“I think, in the end,” Grey mused to me, as we waited outside the gates of the Academy for Liora and Azarus. It was near sunset by this point, and the sky was painted in the colors of summer. Oranges, pinks, and yellows stretched across the expanse, cast by the shadow of Tarus as he prepared to descend beyond the horizon, only partially obscured by the barest wisps of white cloud. “He was simply never allowed the time to properly grieve.”

  I craned my heard toward him from where I’d been watching the sky, as we reclined on a bench for the second time that day. “How so?”

  Not far from us, Venix sat on another bench and appeared to be meditating. He’d barely said a word since Oskar had politely asked us to leave, since he was about to be very busy with the High Assembly. Nobles had to be contacted, contractors had to be contracted, and the officials of Kyronkar needed to be kicked into high gear.

  There was going to be a regency investiture ceremony soon.

  Grey hummed for a moment before replying. “This is something many people never consider, when it comes to war,” He started in a far-off tone. “It’s imagined that once a conflict comes to a close, that is the end of it. It is done, treaties are signed, and assurances are made. In reality, it is never that simple. Life, even in the aftermath of a major war, simply goes on. One must contend with the consequences, with the losses and tragedies which occurred therein. Time must be made to come to terms with all that you have lost and all that you experienced. This…I believe you might understand, Nathan.” He said, turning to me with an understanding look on aged features.

  “Ah,” I said quietly, folding my hands on my lap. “I…see.”

  He was right. I did. In the aftermath of the Elderwyck, I had felt like I was on the verge of shattering into glass if I had to contend with the Construct War any longer. I just couldn’t handle it anymore. The stress and pressure had built up until I had just…called it quits, and fled to Kawamara. It had taken me months to reckon with my feelings and experiences, and I think…I think I only truly came to overcome it all when I’d chosen a new purpose, a new direction in my life. I’d found it, after all, in an abandoned stasis pod deep within the heart of an ancient, cursed bunker.

  All of a sudden, I felt more sympathy towards Oskar and the difficult decision he’d had to make. Arguably, he’d had it worse than me, in some ways. I’d suffered more physically and mentally, while he had suffered more in what he had lost. Nearly his entire family, the future that had been laid out for him…I could admit that was rough.

  And, alright. I was willing to finally forgive him for the accusations he’d thrown my way during the war. It had been a stressful situation, and frankly, I was a bit of a suspicious person. In retrospect, it was a bit petty to hold onto grudges and slights that long.

  Sue me, though. I wasn’t perfect.

  “We’ll have to make a public appearance, somewhere where we can announce our support,” Grey continued, after allowing me to absorb everything. “Perhaps we can simply be blunt about things, and pay a city crier to announce it. Perhaps distribute a proclamation signed by our hand? I shall have the administration prepare something for us.”

  “Right, right,” I mused, scratching my chin. I winced at the roughness I found there since I hadn’t shaved in a few days. “You guys wouldn’t have a newspaper, would you? No printing press…”

  Grey quirked an eyebrow my way. “Printing press?”

  I shrugged one shoulder at him. “Something for us to put on the list, for when we get to work. Lots to do, you know? But anyway, what about the Academy? I thought you guys were debating who you were going to support? Won’t it be a problem if you come out-”

  “-and support both?” Grey finished for me, chuckling. Still, he shook his head. “No, no. Despite Honoka and Kenshiro’s little performance, the assembly discussion was mostly civil. Mostly. The faculty will understand, since an amicable solution was found between Prince Oskar and Lord Wenzel. Truly, it’s almost absurd just how neat it all came together.” He laughed out loud and patted me on the forearm with an amused, fond smile on his lips. “You’ve not even been in the city for a full forty-eight hours, and you’ve already helped solve our succession crisis, Nathan. Thank you. Thank you for your support.”

  I smiled at Grey a bit bashfully, embarrassed from such earnest praise from a man I respected as much as I did him. “Ah…just doing my part, I suppose.”

  Grey nodded, and then the smile on his lips turned a bit mischievous. “And as they say, the reward for good work…is more work.” As I groaned almost theatrically, Grey laughed at me. “With this success, you’ve proven yourself skilled enough to navigate political waters mostly solo. As my official apprentice and soon-to-be officially recognized Knight of Herztal, I’ll be having you act as my official envoy to the court. I’m still far too busy in the aftermath of the war to manage it myself. I trust you to wield my influence with care, Nathan.”

  “Alright…that suits me, I suppose,” I said slowly, before turning a raised eyebrow of my own on him. “Speaking of Envoy’s…I learned a bit about those, too, during my absence. Especially about you and Elys.”

  Grey was unfazed by the implied accusation. After all, he had never mentioned Envoys to me before. “Oh, yes. I heard about that, how you turned down your own offer, and how Azarus has taken it upon himself. I’ve been asked if I’m willing to help with his new office, considering the historical association between Elys and Tarus-”

  Stolen novel; please report.

  You mean, before you stole her from him. But I didn’t say that out loud.

  After all, he was still up there watching and probably listening, and I didn’t need to piss off the literal sun any more than I had.

  “-and I have acquiesced. It shall be nice to work with Azarus again, in a more tangible manner.”

  “That’s nice, but…it’s not why I brought it up,” I said, shifting a bit uncomfortably. “Ah…when I figured out how to properly channel my Mana with an…odd combination of Skills, I…heard something unexpected.”

  “Odd combination of Skills…” Grey murmured to himself. “Hmm. Unusual, but not out of the question. I can see how it would work. Do go on, Nathan. What did you hear?”

