Sir Quintana watched his apprentice for several moments before letting out a deep sigh. “I understand. You want to be an honorable man. You want to be merciful. That caused you to stay your hand.” He straightened off the desk, stepping forward and towering over the seated young man. “But honor and mercy are luxuries reserved for the strong. You cannot be a hero if you’re dead, Bobby.

“You hesitated to throw a stronger spell because you were afraid a mistake would make you a murderer. The only casters afraid of their own magic are those who don’t practice enough,” he snapped. “Besides, mistakes happen. Spells misfire. People get hurt. If it must happen, you make sure the worst of the consequences fall to your opponents, not yourself!”

Robert had practically curled into himself at the shouting. Seeing it, his mentor retreated, turning his back to his apprentice. “Perhaps this is my fault.”

“Sir!” Robert shouted in objection, relaxing as his mentor raised his hand for silence.

“Perhaps I coddled you too much. You were a boy when I found you. I meant to take you as a simple apprentice but it wasn’t long before I saw you as a son. I gave you my last name. Instead of drilling the art of war into you, I bought books on heroes. Instead of letting you get your ass kicked in the local tavern, I stood on the sidelines as you fought duels with codes of conduct.”

His shoulders slumped with his heavy sigh. “I may be a knight but I was and always will be a soldier. I should have raised a soldier but somehow, along the way, I got caught up in your hero dreams. After years of wading through the muck in the capital, the thought of being a part of an untainted force for good…” He shook his head as he turned around. “Is there anything else you want to tell me?”

Robert couldn’t begin to unpack what his mentor’s condemnation meant and made him feel. Better to leave it for later and answer the question. “After Ethor’s attack, I suddenly lost consciousness.”

“The Yemen girl says you fainted.”

“No! I know I didn’t. Is it not strange that the three of us all dropped at the same time and all woke after the fighting finished? I…made many mistakes during the qualifiers but I am no coward. I didn’t faint from fear.”

“No…a coward you are not.” Robert sighed in relief, glad that his mentor hadn’t lost all confidence in him. “Anything else?”

“After, one of the instructors—"

“Alyssa Filagree.”

“Yes, that was her name. She brought us to Lady Tome’s house to interview us.”

“That girl again.”

Robert nodded quickly. “But it was her…wife that extended an invitation. We were waiting for Lady Tome to finish her interview when Orphelia got into a fight with Alana.”

“Alana?”

“Alana James.”

Sir Quintana hummed and stroked his beard. “Alana…I don’t remember that name. Funny, the crown likes to keep an eye on that family. Do you know what branch she’s from?”

“She’s the daughter of the duke.”

“The duke? Ah! It’s coming to me now. A few years back, there was a big thing about the duke taking in one of his bastards. She must be the brat born with the light affinity.”

“Yes.”

“Shame, letting a talent like that be wasted on the fort. Then? Why would an agent of the crown be fighting with a James daughter? And why wouldn’t she mention it?”

Robert shook his head. “I believe the fight started because of Alana’s sense of justice. She was angry that the Hall wasn’t taking more action against Orphelia for killing Ethor and his team. She is…righteous.”

“Righteous? The orders of Victory are more soldier-like than the royal army. I find it hard to believe a James daughter of all people would pick a fight because the Yemen girl executed criminals.” He chuckled. “Do you know where the jails are located in Victory? The ground.”

“Alana is an honorable woman,” Robert said stiffly, instinctively defending her. “She made no qualms about Ethor’s death. It was the others that upset her. From what she says, they showed no hostile intentions but Orphelia killed them anyway.”

“Oh? Her report said they tried to help him escape. Whether they attacked or not, aiding the killer in any way was enough to warrant their deaths. Back to the fight. What happened?”

“Well, Orphelia disorientated the room with a spell. Through my hazy vision, I believe I saw Orphelia holding Alana down. Then, Lady Tome appeared.” He shivered as he recalled the scene in the degenerate’s home. “There was a blur and then she was there, holding Orphelia by the throat. I…couldn’t make out details but I heard Orphelia gasp. Then Lady Tome broke her neck.”

Sir Quintana stilled. “Broke her neck?”

“Yes, sir.”

“That’s impossible. If that happened, she would be dead.”

“The elf healed her.”

“Healed a broken neck? Before the rest of the body started to shut down?! Saints!” The knight ran a frustrated hand over his short hair. “No wonder it wasn’t in that girl’s report. We still have no idea the full scope of what a pure affinity can do. If she can do that…fuck.”

“Sir?”

“It’s not something you need to worry about.” Sir Quintana nodded. “Alright. Thank you for being open with me, my boy. I know it must be hard to talk about.”

It was but nothing was harder than seeing his friend’s corpse. A little discomfort couldn’t be compared to the heart-stopping sensation that overcame him when his vision cleared and he saw Orphelia lying prone, head at an unnatural angle. His mentor was counting on him. He wouldn’t let his embarrassment get in the way.

