened it so it feels smooth. But at a moment notice I can have the tissue wrap itself around my target. Is it heavy enough?”

I went up to it and tried picking it up, it must’ve weighed a ton. “Yeah, it’s as heavy as a car.”

“Car?” Freya asked, I ignored her question.

I bent my knees and imagined myself lifting this boulder, I felt for the first time the sensation of something moving withing my body. With this sense of power, I attempted to lift the boulder again. It was light, it felt like a 20-pound dumbbell. Freya gasped and ran over to me.

“Warrior Bona, you can control the mana with your mind. You have already trained yourself to have such a connection? It took me several years to get the mana to listen to me. Warrior Iliana, Warrior Maggie try to use the mana without symbols. Please.” She faced the two girls, and I tossed the boulder in the direction her other steel ball went to, but it dispersed when it left my hand. I noticed that Reverend Mirth had a smile on his face, he was probably expecting this reaction when he first saw me using mana to squash the doorknob.

“Oh, maybe I can be like Utica, a character in one of my stories. He can create weapons out of thin air.” Iliana stood and stuck her hand out, she closed her eyes, probably imaging a weapon to appear. I fully believed she could do it, she was always able to catch onto things quickly.

There it was again, the warping air, and suddenly a long sword appeared, it fell gracefully into Iliana’s open hand, she gripped it and swung it around.

“Ahhh, I did it. Sensi would be so proud of me, I just made his sword out of thin air.” Sensi was what she called her father’s friend. This friend owned a dojo, and trained Iliana and her family in martial arts and swordplay. Apparently, he was also into blacksmithing and created his own swords, one of which Iliana duplicated out of the mana in the air.

“Aggie, your turn! Your turn!” Iliana was still swinging the sword around, getting into her favorite stance. A salute stance with the sword slightly tilted left, she looked about ready to deliver a heavy two-handed blow.

Knight Freya stood wide eyed, and slowly turned to Maggie’s direction. “Warrior Maggie, if you will please.” She sounded defeated, who could blame her.

Maggie stood and took a deep breath. I could feel her nervousness from where I was, as the older sister, she was probably feeling like she needed to do better than Iliana.

I imagine what we all saw that day was shocking. Maggie had formed a 35-yard golem made of what looked like ink. It picked Maggie up and she sat on its open hand swinging her legs, biggest smile on her face.

Maggie was an artist, she loved drawing, and this golem was one of her favorite works, it had four legs, a large torso, and 4 big beefy arms. It wore a knight’s helmet with glowing eyes coming from the visor, and had two swords sticking out of its back.

This was the first time I have ever seen something fantastical.

“A human like form, one so large, how? And its movements are so natural. This is truly something I could never imagine. What world did you come from?” Freya asked jaw dropping at the feat of Maggie’s mana control.

The golem suddenly put Maggie down, and she was on all fours, struggling to stand.

“Ugh, ahh, I…, I think I overdid it with the golem, the mana…, the, the effects.” Her breathing became labored.

“Just lie down and get rid of the golem.” Knight Freya urged.

“How?”

“Tell the mana to get rid of it.” Suddenly the large golem vanished into blue mist.

I stood there, not wanting to get involved, Iliana ran to her sister. Reverend Mirth and Knight Freya joined Iliana, I turned to face the forest slightly to the left of the group.

“Reverend Mirth, how large is the forest? Where does it lead to?”

“What? Aren’t you worried about warrior Maggie?” The reverend asked while on his knees, hands on Maggie’s back.

“Bona, shut up! You…, Why?!” Iliana was on her knees as well, I was standing slightly to her left, looking at her back. She asked the question with a broken voice.

“Illy, he’s fine, give him time, he’s fine, I still, think, he’s kind, he’s kind.” Maggie said in between struggling breaths.

I felt bad, I wanted to be by her side, but it was too late now, I have made my choice.

“Forget it Mirk, tell me later. Let’s get Maggie back.” I started walking towards the palace’s extension but stopped.

“I can carry her if need be.” I spoke.

I gave Maggie a piggyback ride back to her room, followed by everyone. Julie was waiting by the eastern entrance and questioned us. I shoved her aside, Knight Freya explained what happened and sounded mad at me.

When she was in bed, I made my way out.

“Th-thank…, you.”

“Yeah.”

“Warrior Bona, do you not care for the life of your companions?” Knight Freya asked seriously. Her face showed a commanding officer questioning a soldier.

“Life is cheap, it has no value. When’s the next training?”

“I…,” Knight Freya took a deep breath. “How about next week?”

“Earlier, like 7am sound alright?”

“Sure, Warrior Bona.” If there was a way to explain in writing how hostile my name sounded coming from her, I fear it itself could be considered a dangerous weapon. She started off towards the northern exit. I saw Emily standing at the t-intersection.

“Please be the man my sister thinks you are.” Iliana walked into her room, rubbing her eyes.

“Bona…,” Reverend Mirth started.

“Shut it!” I yelled, having had enough.

“Farewell.” His footsteps were slow, methodical, as if he really had something he wanted to say.

“Warrior Bona, what happened?” Emily asked after the reverend’s footsteps disappeared.

“Bout time we talked, come inside the room.” Emily gulped, and nodded.