The grinning, soaking thug took another step towards her, and a little pouch smacked into his face and burst into a cloud of red and brown. The smell of pungent, hot spices filled the air and the thug started coughing and sputtering as they got into his eyes, nose and mouth. He fell to his knees and rubbed at his eyes in desperation, screaming in growing panic. Neither helped rid him of the burning sensation.

Jikni lunged again, and Shaya took a calculated risk. Blood blossomed as he slashed across her ribs, but she clamped a big hand over his wrist. Her slashed hand curled into a bloody fist and laid into Jikni while she kept control of his weapon hand. Shaya’s adrenaline and fury drowned out the pain from her injuries, letting her continue the onslaught. Finally, Jikni started to go down, the shiv falling from his hand.

I hope Rel got the-

Pain exploded into her head and she fell to a knee.

I’m sorry, mom. I tried to live up to your standards.

The girl cried out again, and Shaya lunged towards the noise. Her fist clipped the thug’s broken nose as he tried to drag the girl away from Shaya. He staggered backward from them, more out of surprise than pain. Rel’s spice bomb covered part of his face, but not close enough to his eyes or nose. He began whirling the chain above his head again, glaring daggers at Shaya.

“She’s coming with us,” he said, his voice an odd pitch due to his shattered nose.

Vision blurred and red, Shaya raised her fists again.

I hope you’re proud, mom.

“I won’t let you take her,” Shaya said, spitting blood to the side.

The chain lashed towards her, and she willed her body to respond to it. Sluggish from her injuries, she knew her arm wouldn’t intercept the weapon in time, and she wasn’t going to get back up from another blow to the head. Maybe the girl would be smart enough to get past him while Shaya distracted him.

If only her arm would move faster.

If only she had a shield or armour.

If only her mom never died and left her to this fate.

‘You wish to defend those around you?’ A voice of ringing steel asked within her.

‘I...I wish to fight for those who can’t stand up for themselves.’

Myself included.

‘Then so be it. I shall be your Will made manifest.’

Power rose through her, an Amber light that filled her with newfound resolve and confidence.

Shaya had read the stories, she knew what to do.

At least vaguely.

“Begone!” She shouted with as much will as she could.

A shield of light exploded from her arm, carrying with it enough force to hurl the chain away from her as well as the man wielding it. The thug landed on the ground several feet away from her with a loud gasp as the air was forced from his lungs.

“That’s enough of that you mongrel!”

Anger flared through her as Ruby light poured into her. “Get purged dumbass!”

Shaya spun to Jikni and hot, burning sunlight blasted from her fingertips. The heat burned his exposed flesh and blinded him, forcing him to drop his shiv before he could finish his attack. The searing light expanded past him and caught his partner, giving the man a far more real burning sensation to deal with. Both men stumbled away from her in shock and threw themselves into the water. Rage thundered in her, demanding that she destroy them both for what they represented – for the insults they threw her way.

With a force of will, she reined in the rage before it spiraled out of control. Instead, she turned to help the victim she was protecting to her feet, gasping when she realized the blast of heat had caught her as well. “I’m sorry!” Shaya said, crouching next to the girl and taking her burned forearm gently in her own hands, “I’m so sorry – I don’t even know what happened! Maybe I can heal you.”

Sympathy flowed through her as she saw the reddened, peeling skin on the girl’s arm. In that moment, she felt a deep connection to the stranger and felt the pain in her own arm as if she had burnt herself instead. Shaya and the girl gasped as Jade light suffused the wound and the burns faded away, to be replaced with fresh porcelain skin lacking the same tan that the rest of the arm possessed.

Sighing, Shaya leaned back and took in a deep breath to steady herself against the flood of emotions that had rushed through her. The confidence, the rage, and the sympathy were all gone, leaving her feeling drained. The smell of brimstone and the iron tang of blood filled the area for the moment, but the rotting fish were retaking their territory quickly. She smirked as this realization slowly sunk in through her pounding skull.

As she opened her eyes, Shaya saw a glowing, ephemeral spirit floating above her – a tall, armoured woman with feathered wings, a crystal sword and a heavy shield.

“M-mom?” Blinking tears from her eyes, she stared up at the woman as she got to her feet. The spirit unmistakably looked like her mom, but she had never possessed wings or such splendid armour. Even her physique looked supernatural, like a statue chiseled to a perfection that her mortal form could never hold.

She felt the connection between her and the spirit, a bond she’d heard of in the tales her family and friends told her of their adventures.

“Are you...my Esper now?”

‘You are worthy.’ She felt the voice more than heard it. It...it didn’t really sound like her mom, but there was an eerie similarity to it. ‘I am Phaedra Amon, Guardian of Light. The Pact is sealed.’

Then, it simply faded into motes of light that absorbed into Shaya as she stood there, stunned.

“Shaya!” Rel called, rushing towards her. “What was that!? Was that mom!? Why are you glowing? Oh my gods are you actually a mage now!?”

