Magic class crawled with magical theory. Where Louis often left Hefra confused with his many leaps of logic, only to backtrack to clear up misconceptions, Teacher Vimetti hesitated at each step as if she walked across a tightrope over a magical beast pit. Three weeks ago, Hefra knew no other way to learn magic. Now, she wondered why the teaching took this particular format. Still, Hefra took notes, even if sleep was preferable. They would help her retain the information, even if Teacher Vimetti provided notes after the lesson.

Taking the other seat at their little table, Amy – now the noble Amelia Feldmar – meditated. Even the few feet apart they sat felt indescribably long. Not just from talks of nobility – but that Amy hid that from her over a month. Louis, of all people, broke the silence about their potential nobility status and offered her a chance – only in name, Louis promised, for once the family saw her talent, only the Gods themselves could bar her entry. His confidence in her warmed her heart, but felt jarring – as if he and Amy had switched places.

Her world was flipping upside down and Hefra knew very little of what to trust. Louis offered magical tidbits and secrets so tantalizingly sweet, she could hardly refuse them. Yet, with him gone for five days and having some time to think for herself, his words threatened everything she once believed. Amy felt fleeting, only a single question more would break their tepid truce. Unreliable mother, hateful father and gentle Nana who forgot so much. Just who was Hefra to turn to for answers?

Hefra turned to meditation – not because she wanted to miss class, but because attuning wind and earth took so much concentration, she did not have to yearn for fonder times. Wind first, since Hefra was so poor at it, then attune earth bit by bit to balance. This produced little mana at all, but Louis stressed time and time again that the process and balance far exceeded the amount of mana in importance. This, she could do. Everything else in the world may be uncertain, but in magic she could find refuge.

While individual meditation found progress, their dual meditation of four elements ended in embarrassment. Teacher Vimetti found multi-person meditation laughable and brought the class to condemn their efforts to stamp out such behavior. And Hefra felt a bit guilty for being relieved in such treatment – as much as the scorn of their classmates felt terrible, it closed the rift that was beginning to grow between her and Amy.

Four elements combined meditation was given upon quickly – the past two days of such practice had brought little more than disappointment and pain. Neither could absorb much mana because how unbalanced it became. Instead, Amy focused on her water, Hefra on her fire. It was there they found some semblance of balance, even if they were still unable to maintain such when they attempted to absorb it.

The lack of mana and inability to practice Divine Magic for a few days annoyed Hefra more than a little bit, but reaching the natural state, Louis promised, would more than compensate. So they pushed onwards. Eventually natural mana regeneration and this practice did garner enough mana for a few Divine Magics.

҉҉҉

Dinner was quiet yet so tense. Divine Magic Bryn had disappeared, which despite not being a Faith of Six Goddess, provided a great problem for almost everyone. But that was a far problem, better understood by greater problems. Memilia had said its disappearance would be inconsequential for daily life. Adventurers, mages, fighters and priests all worked tirelessly to ensure the same quality of life, that any such worries are unfounded. Hefra tended to agree – except that Louis disappeared around then too. Not that he was so transparent with his actions as of late, but he had yet to ever disappear for a week at a time. Ever.

Hefra had no hope that things would turn for the better when discussion came around. While gossip and venting could help their families manage their emotions, Hefra saw very little value gained that way and hardly participated in it. Hence, skipping it entirely for magic practice was a great idea by Amy.

Unfortunately, while her feelings were proven right when Nana skipped dessert, Nana refused to allow either Amy or her to leave the dining table.

“Do you two have any idea where Louis may have gone?” Nana asked.

Adventuring mostly likely, Hefra thought. That’s how Louis got the money the first time. Probably should have spent the money to buy food – the coins were in their room unspent, held in case Louis actually needed such a large sum of money. But a promise was a promise.

“No.” Hefra said, putting her hands into her pockets. She could feel a lump form in her throat and her heart race.

“I do not.” Amy said, much calmer and easier.

Father glared at her, shoulders and hands tensed, but Hefra somehow managed to keep quiet. And soon they were let go. Hefra opened the closet to check if Louis was there – sometimes he just appeared there, but it was empty. She had made his bed of blankets, hoping that perhaps he did return home at night sometimes only to leave before they woke up – he did that many times before. She left blanket in the middle dangling a bit, in case Louis did make his bed before leaving, but that piece remained in the same spot untouched. Worrying.

Then came practice, one of the better things of her days – it combined the two best things of her life: magic and friends. Not of fire and water today, but earth and wind since they needed to practice that as well. Ironically, since they were more careful with their off-elements, they found much greater success with fusing the two elements. Not enough to absorb the ambient mana, but a promising start.

When bedtime came around, Hefra began praying. To Imaru that father would heal his leg and get return to his former self. To Aether that Louis would find his way back home safely. To Gabrielle that things between her and Amy would work out. To Uta that there would be another dance on this Day of Light. There had already been three this month, but with all the dangers and uncertainty, another dance would be welcomed.