“There are some things you need to know. You personally. Not Cecile. Not Lanston.” He held Robert’s stare until the younger man nodded solemnly. “The capital is in a state of crisis. There is a threat brewing in the kingdom. There is talk of war.”

“With who?” Robert asked anxiously.

Sir Quintana waved his hand. “Not your battle, Bobby. The problem is, this is not the time for anyone to question the loyalty of soldiers. And that’s exactly what’s happening. That bastard Yemen is using this situation to throw shit on everyone but his daughter. People are questioning John’s loyalty and that of his order. They’re questioning my loyalty. And if two men who have served this kingdom for decades are being called into question, everyone is. The court is this close to boiling over.”

“That isn’t fair!” Robert shouted. “My actions shouldn’t reflect on you.”

“Boy, of course your actions reflect on me. You share my name. With four affinities, you are undoubtedly the most talented caster in this kingdom. You have the potential to surpass all of us. But make no mistake. You are only valuable if that value is given to the kingdom. Right now, the crown considers you an asset. You’re not going to want to hear it but you’re their prized stallion. I’ve been able to keep the most unscrupulous of the bunch away but there are plenty of eyes on you, Bobby. Dirty bastards who want you to be nothing more than an obedient weapon.”

“They…can’t do that.”

The knight grunted, shaking his head. “Course they can. If you’re not an asset, then you’re a threat and the crown doesn’t take threats lightly. If you don’t believe me, think of that Yemen girl. Children aren’t born cruel monsters. Her father molded her into someone that could slaughter five people without blinking. That’s what they’d do to you if given half the chance. And every time you fail, every time you fuck up, you make it that much easier for them to get their hands on you!”

Robert swallowed, realizing his mentor was entirely serious. He was used to others trying to get close to him and endured flattery from nobles anticipating his eventual rise to power every time his mentor took him to banquets. It was hard to imagine the same men and women who smiled and offered him gifts conspiring to…he wasn’t sure. Break him, but his mind full of heroes and damsels couldn’t imagine what that meant. “Am…am I in trouble?”

“Yes.” Robert winced. “But it’s not too late. However, it’s shit timing. I’m going to be honest with you, my boy. It’ll take something drastic to reverse the tide rising against us. It won’t be easy or slow. You need to prepare yourself.”

“I’m ready, sir,” Robert said quickly. Eager to make up for his failures.

“I hope you can keep that determination because I’m going to ask the impossible of you. It’s not enough to prove yourself. You have go beyond anything anyone expects. And I know the way to do it.” For a moment, the knight’s eyes softened, showing an emotion that was gone before Robert could recognize it. Then his features froze in a blank mask. “In four weeks, there is a campaign headed past the Bleak Peaks to once again challenge the lords of winter and their servants. You are going to join it.”

He thought he was prepared for any task but his new determination was immediately rattled when he heard the name Bleak Peaks. Everyone knew death waited in the lands beyond the mountain range. Not a single campaign had returned successful, ever. It was no longer a question if they would face defeat, only how many more bodies would be buried under the endless snow.

Robert eventually wanted to conquer all the challenges in the world but not now. He certainly didn’t want to face the most dangerous place on the continent. But his mentor’s expression made it clear he didn’t have a choice. Not if he wanted to keep the name Quintana and the knight’s protection. “…I’ll do it.”

Sir Quintana laid a heavy hand on his shoulder. “I know the man in charge of the ‘hired help’ as it were. He’s not going to throw novices at the front line. I won’t delude you into thinking that it’ll be easy or simple but if you stay alert and listen to the experts, there’s no reason you shouldn’t survive. That’s all you have to do, Bobby. Survive.”

Robert nodded jerkily. The knight squeezed his shoulder before dropping his hand. He waved for Robert to stand up and took the chair, placing it back behind Dunwayne’s desk. “I suggest you take this time to visit the guilds. You can get the practical experience you need fighting monsters. And for the next few months, I suggest you stick to fire and wind. They will be the most useful against monsters used to cold and snow. I always tell you to stop overthinking your magic. You can spend five minutes weaving all four elements into a spell and it’ll be powerful but the man who can throw a fire arrow in five seconds will kick your ass.”

Another challenge. The test in the Sanctuary was the first time he’d hunted monsters without his mentor’s guidance and it ended it utter failure. Taking a job from a guild would be the second. A normally daunting prospect but seeing as he would soon have to face certain death, it barely bothered him. “…what are your plans for the rest of the day?”

The blank mask broke. “Miss me, eh?”

“No! I, uh—"

“Unfortunately, I don’t have much free time. I have to make arrangements for your instructor. And no, I won’t tell you who they are. It’s a surprise.” He chuckled at Robert’s exasperation. “There are a few people I have to see as well.” He gently pushed Robert toward the door. “Go on. I’ll find you before I leave.”

“…goodbye, sir.”