Reeling from his tackle hug, Shaya barely caught her balance before they toppled over. She couldn’t even begin to parse all the emotions behind his words – excitement, fear, nervousness, jealousy?

“Yeah Rel,” she smiled down at him, “That’s our ticket out of here.”

“What do you mean?” He pulled away from her.

I mean I’m basically a god, Rel. She thought to herself. I can channel up to three colours! Half the spectrum! Though I don’t like what came over me when channeling Ruby aether...

“We’re going back to the orphanage.”

“But - that place is terrible! We were basically slaves there!”

Shaya clenched a glowing fist. “Things are going to be different from now on Rel. Now they’ll have to treat us with respect. Now someone that matters will take us in.”

“What if they only want you though?” Heat entered his voice.

“I’m not going to let them separate us, Rel.”

“I figured I’d find you at the center of this mess, Shaya.” A large man called out as he approached the scene, surveying their handy work with some appreciation. Like Shaya, he clearly possessed giant’s blood. Two other enforcers flanked him, a man and woman of demigol origin, each carrying simple clubs. “And look at that – quite the prize you wrested from these idiots!”

One arm pressed to the wound in her side, Shaya raised her other over the girl protectively. The girl was still looking at her with awe instead of doing the sensible thing and getting out of here as fast as her legs could carry her. “She’s with me.”

“Yeah, of course you get first claim. Titans know you earned it, shit.”

“No, I mean we’re leaving here Zymish. All three of us.”

The tattooed enforcer cocked his head at her. “Yeah...I don’t think Jericho would be okay with me letting that happen. That girl looks kinda like she’d fetch a pretty ransom, given the real clothes and, I dunno, clean hair she’s got under that ratty cloak she’s wearing.”

“Let us past Zymish.”

He rolled his eyes, “What’s gotten into you? You realize you’re in no position to do shit if I kicked your asses and took her to Jericho, hey?”

Shaya grew up listening to stories of mages and their heroic deeds. She knew all too well what to do.

This part was easy.

“Phaedra!” She invoked, putting her will behind the name. Golden light flared from her eyes as her Esper reappeared behind her. As it manifested outwardly, she felt her spirit grow as the Esper connected her to the Aether and its infinite possibilities.

Gods, I hope I learn how to cast that healing spell in the next few minutes.

‘With your basic incantations, the effort would kill you.’ The steely voice said in her mind.

Well, shit.

Zymish blinked. “Wow. You’ve, ugh, really been holding out on us, huh?”

“New development, boss,” she gave him a bloody smile, “You understand. We want to part amicably.”

“Uh huh.”

“Rel, give him our haul,” she nodded to Zymish, “For Jericho, mind you. Consider it pay back for taking us in these past years.”

Rel hugged the bag of loot tightly to himself, but eventually relented and tossed it to Zymish. The giant caught it casually with one hand and smiled as he heard how much it jingled. “Alright, off you go then. I’ll give Jericho your best.”

“Thanks, Zymish.”

“You think you can make it out there?”

Shaya paused. “Yeah, I definitely plan to.”

He nodded. “Good luck, Shaya.”

“Thanks, you too man.”

Shaya turned back to the girl that had started this all and offered her a hand up. She took it tentatively, eyes still wide with awe – or maybe a bit of shock, now that Shaya really looked.

“Alright, let’s get you home.”

“Th-thank you for saving me.” She stuttered as Shaya pulled her up.

Given that I just Awakened, I might owe you my life.

...Not that I’m going to mention that and miss out on the reward though.

Shaya smiled, “Please, don’t mention it.” She leaned down and whispered, “Keep quiet until we get out of here, no need to draw more interest. What’s your name, anyway?”

The girl paused for a moment, thinking about what she should say. “P..P..Princess Theame Astoria.”

The colour drained from Shaya’s face and her response came out as a hiss. “THE Princess Theame Astoria, third in the line of succession for THE bloody Arcadian Empire?”

Theame blushed, then she nodded in embarrassment.

Celestial Throne...my life really is going to change.

“Throne Above,” she murmured a curse, “Why would you even come here?”

“S..someone stole my friends’ experimental magic items. Runed gems and some very dangerous brass orbs – I told them I’d get them back for them.” Theame said, blushing cheeks stark against her porcelain skin. “I, ugh, didn’t think it would be this dangerous down here.”

“...oh.” Shaya said, casting a glance back at Zymish as he carried their bag of loot. “...oh. Alright then, we should really leave.” She stood, “Rel, we’re leaving. Right now.”

“Shouldn’t we at least bandage your injuries?”

“Nono, it’s fine,” Shaya lied, waving her free hand dismissively, “They’re not so bad, I’ll heal them with my magic later.”

Shaya ushered them to move with urgency, shooing Rel and Theame until they started walking at a brisk pace. Once they had left Jericho’s territory, she pulled the yellow garnet from a pocket in her tunic and tossed it into the water while Theame wasn’t looking.

Rel cocked an eyebrow at her.

She shook her head and waved a hand across her throat to indicate they should never speak of it again.

“Now bandage me, I have no idea how to cast any spells.”