“Each night, when I go to sleep, I die. And the next morning, when I wake up, I am reborn.”

- Mahatma Gandhi

In a mansion beyond the walls of Kronenburg.

A scratching noise could be heard echoing along the corridors dripping with water and caked with mold. Picture frames contained water-damaged oil paintings cracked and split dimly visible figures of ancient nobles looked into the distance disapproval in their eyes.

Wall carpets showed patches of dirty stone where mice had eaten the once rich fabric. A human would have felt the wrongness that had saturated the stones, a chill on the back of the neck, the feeling of being watched.

Old statues stood in shadowed alcoves and some of them did not keep their postures but slowly, oh so slowly, moved.

Vanessa stood in the cellar she had made her lair and inspected her handiwork. A flat piece of polished marble that had once been the seat of a bench was carved with intricate symbols daubed in reddish-brown. Dead rats lying in a heap attested to the source of this coloration.

‘Seems sufficient, but better not make a mistake or I would probably have to vacate the premises.’

After an hour of careful inspection Vanessa was finally satisfied and the blood fully dry.

She gestured and energy began to crackle between her hands, she began to intone a resonating chant. Darkness began to flow from the walls and ceiling into the runic script. Outside the mansion, a passing vagrant felt his heart missing a beat and cold sweat ran from his brow, an existential fear drove him to run for his life far from the building he had thought to make his shelter for the night.

The darkness formed symbols and glyphs guided by gestures and chant. Vanessa was glad she had begun the ritual as early as possible as she had not done this often after all. And then the world seemed to shudder, the runes on the marble bled fresh blood and with a final tearing sound, something was pulled into this world.

A hunched and stooped figure nearly three meters when fully erect with arms too long and claws nearly half a meter in length, a head that was an oblong with lighter colored indentations where the eyes would be in a human or elf rose from the marble and inspected its surroundings, insectlike abrupt movements further betraying its inhuman nature. The skin was black so pure, that it seemed without depth.

Vanessa looked at the summoned being and exerted her will. With a screech, it turned and raised its claws to strike but a gesture from her let the runes brighten for a moment and invisible chains tautened around its extremities pulling them back.

“I know your name, GHHERALXYAIR, and I command your obedience. You will have blood on the full moon as payment for guarding this abode and its grounds, anyone not specified by me entering is not protected by this agreement and free for you to dispose of. No one may enter the building itself on pain of death if not allowed by me.”

Concepts rather than spoken words formed in her mind. Hunger and greed, acceptance with an undercurrent of patience. She knew it would test her and if ever she was found wanting it would attack, it was not dissatisfied by what was offered but concepts such as loyalty or even peaceful coexistence without the threat of harm were unknown to this being.

Her will closed on the mind of the creature like a vice and the thin but tall shape folded into a deep bow, arms clasped before its breast.

'Better than a minor water elemental at least.' Vanessa sighed.

The following morning in the academy grounds.

Alea, Alyssa, and Mireille walked together towards the main building the morning air was noticeably colder than a few days ago, winters bite could be felt in the brisk breeze carrying a few colored leaves with it.

“Ah summer, where have you gone.” Mireille lamented. “Soon I will die of frostbite in the night. I can already feel it.” She shuddered theatrically.

Alyssa laughed.

“We could simply get some extra blankets,” Alea spoke seriously causing Alyssa to cough.

“That is absolutely insufficient!” declared Mireille gesturing expansively.

Vivienne regarded the three while walking with her brother she leaned towards him and whispered. “Today you have ‘Water’ together with Alyssa.” It was not a question, Valens listened attentively. “Please keep an eye out. I have something I've got to do preventing me from attending and I have a feeling some things will be set in motion which we will have to steer into a more productive direction.” Valens nodded.

Today was remedial class and the teacher was Josef Turm, who had administered the academic portion of the entrance exam. Alyssa and Mireille were busy writing and learning the former more so than the latter. Alea was quite bored.

Then it was time for lunch.

On the way to the mensa, they saw Maximilian chatting with Alberich, who had stood in as referee in the duel on the day they first looked around the school. He gave a friendly nod in their direction and smiled at Alea who gave a small wave.

A large student with impressive muscles walked up to them before they could enter the building and pointed at Alyssa with an ugly sneer and proclaimed. “Murderers and criminals are unwelcome here. Get back where you came from!”

Put on the spot like this with the massive youth bearing down on her Alyssa felt her heart beat faster and her throat go dry. Students looked at them and whispered, some pointed. A group standing behind the student loudly voiced their approval.

“Criminals are not welcome.”

“Low-born scum.”

“Gives the academy a bad reputation.”

“How can I feel secure when something like that is attending here.”

Maximilian gestured for Alberich to accompany him and walked briskly towards the altercation.

Mireille looked furious. “You ugly, overgrown dimwit, is it custom around here to simply spew your bullshit without even introducing yourself? Who are you? Top clown of the schoolyard? A spare for when they don’t have enough donkeys to pull the manure cart? You seem big and dumb enough for that.”

The big student seemed woefully unprepared for being verbally attacked by the small red-haired girl, whose head did reach to about his lower chest region. “Yapping nuisance, out of my way.” He raised his hand to shove her away but missed as she leaned back, ducking out of the way.

