When Nerluce managed to peel his eyes open again, he still felt tired.

He rubbed them, drowsily and rolled over, placing a hand over his head, blocking out the light. It seemed too bright out. Yet, the sun didn't stop shining, playful rays nipping at his skin as spirits danced around the garden. Nerluce groaned as he pushed himself off of his makeshift napping spot and looked around for a new one - preferably in the shade.

The garden he was in was quite lovely but he couldn't remember exactly where it was. It had all of his favorite flowers from his mother's gardens and a couple of the statues from his Lord Father's but... there was also the sound of streams like in Ethera's innermost courtyard and the smell of apple blossoms like the fields that Nerluce so often escaped to. This was no garden of his parents.

He yawned and stretched. A spirit nuzzled him and he let out a laugh, grabbing for it and pulling it to his chest. It felt warm. Nerluce wondered if it was a fire spirit. Maybe a sun spirit. He'd never seen a sun spirit before but he'd heard they were real. They clustered in spots that the sun hit the ground the most.

"Nerluce!" a voice called.

Nerluce didn't recognize it but... at the same time he did. He knew who it belonged to despite the person not sounding like that in the slightest. It was the same way he knew who these gardens belonged to despite not remembering exactly where they were. He blamed the sleep. It was making him forgetful.

"Nerluce!" the voice said again. It was louder. Closer.

"'M here," Nerluce said.

The world shifted slightly as the person stepped into focus. He wore thin robes befitting the weather and had his hair long and tied in a braid. It hung messily to the side of his head. Yet, even like that, there was nothing short of divinity in this domesticity that an older Aristide apparently dwelled within.

"I've been looking for you," Aristide said.

"Oh?" Nerluce said with a lazy smile. "I guess I didn't hear you." He yawned. "I was sleeping."

Aristide smiled back and tapped the tip of his nose. "Li is waiting for us. She's going to be grouchy if you keep her waiting."

"Can't have that," Nerluce said.

He let Aristide help him to his feet as he looked around the garden. It truly was beautiful and went on for as far as the eye could see. The sun was warm but not too warm and a breeze carried Nerluce's hair and cooled his face. It felt like a perfect day, the type of day he longed for in both winter and summer months as a child. And it was the perfect day to take a nap outside. A shame Aristide had woken him from it.

Though he supposed he didn't want to spend all of today sleeping...

He followed Aristide through the garden. His feet were familiar with the path, even though his mind was not. It led them to a small cottage on the edge of the garden. It was the type that peasants lived in. It was no place suitable for divinity or nobility or a prophecized hero of light and yet... that was where all three dwelled nonetheless.

Nerluce opened the door, finding comfort in how worn it seemed. It was a well-loved door. Well used, too. It would never know perfection like palace or temple doors would but... Nerluce liked this door much better than any other he'd ever used.

Sitting at a small table in the cottage was a young girl. Nerluce wasn't good with children or their ages but she seemed to be in that odd stage where she was too old to be a child but not yet a teenager. Nerluce ruffled her dark hair as he passed. "Aristide said you were getting hungry."

"Yeah," Kierli grumbled. "If you don't hurry, I'm gonna eat you."

"He mentioned grumpy as well," Nerluce said, plopping himself down in the chair next to her. She made a face at him. "Right there!"

"You're such an old man," Kierli said. "What were you even doing?"

Nerluce hummed. "Dreaming, I suppose."

"Dreaming?" Aristide asked as he brought a pot of something in from the kitchen. It looked strange but smelled good so Nerluce didn't really care. He scooped some for Kierli and then Aristide and last of all himself.

"Yeah, dreaming," Nerluce said, taking a bite of the food. It was good. "This is a dream."

"Luce?" Kierli asked. "What are you talking about?"

Nerluce lifted his head with an easy smile. The sleep had faded but his memories of how he'd gotten here were no clearer. He just knew... this couldn't be real because there was no way that Aristide would make a decision like this one. A selfish decision. Nerluce closed his eyes and tried to remember but all he could hear was Aristide calling him a good person. Yeah, right. If Aristide could see this, Nerluce doubted he'd say those words again.

