The following day at class, Xerxes felt like a weight had been lifted off him. Granted, he’d failed in his attempt to get promoted. But at least he didn’t have to worry about the cult meetings anymore. What was more, given that he’d achieved his breakthrough, he could now focus on rune study.

Thanks to the immense asset that was the book Rabya had gifted him, he had already reached the point where he could practice the Asgagu Sebum rune using paper and ink. That was the most expensive part of learning a spell, and he was careful to use his supplies wisely.

On Secondday, Jad achieved his breakthrough. Kashtiliash followed on Thirdday.

On Fifthday, Rabya held true to her promise and took them to her favorite sword shop. There, Xerxes spent more money in one place than he’d ever spent in his entire life. He didn’t buy the most expensive sword there—that would have been impossible, even if they’d allowed him to buy it on credit. But he got something that put his old sword to shame.

None of the other members of the Swordmasters bought new weapons. However, all of them bought the fancy kind of sheath that Xerxes had first seen used by Purattu. It secured the large sword to the back, but at the same time, allowed it to be drawn easily. He paid extra for a variation designed for Asgagu High Seers, which facilitated easy casting of Minor Augmentation.

The announcement came on Sixthday during the morning assembly.

“This will be your last week at the school,” High Archon Kingallu said. “Abhorrent activities have surged, and we need mages on the ground in various starisles. Those of you who haven’t reached the High Seer level would do well to work as hard as you can toward that goal. Once you leave these walls, you won’t have the spell formations. Or the time. Because of this, we’ll be opening more slots for spell formation usage. Only for Seers. Any who’ve reached the High Seer level should focus on rune study or other training.”

During the assembly, Xerxes looked over to the spot where the officers lined up. He saw Gandash there, clad in his special officer robes, chatting with some of his fellow officers.

After the prayer was over, Xerxes took a deep breath and walked over. He arrived just as Gandash was taking his leave from his friends.

“Hey, Gandy,” he said.

Gandash looked over in surprise. “Oh. Xerk. Hey.”

“I think we should talk,” Xerxes said.

“About what?”

“Just… stuff. They’re going to send us out, and for all we know we might not see each other again for a long time.”

“That’s true.”

“I did some things. Said some things. I don’t know, I… I just want to talk. Like old times.”

Gandash smiled. “Sure. Now that you mention it, I have some things I ought to get off my chest. Tomorrow’s Restday. How about then?”

“Okay. Meet at the gate before lunch?”

“How about dinner instead? I have a bunch of things to do in the morning.”

“Sure. See you then.”

“Sounds good.”

Xerxes wasn’t sure what he would say to Gandash. And he could only imagine what Gandash wanted to get off his chest. But just having agreed to talk to him made him feel better.

The next day, he spent time studying in the morning, then did sword training with the Swordmasters for about three hours. All of them had vastly improved in their dueling skills. Xerxes and Kashtiliash were now about even in terms of who came out on top when they faced off.

After cleaning up, he headed to the gate to wait for Gandash. He made sure to fill his pouch with a few extra shekels just in case.

His friend showed up only a few minutes later.

“Do you know that lamb place to the north?” Gandash asked. “I forget the name, but it’s run by a guy named Tomer.”

Xerxes knew the place. “I’ve heard of it. It’s a bit pricey, isn’t it?”

“My treat,” Gandash said.

Xerxes’ jaw tightened. “It’s fine. No need.”

“If you say so.”

On most occasions when he and Katayoun ate together, or even when he went out to eat neverending meat with the Swordmasters, they rarely went anywhere that charged more than about twenty to thirty minas. This placed charged an even shekel. Granted, they could eat as much as they wanted. But at a price quadruple what he was used to, it was grimace-inducing. It was a good thing he’d come ready to spend money, so he paid and followed Gandash inside.

The pitcher of ale came before the meat did. Gandash poured, then raised his tankard.

“To the Mannemid boys,” he said.

Xerxes grinned. “Starting on an empty stomach? Officer training has toughened you up. To us.”

They drank.

Then the meat came and they ate.

At first, they talked about trivial matters. Gandash told him about some of the classes he’d been taking, everything from advanced cavalry tactics to boring things like supply lines. Xerxes talked about Mystic Rabya and her longsword classes, and how much he’d learned about the Epitome.

When they finished the first pitcher of ale, Xerxes noticed that Gandash was talking a bit louder than before. Maybe he hadn’t developed a bit more of a tolerance for alcohol in the recent months.

“Hey, why don’t we take it easy on the ale?” Xerxes said.

“Nah. This could be our last meal together for a long time. Let’s make it memorable.” Raising his voice much louder than was necessary, he yelled, “Waiter. Another pitcher!”

They continued to drink and eat.

Is he trying to get drunk? Maybe to impress me, or show me up?