“Halt! What is this nonsense.” Maximilian walked between the groups. “How on earth do you come to the conclusion that this is acceptable behavior for an academy student.” He turned towards the big aggressive student whose green tunic strained around massive muscles.

“My name is Otto von Landesend and this criminal here is…”

“My retainer.” Maximilian looked singularly unimpressed. “And if you continue with this slander I will call you to duel.”

“It's the truth!” Otto stubbornly set his shoulders.

“Yes, we heard it too!” the group standing behind him gave their support.

“I Otto von Landesend, call you Alyssa Miner to duel. Your presence here shames us all.” The sentence sounded rehearsed and was spoken stiffly.

Alyssa looked at Maximilian for guidance who shook his head in exasperation. “Ok. That is your prerogative, what you are aiming to achieve with that is a mystery to me but so be it. Alberich, you have some experience in that regard…”

The youth who had stood nearby and seemed faintly amused by the commotion shook himself and looked at Maximilian. “Why me?”

“I can't very well do this for my own retainer, it sets a bad precedent and I could well be accused of favoritism.” Maximilian patiently explained.

The lanky dishwater-blonde shook his head, “I should have gone ahead! That is the punishment for being considerate. I refuse.”

“I will give you the sixteen-year-old pear schnapps.”

“Max my friend, I will of course help you with this. No problem at all.” Alberich looked like the incarnation of helpfulness.

Maximilian rubbed his forehead. “But not now. You called for a duel you can decide the victory condition but Alyssa can choose the means and the time. You will have to agree on the dueling code though.”

Mireille was fuming. “Can he simply walk up to us and we have to fight him?”

“Yes. A few decades ago everyone here was a noble and dueling was not only allowed but encouraged as a means of fostering combat ability and mitigating quarrels to not include the fiefs and armed retainers in their disputes.” Maximilian patiently explained while all around them students were chatting and discussing what they had witnessed.

“I say we fight until you are unconscious. The dueling code…” Otto floundered.

From behind him came a loud whisper in a female voice “...the code duello Carvenbright.” A pretty brunette leaned back into the crowd as some tried to see who had spoken.

Otto continued after saying “..thanks Melissa…” under his breath. “The code duello of Carvenbright.”

“A traditional choice.” Alberich gave a nod and seemed, if not enthusiastic, at peace with the proceedings.

“Then let us say…” Maximilian looked at the girls and Alea leaned towards him saying something. “...Wednesday afternoon after classes. Everyone in accord?”

“Yes.” Otto gave a short nod.

Alyssa looked to Maximilian who nodded towards her. “...yes.” Alyssa sounded uncertain.

“Then it is decided. Weapons can still be decided at a later date but it should give the participants enough time to acquire a weapon should it be needed.”

Mireille called out to the brunette girl “take your ugly mutt and teach him some manners. I can't understand how you can be seen in public with him and not be embarrassed to death.”

Otto took another swing towards her which she dodged again.

“Mireille.” Maximilian looked at her. “If you want to duel him please wait for the first one to conclude. Please don’t insult him further.” She threw him a reproachful look. The blonde, blue-eyed young man sighed. “I know he had it coming.”

“When I have beaten your friend to a pulp you will be next.” Otto retorted before turning to go.

The girl called Melissa looked uncomfortable and walked briskly ahead of him with the large student trying to catch up. Students slowly dispersed towards the mensa as the main attraction had finished.

Alyssa pressed her lips together and hunched her shoulders trying to suppress tears of anger as she felt Mireille hugging her. Relaxing into the embrace she whispered. “What a stupid idiot. Thank you.”

Alea put her hand on her right arm and squeezed. “We are with you. My brother and Alberich will keep an eye on this duel.”

Alyssa nodded. Cyrus spread his wings and looked ready to take off and stab someone to death.

Asandria looked at them. ‘It is not that surprising you know? You will succeed, you have me and the added strength of Cyrus even though he would not be allowed to use his stinger. But I am quite unsure what they want with that kind of display. The muscles are nice to look at but nearly useless in a duel of magic, and you have the choice of weapons. It seems as if it is more a measure of swaying public opinion than dueling for its own sake.’

Alyssa looked pensive at that.

“We have to go inside otherwise we will not get any food.” Mireille sounded a bit plaintive.

Hugging her tightly for a short moment, Alyssa released her embrace and breathed deeply. “Let’s go.”

Vivienne looked at them entering the mensa. ‘Interesting. The girl is coerced. The crowd at least partially bought. Let's see if we can have some fun.’ She spoke a short spell and gestured towards the departing Otto who was still hurrying after the girl Melissa. “Yrgos Worldstrider let him follow his whims, act without thought as the wind carries him.”

Otto closed the distance to Melissa and put his arm around her shoulder saying something. She flinched and tried to shake him off which the big young man hardly noticed.

Another gesture and whispers from the surrounding students reached the struggling girl. “...Melissa and Otto...surprising.” “...she always was an easy girl...last week...another boy…” “ ...oh my what a trollop…”

With a hard gleam in her eyes, Vivienne observed her handiwork then turned and walked towards her next class while eating a bit of bread she had stuffed into one of her belt pouches. It was somewhat surprising even after all this time what simply hearing the words, that one had to know were spoken, did to some people.

Melissa extricated herself and with wet eyes ran towards the dorms. Otto looked surprised and insulted.

And then it was time for the afternoon classes.