"This is a lovely dream," Nerluce said. "But I can't stay here." He finished the food and stood up. "I have to protect the real Kierli."

"This is how to protect her," Aristide said.

"Aristide." Nerluce took his hands. "Thank you."

The older Aristide of his dream, the one who seemed both domestic and divine, let out a small sigh and gripped Nerluce's hand. "I wish you wouldn't leave here."

Nerluce wished he wouldn't either. But, he still let go of Aristide's hand, all the same, letting it fall to his side. The world melted around them, draining back down the brass basin as quickly as it had come. Nerluce blinked back the urge to sleep and the sting of tears and a terrible ache that had buried itself into Nerluce's chest. Let go. He needed to let go. That wasn't real and it never would be real.

So he took a deep breath, recomposed himself, and turned to look at the High Priestess.

She was smiling at him.

"Very well done," the High Priestess said.

"Did he pass?" Taayir asked. She seemed... anxious to know, despite how calm she was forcing herself to look.

Slowly, the High Priestess nodded. "Well done, Nerluce."

"I... passed the Magickal midterm?" Nerluce asked.

"So it seems," the High Priestess said.

Nerluce let out a sigh of relief, though it didn't feel like he'd done much of anything. He'd just... walked out of a fantasy. And it... it had hurt him so much to do so... he didn't think that was what passing should have felt like. He clutched his chest and looked down at his lap. He wasn't ready to stand just yet.

"What was the test?" Nerluce asked.

The High Priestess hummed, as though she hadn't expected the question. "Couldn't you tell?" she asked a lilt of amusement in her voice. "It was a test of loyalty. Your deepest desires were pitted against your loyalty to Ethera. You made the right choice. You passed."

But... Nerluce hadn't made any choices. Didn't she know that?

"I am a bit curious... Nerluce why don't you indulge this old woman and tell her what your dream was about?"

So she didn't know. She couldn't see what they dreamt about. She would only know whether or not they gave into their temptations, not what those temptations were. Nerluce felt a rush of relief. "Nothing much," he said. "Just a garden and a meal with family." He stood up. That was all that he really wanted to tell her.

The High Priestess seemed surprised but nodded. "Very well. Go celebrate with the others who've passed."

Nerluce nodded. "Thank- thank you."

And with that, he hurried out of that room as quickly as he possibly could, not even sparing Taayir a goodbye.

Nerluce looked around, trying to spot his friends. They weren't in the courtyard but hardly anyone was. It was freezing outside and getting late. Dinner would be soon so most people were either in their rooms resting from all of the tests or completing their evening tasks. Nerluce headed straight for the Fire Affinity dorms with more speed and determination than people were seeing him move with.

Thankfully the younger ones moved out of his way.

"Alright!" Nerluce exclaimed as he burst through the doors into the common room. "Who passed?"

Like most nights, Eko and Lyana were engaged in a game of cards, but no one seemed to have their heart into it, least of all them. Corbett was in one of the armchairs but he didn't look his usual smug self. And then... well Hamelin was nowhere to be seen at all. Whatever happened... Nerluce felt his stomach twist.

Nerluce pointed at Corbett. "Did you pass?" he snapped.

Corbett's eyes widened, probably not expecting Nerluce's dramatic antics so soon before he scoffed. "Obviously."

Nerluce let out a sigh of relief.

"But Hamelin didn't," Corbett said.

Oh. That was it. Nerluce frowned. Hamelin was... well he was by far the best of their class. He was smart and had powerful Magick. He didn't talk very much but... when he did it always seemed to come from a place of kindness and wisdom. How... how could it be that he didn't pass? It didn't seem right. Out of all of them... Nerluce was sure that Hamelin would be a Seraph...

"I'm sorry," Nerluce said, softly.

Corbett shrugged. "Why are you apologizing to me?" His glare was fierce but it seemed to lack its fire. "One of these days I'm going to kick your teeth in. And Aristide's."

"I don't know what was wrong with him this afternoon," Nerluce said. "He just-"

"I know what he was trying to do," Corbett said, holding up a hand. "He's trying to help me by provoking me. And gods, he almost had me. I'm so, so tempted."

