To say it was odd to walk as part of Marcela Daston’s group was an understatement. Every few minutes, somebody greeted her reverently, and wherever they walked people watched and whispered. It was only really now that Hump truly grasped the significance of his alliance with her. In this section of the world, it was Count and Countess Daston in command, and she was their heir; the future ruler of Sheercliff.

“How are you?” Bud asked her as they walked. “You look tired.”

“I gave Matthias’ family the news last night.” She let out a long breath. “I knew it would be hard, but seeing his mother… Suffice it to say, sleep did not come easily to me last night.”

“I can only imagine,” Bud said.

“He died bravely,” Marcela said. “I take some solace in that.”

The guards greeted Marcela fondly at the gate. It was a grand entry, with tall walls made of the white stone of Sheercliff and carved with sculptures all along its outer face. The gates themselves were black and tipped with gold. A plaque connected them at the centre with a runic formation imprinted in the same gold, sealing them shut until the guards unlocked it with a large key, no doubt also enchanted.

Marcela led them inside and down a white path that led around the main house, passing through a garden of cold blooming flowers.

“I’m sure you’ve all heard of the Plateau Tower,” Marcela said, gesturing to the end of the garden where a tower rose from a rocky mound. “It’s the highest point in all of Sheercliff. A relic from ancient times. My grandfather used to say it’s older than the walls of the city itself.”

Despite its age, it was in pristine condition, the white stone pure and unmarked by age. They continued on to the back of the house, where there was a large extension jutting out from its side. The stone extension matched the rest of the estate in terms of finery, but once inside Hump saw that practicality had come first in its design.

The training hall had a high roof with a balcony that extended around all sides. The back side of the building was entirely made of glass, giving a view of a training yard beyond, and then the edge of the cliff.

The inside floors were of dark wood, scuffed from years of training, and scarred more deeply from what must have been powerful attacks. There were various training apparatus throughout the hall—targets, dummies, mounted constructs, or golems like the ones of Sheercliff Academy. Unlike the training grounds Hump had seen before, these were unmarked. No doubt some of the many runes inscribed on them were designed to repair damage.

Marcela’s party were already inside. Nina manipulated water around her like a snake, never letting it stop. Teff did pull-ups with a weight gripped between his knees. Len was forming and reforming barriers at a speed that would have been impossible to Hump. It reminded Hump of the shaping exercises he would do to warm up before training.

“Please make yourselves at home,” Marcela said. She pointed at a small door to the right. “There’s a kitchen through there stocked with food and drinks. The training yard outside has an exceptional target range, Celaine, which I expect you will find useful.”

Hump wandered over to where golems were stacked in their deactivated state, appearing like white boulders covered in runes. One stood out to Hump though, a more humanoid figure that stood tall, with an essence stone larger than any Hump had seen before in its chest. The formational design over its body was so complex, it was like reading another language.

He scanned it, taking in the details, half wishing his spellbook would somehow identify it, yet he didn’t feel the familiar shake.

“You’ve got a good eye,” Marcela said, coming to stand beside him. “The story goes that this was gifted by an eighth circle Chosen of Loften. It has been here for as long as my family, training each generation to protect our home.”

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Hump said. “What kind of essence stone is it?”

“It’s a dungeon core. We don’t know its strength, but Sir Isaac of the academy estimates it must be from a Rank 7 dungeon at least. Not even he knows how it was made though. I’d let you give it a go, but it costs a small fortune to activate it.”

“I can only imagine,” Hump said. “But that’s alright. I’m certainly not strong enough to do it justice, and I’ve got other plans for training today.”

Hump spent what was left of the morning working on soul projection exercises with Dylan. After his recent trouble with his soul, and the certainty that he now had two monster imprints on his soul, he was more motivated than ever to focus on getting stronger. He needed to better understand the limits of his soul. He knew he’d improved, but how much was still a mystery.

They started their exercise collaboratively, following the methods Vivienne had started them on at Fishers Lake. It came more easily to Hump now. His soul was clearer in his mind, his essence illuminated in his channels like the diagrams in his spellbook. It felt more natural.

Dylan’s essence rose around him as a warming green light, while Hump’s was the blue of pure essence. They pressed against each other, getting a feel for the strength of each other’s will and the intent behind the other’s power. It was a simple projection of one’s soul upon the world, each of them fighting to bring the essence around them under their control.

