Isyd was seated in the recess of the Fields when he sensed Jadwia and Kewin approaching. Since his admission to the Academy, the woods had become the second place where he spent most of his time, second only to the Library. While most Pupils had too much sense to stray far from the well-trodden paths and avoided wandering entirely once night had come, Isyd had explored the Fields in their entirety. Once he had wandered as far as to reach the crumbling walls that used to surround the Inside centuries ago.

It was only recently however that he had found this spot of the forest, sparse of woods and far from the paths. Isyd was resting on a stone near a pond, enjoying this rare sunny day as autumn was slowly turning into winter and the Korochun, the Longest Night of the Year, was approaching.

“You are a difficult person to find, Isyd Wybrany…” Jadwia said as she made her way into the clearing, Kewin on her heels.

Not difficult enough it seems … Isyd thought. Still, he was surprised that they had found him. Usually, nobody came this way and by the looks of their uniform, Isyd could guess that they had spent quite some time trudging through the forest.

“You missed the morning classes,” Jadwia said. “You didn’t care for them?”

“I had to drop by the Atelier this morning,” Isyd said.

Jadwia looked around, taking in the birds, the pond, Isyd’s coat hanging on a low branch of a nearby tree and the man himself seated cross-legged on a polished stone, a relaxed expression on his face.

“What are you doing here?” she finally asked him.

“I was exercising and now I am resting.”

She rose an eyebrow. “ Exercising ? Why would you exercise?”

“Whyever not? A healthy mind needs a healthy body.”

“I guess…” she said, unconvinced.

Kewin walked around her and sat on a nearby rock. He pointed at Isyd. “Isn’t that your knife you have at your belt? Did you get it back?”

“I did.”

Isyd had sold most of the Blysht he had brought back to the Atelier, only keeping for himself three crystals just in case. With the money, he had bought back his knife from the pawnshop. He hadn’t been enthusiastic about seeing this newfound money immediately melt away, but his knife was all that mattered.

And now he had it back, safely attached to his belt and always with him wherever he went.

Jadwia’s eyes went wide when she noticed it.

“You own an Inian blade ?” she almost shouted.

“You know about them?” Kewin asked her, surprised that she recognized it immediately.

“Of course! Everyone knows about them. I remember when my brother and father got their swords and the ludicrous money they had to spend,” she said before turning back toward Isyd. “How in the hell did you get an Inian knife?”

“It was a gift. It is quite a long story…”

“Care to tell it?”

“No.”

The simple word was spoken without raising his voice, but the weight of it could not go unnoticed.

Jadwia frowned and bit her lips, but finally, she nodded. “Fair enough. That was indiscreet of me, I apologize.”

“Apologies accepted.”

She looked carefully at Isyd, trying to guess if he meant it or was actually angry. Isyd’s face was as distant and inexpressive as usual.

She sighed and smirked. “You are a strange person, Isyd Wybrany… You managed to enter the Atelier as a 1 st Year. Hell, you managed to cast a [Hex] of the 12 th Opening!”

“It is not as impressive if you remember our talk regarding the Openings.”

“How is the Atelier?” Kewin suddenly asked. “I mean… it’s not like we could enter to see it for ourselves…”

Isyd gave it a few seconds of thought before answering.

“It is noisy. And crowded.”

Jadwia rolled her eyes. “Is it really all you have to say about it?”

“I’d rather let it to your imagination,” Isyd said with a shrug. “There’s a lot of things happening in the Atelier and I didn’t have time to see everything. I guess in the end it depends on why you are in there in the first place.”

“Do you plan on becoming an Arcanysta after you graduate?” Kewin asked him.

“Or perhaps becoming a Holy Knight of the Wings given that you have an Inian blade?” Jadwia added.

“I haven’t given much thought to what I would do after the Academy,” Isyd said.

It was a blatant lie and in his peripheral vision, Isyd could see Naeht shaking with laughter after hearing it.

Kewin and Jadwia exchanged a shocked look. They seemed genuinely surprised by his answer. He asked them what was wrong.

“It’s just that most Pupils have already an idea of what they want to do after the Academy,” Jadwia explained. “After all, it’s not like anyone can enrol…”

It did make sense since Pupils were demanded to be at least of the 1st Opening to enter the Academy. Except if they were naturally gifted, this required at least an intentional exposure to the Holy Arts from a young age. Nobody enrolled just by accident.

“Then, what do you want to become once you graduate, Kewin?” Isyd asked.

The young man blushed at being put on the spot like that. “Hmm… Well… I’m not really sure…” he stammered. “My father wants me to join the Wings as he did but… I want to become an Apteyk like my mother was...”

“Apteyk? The Healing Art is the most difficult field of the Holy Arts, is it not?” Jadwia said. “It is an ambitious aspiration.”

“And the noblest one,” Isyd said. “The Healing Arts are renowned for their difficulties and anyone who wishes to use their talents to heal and support others should be encouraged and celebrated.”

“It’s… Nothing is sure... it's just a dream…” Kewin said, embarrassed.

“What about you, Jadwia? What are your plans?” Isyd asked.

“To travel. I want to see other places of Ziemia, experience other cultures and learn more about the Arts while doing so. I want to be free to make my own fate.”

Her eyes wandered far away as she spoke.

Suddenly, they heard the bell ring in the 15 th Hour. This seemed to snatch back Jadwia to the present. She turned to Isyd.

“You may not know exactly what you want to be in the future, but surely you have dreams as well, Isyd Wybrany. What do you wish for?”

Isyd felt Naeht’s presence next to him as she flew by. His mind wandered to another place, another time.

Promise me, Isyd… you must save them… Promise me…

He smiled at Jadwia. “I wish to hold my part of a promise I made long ago.”

She was about to say something, but he got back up and gathered his things. “Anyway, you heard the bell. Let’s go to class, shall we?”