"Then why are you fighting him?" Eko asked.

"Why does it even matter what Aristide thinks?" Lyana huffed. "I say you ought to do what you want!"

"Because!" Corbett threw his hands up. "Because Aristide was right when he said all of those things! He knew! Gods, he knew..." Corbett bent over and hid his face in his hands. "I'm going to leave Ethera with Hamelin."

"What?" Nerluce gaped.

Corbett nodded. "It was always part of the deal. Though... I always thought he'd be the one leaving for me." He laughed a bit, sounding sad.

"But- but-" Nerluce stuttered. "Why?"

"Yeah Corbett?" Eko asked. "Why? Why is it so important to come running back home at daddy dearest's beck and call?"

"I have responsibilities," Corbett said, lifting his head. "And... shit I don't think I ever thought I was going to get this far. I can't become a Seraph. Even though I passed this test... I can't do it." He closed his eyes and smiled a bit. "I mean, it would be kind of hard to rule Dumore and be a Seraph at the same time."

The realization came down on Nerluce like a wave.

"Rule..." Lyana echoed. "Rule like... as in..."

"King," Corbett said with a small shrug of his apparently royal shoulders. "I am... the First Prince of Dumore and next in line."

"Oh," Eko said.

And... they were right. Oh. It made perfect sense. Corbett had all the air that royalty would be expected to have and yet... he sat on an armchair looking so small and so sad to leave that it clawed at Nerluce's chest. Pity. Pity and... the knowledge that Corbett could have easily been him if he was firstborn. Nerluce loved Ethera but... family often tore apart things you loved. Or at least that was Nerluce's experience with it.

"And Hamelin is...?" Lyana asked.

Corbett smiled. "Ask him yourself."

Nerluce started and turned around. He hadn't noticed Hamelin's approach. He'd gathered his and Corbett's clothing in two fine bags. "Are you ready to go?" he asked, softly.

"No," Corbett said but stood up regardless.

Eko turned to Hamelin, their eyes large and confused. "Do you both really have to go? I'd keep you over Corbett but..."

Hamelin nodded. "I am a solider to the crown of Dumore," he said. "I... could not surrender that loyalty, even for Ethera and I apologize for that." He turned to look at Corbett and the expression he always wore made a bit more sense now. Admiration, respect, loyalty. It was the way soldiers looked at Nerluce's sister. That... and a desire to protect no matter the consequences.

Hamelin was a good soldier and Corbett must've been at least a half-decent prince.

"I hope you're a better king than you are Magickian," Nerluce said, bowing his head. "And I hope Dumore and the Hebikoti Clan will always be good allies." He winked and clasped Corbett on the shoulder.

"Like you give a shit about alliances," Corbett said, rolling his eyes.

"You have your father to please and I have mine," Nerluce said.

Eko sighed and hugged both Corbett and Hamelin. They weren't usually that affectionate but... the look on Corbett's face made it clear that he needed a hug. Nerluce wouldn't be able to give him one so... he was glad that Eko would.

Lyana sighed and scratched the back of her neck. "Remember me before you send any more soldiers to kill my people," she said. "I may not ride with them anymore, but... they're still my people."

"I will," Corbett said. "And I'm sorry."

Lyana nodded before her lower lip started to tremble and she pulled all five of them into a giant hug.

"I'll miss you," she said.

Nerluce's throat clenched and he buried himself in the group hug. He wanted to cry. He wanted to cry so bad because these were people he'd been living with and around for two years and now he might not ever see them again but... no tears would fall. So instead, he struggled to drink down air as Lyana wailed and Eko sniffled. So instead he held himself strong as they finally broke apart. So instead, Nerluce watched as Hamelin and Corbett left the fire Affinity dorms for the last time without shedding a tear.

But in his head, Nerluce revised his dream life. His friends would all be there, coming over and drinking tea. Him, Aristide, Kierli, Lyana, Eko, Corbett, Hamelin, and Jurine too. All of them, together again.

It made the dream seem sweeter but the world so much more bitter.