After a few minutes, their methods grew more aggressive. Hump envisioned his essence surrounding Dylan, crushing him and suppressing his power. He felt the force of Dylan’s soul pressing back and cold started to trickle from his chest. For a while, the flow of their essence ebbed back and forth like waves breaking against each other. But slowly, Hump pushed him back. Dylan’s resistance weakened. The waves stopped breaking in Hump’s direction. He felt in absolute control.

“Aspect of the Bear,” Dylan grated out. His essence soared, the image of a bear forming from his essence, towering over him like a shadow.

There was a surge of intent, pressing Hump’s influence back like a sudden flood. Hump breathed deeply, reinforcing his will. He envisioned his essence around him like an extension of his soul—a flickering fire surrounded by a smoke-thin barrier, Dylan’s own power beyond it, trying to crush him. But Hump’s walls held firm, and once again, he pressed back.

The bear vanished. Dylan’s essence gave way beneath his will. Hump smiled. After learning White Flame and overcoming the gorger’s imprint, Hump knew he had improved, but not like this. It came so easily to him now. His will felt firm. His essence moved in a controlled, purposeful way, imbued with his intent like an extension of his body. It leached power from Dylan, forced his essence back into his body, squashed it against him.

And then Dylan’s will caved.

The druid fell back on his hands, gasping. “Gods, Hump. I’m not sure I’m much of a partner for you anymore.”

Only now did Hump notice the sweat that drenched Dylan. He himself had some beading on his forehead, but he still felt strong.

Hump chuckled. “You had me going there for a moment, especially when your Aspect of the Bear came out.”

Dylan shook his head. “I was on my last legs.”

“Was that a soul duel?” Len asked. He was watching from nearby along with a couple of the others. “I’ve never heard of a wizard defeating a Chosen of the same rank.”

“Feel free to try it for yourself,” Dylan said. “The man’s got a will like iron.”

Len grinned and turned to Hump. “I like the sound of that, actually. Would you be up for it, wizard? Perhaps we could even make a wager of it.”

Hump hesitated only a moment. “How much are you thinking?”

“Let’s keep it civil,” Len said. “Five gold.”

Hump tried not to let his expression slip, but he was feeling confident. Five gold was a lot of money. Enough to live comfortably for many months, and in a way, that just made it all the more tempting. He supposed a civil bet for a lordling like Len was significantly different to the copper pennies he and the other boys would play dice for as an apprentice.

“Hump’s already tired though,” Emilia said suddenly. “Even odds doesn’t seem fair to me.”

Len gave her a knowing look. “Very well. Two-to-one. I’ll give you ten gold if you beat me. If.”

Now that was too much to resist. Hump nodded. “Deal.”

Len sat opposite him. The others gathered around them, drawn in by their wager. They talked amongst themselves, but Hump didn’t let himself get distracted. This was more than just about winning. Ten gold was on the line.

Against Dylan, he’d been conservative. It was a training exercise after all; victory had not been the objective. They’d allowed each other time to gain their footing, to focus, and build up their essence. There was no rush, no need to take each other by surprise. This time, Hump decided to do things differently.

It began the same. Len’s essence rose from him like steam. It was dense, probably denser than Dylan’s. Hump realised that the Chosen’s barrier blessings might also have impacted his soul. Perhaps he’d bitten off more than he could chew here, but he was committed now. There was no turning back.

Hump thought of his lessons with the gorger—all the times it had tried to defeat him. The way it had used its power. The subtle ways it wormed its way through his defences, or the sudden bursts of strength he’d use like a spear. In a way, there was no better teacher.

Hump let his essence expand, feeling out Len’s essence and the strength of his will. Searching for weaknesses. Where Dylan’s power had flown back and forth similarly to Hump’s, Len’s was smooth and solid. Hump couldn’t gain any ground through simple pressure, but at the same time, he wasn’t losing it.

And then Hump saw his moment—a fluctuation in Len’s essence. He attacked explosively, focusing his will and forcing it through the gap. It pierced deeply. Len’s essence shuddered and Hump could imagine the cold that shot through him. He didn’t stop, driving his attack deeper until Len’s defences fell completely. His essence returned to his body. He gasped, breathing deeply and staring at Hump with wide eyes.

After a few seconds catching his breath, he shook his head. “How did you get so good at this?”

“You don’t want to know,” Hump said. “Seriously, it wasn’t worth it.”

“I’m not so sure. You should have a go against Marcela.”

