The Gem of the Waves rocked like a cradle in the morning waves. The clipper ship left Sparrowport almost a week ago and drifted among the winds closer and closer to the port city of the Southtail, capital of Winveren. With each dip that the large boat took, huge waves crashed against the barnacle laden sides.

Koda rested on the bow of the ship watching his familiar juggle a wide array of spells as she tried to experiment with her new found form. The elf’s curiosity grew with each sunrise, but concern still clouded his mind. What would this evolution mean for him? Would he gain in power or would the wolf eclipse him, so to speak? Koda turned to face the sun breaking through the red horizon.

Beautiful, he thought as he watched the sun’s divine rays streak through the sky. How could there be so much suffering in this world when there is still beauty to find?

Would his journey allow him to witness the world in such distress, or would he ignore it all so that he could concentrate on obtaining his colors and find the Dead of Winter master?

“Koda, are you watching?” Wildeye’s voice broke up his thoughts. The elf refocused on the wolf as she placed her fingertips in her other palm and with one fluid motion pulled them away. This gesture sprouted a vine that followed her fingers up into the air, arching over her head, and back to the ground. She snapped her fingers and several wildflowers bloomed across the vine.

Koda smiled and applauded. “Very good,” he laughed. “You are becoming quite the accomplished green mage.”

Wildeye dispelled the plant life in a poof of pink smoke and sat cross-legged on the deck. “I don’t seem to have the ability to make fire or water, just things with vernal magic.”

Koda laid back on the bow, careful to balance himself. “I wonder if it has to do with myself being a vernal mage?”

“It is possible,” said Wildeye. “Anything is, honestly. Never have I heard of a Wolf of the Eclipse becoming…a…kanis?”

“Is this where the kanis come from? A Magi-induced transformation?” asked Koda, half to himself and half to her.

Wildeye rubbed her rough, blue footpads. “Little is known about how the kanis came to be. Although, perhaps a wayward Wolf of the Eclipse bred with a normal wolf and birthed the first one. It would be silly to quickly doubt such a story.”

Koda crawled to his feet and wobbled on the bow before hopping onto the deck. He offered Wildeye his hand. “Fancy some sparring? Who knows when you might need to use those fancy parlor tricks for combat someday?”

Wildeye gave her familiar a silly grin. “Parlor tricks!” she giggled. “Koda Dawnedge, I’ll show you what these tricks can really do!”

The two laughed as they slung magic and dodged spells. Leaves exploded against barrels and vines whipped across cargo boxes. Finally Wildeye collapsed in exhaustion.

“I…I don’t get it?” the wolf wheezed. “You should be just as tired as I am, but you are not.”

Koda looked at his hands in curiosity. It was true, he wasn’t tired. Perhaps just a tiny bit, but he could easily spar for another hour before taking a break. Was this another change from Wildeye’s evolution?

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“Bite yourself,” Koda said to Wildeye.

“Excuse me?”

“Bite yourself, to see if I still feel your pain,” Koda explained.

Wildeye raised a brow, but sunk her teeth into her hand all the same.

Koda felt his hand burn, as if it were too close to a flame. It stung, but he did not flinch.

Wildeye bit down harder until she drew blood and to Koda’s surprise, he did not bleed from any magical puncture mark, but bruised instead.

“What does this mean, Wildeye?” asked Koda, in hopes she didn’t try to bite off her arm next.

Wildeye wrapped her wound with the sash from the robes that Koda lent her. “I think our familiar bond has weakened,” she finally said. “How or why, I do not know.”

Koda bent down and caressed Wildeye’s injured claw. “I will make sure no harm comes to you, my friend. Nothing changes for us, I promise!”

But is this a promise that I can keep? Koda asked himself.

***

Koda visited only a few other cities in his lifetime. Besides Lost Dawns, he has also seen Sparrowport, Varis City, and Aric City, but nothing came close to the sheer size and population of Winveren. This shore side city dwarfed even the size of Lost Dawns. Much like its tree, the buildings reached out to the skies with apartments and shops to stave off the needs for the massive amount of people that resided there. The streets were so crammed and so jam packed that Koda could barely breathe. The winding labyrinth of streets pooled into many different bazaars where shopkeepers and merchants could sell their wares without the droves of people crowding their shopfronts or blankets. The obvious cause of Winveren’s population was the fact that it served as the capital of the harekin nation and harekins were known for their unbelievably large families. A harekin may have anywhere between four to fourteen siblings, which for Koda, as an only child, was unfathomable to think of. Fighting his brothers for his toys or second helpings during meal times. Maybe struggling to get the proper attention with seven sisters, or just trying to get the same affection with his father when he has to vie for it against fourteen other siblings, just the thought wowed Koda! How did Mave Silvertail do it?

Koda didn’t need to travel far before a row of harekin soldiers led by Aemor Greyblade surprised him with a Winevern welcome. Koda’s own escort pushed away the gawking citizens, trying to get a peek of the elven king of Lost Dawns. Greyblade ushered Koda into his personal carriage while Elucard hung from a handlebar attached to the door.

“Welcome to my city, lad,” said Greyblade with a cherry smile. “Try to enjoy yourself while you are here.”

Koda cracked his stiff neck. “I would like to get some good rest before I explore the city. I may have had better sleeping conditions than the sailors, but I could never sleep properly on the sea.”

“Understandable,” Greyblade chuckled. “Perhaps tomorrow you may travel to our most prestigious wind magic school and earn yourself a white sash?”

“If you want my opinion, my king,” Elucard piped in. He waited for Koda to give him a gesture to continue before saying his piece. “I have dealt with Estinian mages first hand, and I do not think they can be bested by any harekin mage. The pride of an Estinian is unmatched, as well as their fierceness. I have slain many men in my young life. None come as close with the toughness and sheer willpower to challenge death as an Estinain would.”

“While I agree that the Estinains were worthy opponents, I still say my wind mages will provide more than enough of a challenge for you, lad,” argued Aemor.

Koda stroked his chin. “I see both of your points, and I must go with Elucard. I feel I still need to prove to the Estinians that I am no one to be trifled with, that even though they imprisoned me, I am no child to be had.”

“We defeated them, slain their leaders, and colonized their people. Isn’t that humiliation enough?” asked the harekin king.

Koda narrowed his eyes. “Not yet. Not for me.”

“Very well I will assist your escort by traveling to the Estinian colony with you tomorrow,” said Aemor. “You will need to prepare yourself mentally, Koda. These people will not be happy to see you.”

“I am counting on it,” sneered Koda.