I dance among the stars wildly amidst that gleaming night sky. One day I’d like to stretch my wings and fly like Romy. This icy world which is mine and mine alone is shared only by Elina as I revel in the feeling of success. Lightning flashes and the opossum-mask flashes white as she bares her fangs and raises a short sword like the ones Romy has. The thunderous column of electricity shoots down from the heavens and she redirects it to the ground with a flick of the wrist. Alas, at this time, though I may claim to have mastered the storm, lightning is still beyond me. Soon...soon...

“Let’s go back.” I stop my movements as the last of the storm bleeds out its watery blood. My magic is strong. Frozen tendrils of chilly cold linger in the air despite the time passed since my spell’s end. White mist curls and twists, obscuring the view of the grassy field we stand in. Elina turns her head, the hairs on her head still floating ghostly upwards from static electricity.

“You’re not going to keep training?” Her tone has changed. Before she spoke in a way that made it in no way uncertain that she considered me a child. However, after eleven months together, and after seeing my latest creation, it’s different. Not quite awe, but no longer with any seniority. “The duel is next week.”

“I’ve finished everything I need to finish.” My declaration is confident. “There’s nothing else I can do to prepare.”

“If you say so.” Elina does not question my decisions anymore. She understands that the things I say, I always mean. “Romy really is lucky.”

“Mmm...” I already know that Elina is referring to me. It’s a compliment, albeit one based in bitter jealousy. “You should heal yourself before we go.”

“I forgot.” Elina gazes over the lightly bleeding scratches on her body. Proof of my spell’s penetrating capabilities. I’ve learned to read her voice much better since the first time we met. Now I understand that she’s lying when she says, “I can’t feel it.”

“I’ll wait.” Shaking my wet hair out of my eyes, I sit still as Elina chants and allows the warm yellow light of Yuel to cleanse her wounds. When she’s done, my Auntie’s sister flickers and appears next to me. Her arm goes around my chest as she prepares to take off. We’ve been chasing storms every day for the last five months. “You hide it well.”

“You noticed?” Elina grunts as her mask slips a little. Coughing, she readjusts it before yanking me off the ground and dashing away. It’s a little hard to hear with the wind in my ears but I think she says something strange, “Did your mother really cheat with an elf? How are you so goddamn perceptive? Was Blackrose really, right?”

*Whoosh*

About half an hour later, we arrive at the hut. The curling smoke coming from the chimney welcomes us home to a warm hearth. Elina unlatches the door and lets us in. However, instead of preparing tea like she usually does, my teacher steps back outside.

“Where are you going?” I ask.

“I’m going to check on that Demi-Cat of yours.” She replies with what I’m sure is a quirky smile under the mask. “She’ll want to be updated on your progress. After the Trials are over, you’ll be able to see her again.”

“Oh...right.” To be honest, I had kinda forgotten about Natalia. My understanding is that Elina placed her with some contacts in one of the villages nearby the Cliffs of Sisyphus. However, I haven’t given it much thought since there’s been a lot on my mind. “Perhaps...it would be best if...”

“If?” After almost a year together, the Healer picks up on the hesitation in my voice quickly. Her possum-snout swivels towards me in the doorway. “What’s wrong?”

“You know what my plans are, right?” I remind Elina of what we’ve discussed on some of the dull days when there’s no storm to chase. She doesn’t know my entire plan, but she understands my general intentions. “I’m afraid...”

“You’re scared you won’t be able to face her. Or dissuade her from joining you.” Elina guesses my fears exactly. She taps a finger to her mask as she thinks. After a bit, she still turns to go. “It’s fine. I’ll keep her here. And train her for you once you’re gone.”

“You’d do that?” I’m surprised. My mentor hates violence and killing. If it wasn’t for my connection with Romy, and how much it pisses off the Elders, I doubt she would be helping me. “Why?”

“Because I know what it’s like to be abandoned.” Elina says darkly and I wince. She holds up a hand over her shoulder. “You do what you think is necessary to slay your demons. In your case...it’s probably inescapable. Perhaps Meirkeep has always been your eventual destination. Whatever happens, I’m your teacher, and I’ve done precious little teaching. The training which I was supposed to give you...I guess I’ll give it to her instead.”

“I appreciate that.” My confusion must be evident because Elina gives a little laugh.

“Okay maybe it doesn’t hurt that I know it’ll royally annoy the Elders to have a Demi-Cat in the Sect.” With that parting remark, the door closes. “Sit tight! I’ll be back soon!”

Left to my own devices in the hut, I go and make some tea. I guess I’m getting addicted to this stuff? Hopefully Elina can show me how to get some after the Trials. As I go to the cupboard for the cannister of herbs, a flash of white catches my eye. At least a dozen envelopes are tightly stacked together in the corner. It’s the first time I’ve gone to make the tea myself since I first came to the hut. The Healer has always made it herself. Overcome by curiosity, I look over my shoulder, but the hut door is still securely latched. Glancing back at the stack, I can’t resist. One peek can’t hurt, right?

“I’ll just look in the future...technically I won’t even touch them.” Grinning, I put my hand out and imagine opening the topmost envelope in my mind. However, getting the damn thing open in under a second or two proves to be impossible. With a guilty conscience, I put my hand on the envelope and simulate ripping the end off. However, I quickly realize that the top is already open. The seal has been broken. Quietly, as if I’m actually committing a crime even though it’s just in the future, I slip the parchment inside out and take a look.

“Dearest Sister,

I’m afraid I can only trouble you. I don’t know if you’re reading my letters, but from what Perideen has told me about the Sect reforms you’ve enacted, it seems you are. I didn’t want to bother you, but I worry that Perideen won’t be enough! Please, if you can, watch over Myrr in Sines for me! I need to leave for some time and I worry so much, it seems the whole world is hunting him! He is one half of my heart, and I’m sorry for leaving such a task to you like I always do but I need to go chase down the other-“

My own heart pounds as I realize what this is...what all of the envelopes must be.

“Romy...” I whisper and I can’t stop myself from reaching closer to actually open the envelope and read the rest in the present. “You asked Elina to protect me as well? But then...she must have known who I was from the beginning...”

*Knock Knock*

Huh?

Reactivating my Foresight, I turn to the door. It’s not Elina, she has a way of getting the door open without knocking. As my mind wanders down the possibilities and I stand, I realize who it is...or rather who it will be. Walking over, I unlatch it. As it swings open, I wait for her to say something, my face leaving no question as to how distasteful I find her presence to be.

“Hey you.” Meera smiles awkwardly as her chipped canine glints in the moonlight. She cocks her hip, the tight leather outfit of hers just as out of place on her young figure as I remember. Holding a hand out towards me, she does her best to keep her smile when I don’t take it. “Ahh...sorry about...before. Can we talk?”

“Not interested.” Annoyed at the interruption, and eager to get back to the letters, I move to slam the door in Meera’s face. However, she sticks her foot out and stops me from shutting it with her boot.

“Wait! I just want to talk!” She protests, grunting as the edge of the door hits her, “Ow! Seriously? Come on, just give me a minute to explain!”

“Not interested.”

“OW-Please!”

“Not interested!”

“Raingod’s stop that really hurts!”

“Uhuh.”

“IT REALLY DOES!”