“No chance,” Hump said. “I’m exhausted.”

Len laughed. “Shame. I really think you might win.”

“Are you kidding?” Nina asked from the side-lines. “You sure you didn’t just screw up?”

Len shook his head. “He’s good.” Len stood first and extended a hand toward Hump, helping him to his feet, then shaking it. “A good match.” He pulled out a purse from his pocket and counted out ten gold coins. Hump struggled not to stare at it, and the others in there alongside it. “Think of this as my apology for being such an arse to you before. You didn’t deserve it.”

Hump took the coins. “Apology accepted.”

“Thank you.”

They broke for lunch then, eating together in the kitchen. After a couple of cups of very fancy essence-enriched tea, Hump was feeling far better, though he couldn’t help but stare at the clock on the wall.

“Nervous?” Marcela asked.

Hump tried to smile naturally, not wanting to let it show. To be around these people, he had to at least appear to fit in. “A little.”

“You don’t need to be,” Marcela said. “You’re under no pressure here. My mother will not judge you.”

“Even so, she is the most important person I have ever spoken to. And I’m supposed to have tea with her… alone.”

Marcela put a hand to her mouth to hide a laugh. “I can assure you, she doesn’t bite.”

“Do you know what she wants from me?”

“Not exactly, but I believe she wishes to thank you for your help.”

“You will be fine,” Bud said. “Justine is lovely. Just…” he glanced around awkwardly then whispered. “Try to avoid your usual… boldness? Is that the word?” He turned to Celaine.

“Don’t ask me. If he makes it back with his head still attached, I’ll count that as a win.”

Hump glared at her. “Why thank you, Celaine. You truly inspire confidence.”

“I try.”

Hump only found the upcoming meeting more distracting after lunch. He did his best to focus on his spellcasting, but it was impossible to avoid glancing at the large clock in the main hall. He was preparing to leave, when a butler arrived fifteen minutes in advance to collect him, guiding him through the fine halls of the Daston Estate to a glass room. Hump followed the man inside.

“Wizard Humphrey here for you, milady.”

“Thank you, Gregory,” she responded, rising from a chair at a two-seated table. “Do come in and have a seat, Wizard Humphrey. I’m very grateful to you for coming on such short notice.”

Hump swallowed. “Thank you for the invitation.”

He walked toward the seat, his legs suddenly feeling like wooden planks. Outside the glass window was an unimpeded view of Sheercliff City. The guild district to the right, the great wall surrounding the city all the way to the base of the cliff, the distant refugee camps, and thousands of people that all appeared like ants from the distance.

“Help yourself,” Countess Daston said, plating herself up a cake from the layered platter at the centre of the table. “The sponge is delightful.”

Hump paused, looking over the small sandwiches and cakes. He decided stick to simple and follow her advice. There was no way he could mess up eating a sponge cake.

“I suppose you must wonder why I invited you to meet with me in private,” she began.

“It did cross my mind,” Hump said. “I’m guessing most people that do something for you do not receive such a privilege.”

“Most people do not save the life of my daughter.”

“I’m sure anyone amongst us would have done the same,” Hump said. “I was just lucky to be in the right place at the right time.”

“I’m not so sure,” she said, smiling. “Are you aware of my status as a Chosen of Imira?”

Hump nodded. There were few Chosen of Imira in Alveron, and even if Bud hadn’t spoken of it, the count and countess had been in command of Sheercliff for decades. He knew of both of them.

“Then perhaps you also know that my blessings give me a certain foresight in the world.”

“You can see the future?” Hump asked. He paused, frowning. “Did you know this would happen?”

“It doesn’t work like that. Rather, I can sense pivotal moments approaching, and people that are important to them. When I saw you upon your return to Sheercliff with the Blackstone, I sensed something in you then. It is why I asked Marcela to take you with her to Stonebark Forest, and it is partially why I am speaking to you now. There is something about you, Humphrey, that is more than it should be. And it tells me you will play an important role in the fate of my city.”

“I… I don’t know what to say. I’m not even officially a Rank 3 wizard. What difference can I make in the grand scheme of things?”

Countess Daston shrugged. “That is the curse of my power. I simply know that something is coming, and I hoped to prepare you for when it does.” She played her hand on a cloth-wrapped box beside her and slid it across the table. “With that in mind, I’ve prepared a gift for you. A thank you, and something to help you on the way.”