A few minutes later, Gandash said, “What did you want to talk about?”

Xerxes leaned back as the waiter deposited another tray of meat in front of them. “Nothing really. Just… I feel like we haven’t had any time together for a while.”

“Well, that’s true. I mean, you do have your new best friends.”

Xerxes brow furrowed. “What?”

“It’s fine, I get it. I was sucked into the boring officer training, so what else are you going to do? It’s not like I blame you for it.”

“Gandy, you’re reading too much into this. Jad, Kash, Enusat. Tuecer. They’re friends, for sure. But I didn’t grow up with them like you. You and I are best friends.”

“Are we? We hardly even see each other anymore….”

Xerxes sighed. “We’re seeing each other right now.” He lifted his tankard. “To best friends.”

Gandash frowned but lifted his tankard.

They drank. Ate some more.

“Gandy, I never congratulated you on climbing the rankings. Everybody’s talking about it.”

“Surprised you had time to notice given your new girlfriend.” Gandash stuffed some more meat into his mouth.

Xerxes was working hard to keep his mood from turning black. It felt like Gandash was trying to provoke him. But why?

I need to distract him like I did that time back on Mannemid.

He opened his mouth to say something, but before he could, Gandash continued, “You’re doing it on purpose, aren’t you?”

“Doing… what?”

“Flaunting her.”

“Flaunting? Wait, you mean Kat?”

“You have a pet name for her now?”

Xerxes closed his eyes and took in a deep breath through his nose. He’d wanted to have a nice heart-to-heart with his childhood best friend. But Gandash had always been an angry drunk. Or at least… an unstable drunk.

“I’m not flaunting her, Gandash. I don’t even know what that means. How could I ‘flaunt’ her?”

“I saw you making out with her the other day. I was across the street and you did it on purpose. And you’re always holding hands, looking all lovey-dovey. You want me to see you together. To remind me that I don’t have a girlfriend anymore. Tell me I’m wrong, I dare you.”

Xerxes forced himself to remain calm. “I didn’t see you the other day. That was the first time we kissed. I don’t even know how it happened. One minute we were standing there, and then next minute we were kissing. Just like back home when you and—”

Gandash shot to his feet, knocking down his ale tankard in the process. As ale ran over the edges of the table, Gandash jabbed his finger in Xerxes’ direction. “Don’t say it. Don’t you dare say her name.”

Xerxes stood. The restaurant had grown quiet, and the patrons were all looking at them. Everything clicked just then.

“I wasn’t going to say… to say her….” The words died in Xerxes mouth. He had been about to say Bel’s name, simply because the randomness of his first kiss with Kat had resembled that first kiss between Bel and Gandash.

“You were going to say it,” Gandash said, his jaw jutting out. His eyes glistened.

“Gandy,” Xerxes said, lowering his voice. “Just calm down. This is getting out of control.” He extended his hands, palms down, in his friend’s direction.

“I’m tired of this, Xerk,” Gandash said, bunching his hands into fists. “Everything’s gone bad for me in life, while you’re living it up. Brand new friends. Brand new girlfriend. Everything going your way, and you sit off to the side laughing at me. You’re the only one who knows the story of me wetting my pants in the library. Why’d you spread that story, huh? You wanted to embarrass me?”

Some of the patrons murmured, and the owner of the restaurant was walking in their direction.

“Gandy, sit down,” he said. “Let’s talk this out.”

He reached out, intending to put his hand on Gandash’s forearm and pull him back down into a sitting position. In response, Gandash blurted, “Back off,” jerked his hand away, then shoved Xerxes.

He nearly toppled backward.

“Hey,” he said. “That’s enough!” He managed to grab Gandash’s his wrist.

His friend pulled in the opposite direction, forcing Xerxes to lean forward. Then Gandash tried to punch him.

The blow was wild and easy to dodge. While Gandash was still overextended, Xerxes clenched his own hand into a fist and punched him in the stomach. Hard.

His friend doubled over.

Stepping out from behind the table, Xerxes said, “Enough, Gandy. You’re drunk. We need—”

Gandash let out a shout and threw another wild haymaker. Xerxes leaned back and hit him right across the side of the face.

Gandash grunted and half-spun half-fell onto the table. Meat, dishes, and cutlery flew in all directions.

Xerxes took a step forward, but when he saw that Gandash was just lying there breathing heavily, he backed up.

Looking around at the shocked patrons and staff, he found the manager and walked over. “Sorry,” he said. He dug out a shekel. “Will this cover the inconvenience?”

“Of course,” the manager said, smiling woodenly. “What about… your friend?”

“He’ll come around soon. Maybe have someone escort him back to the Institute.”

“Will do, Sir Mage.”

“Thanks.”

Leaving Gandash behind, Xerxes stalked back to the school.