  “Anima,” I said bluntly, causing Grey to blink at me rapidly in confusion. “I heard Anima talking to me briefly, almost like how Azarus talks to Tarus. She…hasn’t spoken to me since, not even when I recreate the Skill expression. I’ve…even tried to call out to her, but nothing. I can’t help but wonder…did she make me an Envoy?”

  The more I spoke, the more Grey frowned at me, until by the time I was done, my mentor was looking deeply confused. “Impossible,” He murmured to himself, before fixing me with a piercing gaze and holding out his hand. “Take my hand, Nathan, and with your permission, I shall see.”

  Wordlessly, I did as he asked and put my open hand in his. I watched as Grey visibly concentrated on something, and I thought I might have felt a small spark of familiar feeling Mana in between our palms. But Grey in general was just so much more precise and capable of manipulating his Mana that it was hard to tell. One minute became two, and before I knew it, five minutes had passed as Grey and I sat on the bench, essentially holding hands.

  It was…partly embarrassing and partly amusing, the way people walking by stared at us in utter confusion.

  However, when those five minutes were up, Grey opened his eyes once more and withdrew his hand. “Nothing,” He said quietly. “I have…never met Lady Anima, myself, so I am not familiar with her Aetherial signature. However, I could not only not detect any undue influence in your spirit, but more importantly, I did not sense the monolithic Aetherological structure that indicates an Envoy endowment. I am…quite familiar with them, as you might guess. Even if you choose a physical instrument as your boon, as I did, there is still a link to your patron. You…have nothing, Nathan.”

  I sat there for a moment in silence, somewhat disappointed. I’d been hoping Grey might be able to solve that little mystery for me.

  “However, I can always ask my love if she knows anything,” He continued wryly, smiling slightly at how I perked up. “She is…closer, with She Who Breathes than Tarus is. Perhaps she’ll know?”

  Before I could speak, a familiar voice did instead. “Know what, perhaps?”

  I repressed the urge to jump and instead turned a glare on the person I knew would be there. After all, there was only one person I knew who regularly made a habit of slipping underneath my passive blood sense to startle me. Sure enough, Liora stood just before the bench Grey and I were waiting at, a large bag slung over her shoulder and an amused smile on her furry lips.

  “Ha, ha, very funny,” I said with a roll of my eyes.

  “Yes, I certainly thought so,” Liora said, inclining her head almost graciously. Behind her, I could see that Azarus was wandering up as well, almost at the same time. The Dwarf wasn’t carrying anything, but he did look particularly satisfied with himself. He raised a hand in greeting as he reached us, not speaking around the mouthful of turkey leg he was munching on.

  Grey smiled, shook his head, and stood up from the bench, with me following moments later. At nearly the same moment, Venix opened his eyes and stood to join us as well. “Oh, nothing of consequence. Now!” He said, clapping his hands. “We are all here, and thus the time has come for us to venture back onto Academy grounds. Once there, I’m afraid I’ll be too busy to follow you back to Draymoor Hall. Certain…developments require me to call an all-hands-on-deck staff meeting. Nathan can fill you in, I’m sure, but I will certainly see you all later. Shall we?”

  With that, our group of five approached the gates to the Academy. Kargath was likely expecting us, because it only took a few pounds on the heavy black steel before it slid open. Once we were inside, Grey said a final farewell before disappearing with a wink and a smile.

  I blinked at the empty space where the Archmage had stood only seconds ago.

  “Huh,” I said aloud, to the amusement of my friends. “I’ve…never seen him do that before.”

  “Yeah?” Kargath said boredly, picking at his nails and leaning against the gate. “He does that ta me all the time.”

  Venix just sighed and walked off in the direction of the main hall. Still, he gave me a brief acknowledging nod as he passed me, which I returned.

  I shook my head and, with the rest of my companions at my side, left the plaza in front of the Academy gate. Our walk through the streets of the secluded district housing the facilities was honestly kind of...pleasant. Not only because I enjoyed spending time with my friends, but because with Tarus starting to set, there seemed to be an emerging nightlife. It was hard to say that I was surprised to find that there were establishments still open after dark, as they served what were essentially a mix between college and military academy students. Private restaurants, bars, and clubs were coming to life all about us, with streams of grey-cloaked students eagerly flowing into each open door. Already, the sounds of merriment echoed out from them to fill the burgeoning night air.

  I guess there were benefits to attendance beyond just the world-class magical education. I was...kinda looking forward to it, honestly.

  But not tonight. It was time to check in with Aveline, Fade, and...maybe the two women who had unexpectedly shown up.

  The lights were still on in the windows of Draymoor Hall as we reached the modest manse stuffed into a far corner of the grounds, flickering with magical lamp light. The gate creaked loudly enough when I opened it to let my friends and companions through that I was sure everyone inside knew they had visitors. However, before my questing hand could open the front door, it opened on its own. For a moment, my heart skipped as I expected the woman whom I was simultaneously dreading to see...

  And very much looking forward to.

  But no. It was Fade.

  Still in his wolven form, he had opened the door before I could even touch the knob with his mouth. He released it from his teeth, leaving marks in the metal, and appeared to smirk up at me. I huffed a laugh, but before I could speak to him, I was interrupted once more.

  By a voice. A very, very familiar one.

  "Father?" The cool, feminine voice echoed out of the doorway to the dining hall ahead and to the right. "Is that-oh."

  The owner had poked their head out of the doorway to look in our direction. But at the sight of us all standing in the doorway, she had stopped speaking.

  Her sapphire eyes met my own emerald, and I couldn't help but smile at her. All of a sudden, my apprehension was gone, just at the sight of her startled expression.

  Before anything else...no matter what had happened...this was my friend.

  I laughed lightly as I saw a much smaller head poke out from the corner below her to stare at me in owl-like curiosity.

  "Hello, Aveline. Hello...Sylvia."