Mara nearly sprints to the field near the garden, excited to try out the new weapons. The new shirt and pants fit loosely around her joints yet snugly on her limbs, allowing for ample movement without getting in the way. Her new daggers are strapped onto her calves comfortably, conforming to the shape of her legs and not impeding her stride in the slightest. It makes her wonder if Shaniel had them custom-made.

She fingers the new hairpiece, still surprised Kimala had gotten her a gift. She now feels bad at not getting the girl anything, but at the same time, Kimala doesn’t seem upset about it. Her hand migrates to the new pendant around her neck, and she wonders if Aeserast is all right; shortly after the festivities, he had said something about an emergency and had created one of those air-warping ovals – portals – and left.

Mara does a few stretches underneath one of the broad-leaf trees, too eager to practice with her daggers to do her usual t’ai chi routine. She flicks one of them out, flipping the blade and catching it. The hilt slaps against her palm, perfectly balanced. She grins.

“I’m glad you like them,” Shaniel comments behind her.

Startled, Mara whirls around and stares at Shaniel. He hangs upside down from a low-lying branch, his arms crossed over his chest. It doesn’t keep his shirt from falling a little, exposing part of his well-toned stomach. He grins at her, baring his teeth and tilting his head to the side. He is nearly on perfect eye-level with her.

“Good morning,” she greets, watching him closely in case he does that weird phase-step thing again.

“Are you going to Cerlail Academy?” he asks. He reminds her of the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland. Something shifts behind him, but before she can see what it is, he moves and it disappears.

“I’d like to,” she admits, flicking out the other dagger and practicing a few slashes. “I want to get this power under control; it affects a lot of people around me.” A silver bolt races across her knuckles, and she frowns.

Jumping from the branch and landing with a cat’s grace, Shaniel asks, “Are you therakare or runkare?”

“Theh-ra-ka-reh?” Mara repeats slowly. “What’s that?”

“You can use Source separate from Voyana. Runkare is the opposite; you use Source mixed with Voyana as an amplifier.” Shaniel pulls a dagger from… somewhere on him. Mara doesn’t even see where his hand had gone. He holds up his weapon and sinks into a fighting posture.

Mara shakes her head while smiling. “I don’t know what therakare is,” she admits, taking a step forward. “But this looks more fun.”

“Ohh,” Shaniel purrs, his eyes narrowing into dangerous slits. “A fighter after my own heart.”

They spar for a good fifteen or so minutes, eventually dropping the weapons and fighting with their fists and feet. Suddenly, Mara hears a faint buzzing sound coming from Shaniel’s pocket. “Ah, give me a moment,” he says and… disappears.

Remembering the last time he had done this, Mara glances behind her, but he isn’t there.

“Ah, carc’ra,” Shaniel says above her, and she glances into the tree limbs. He is sitting on the same branch as before, holding a strange transparent crystal-like device in his hand that glows a soft aventurine.

He tilts back, falling upside down again. His legs hold him on the branch as he sighs, disappointed in something. “The Academy calls. If you’re ever in Quasala, just give a shout.”

He winks as he drops headfirst to the ground.

Eyes wide, Mara sees one of those space-bending portals open up beneath him, swallowing him whole. The warped air shrinks again, turning back into a normal piece of space.

Curious now, she waves her foot where it had appeared. Nothing.

“Huh.” Sheathing her new daggers, she heads into the mansion, looking for Codi. She had already hinted at her interest in attending Cerlail Academy with Codi and Kimala to her mother, but no one had mentioned her in the upcoming travel plans. I’m definitely going, whether I have to sneak after them or not, she thinks to herself, glancing down at her sparking hand. It’s the best place for me to learn how to control this, anyway. They shouldn’t be complaining much.

She finds her brother flipping through what looks like a scientific book on matter in the library. Something resembling the periodical chart is on a piece of paper in front of him, and he references the different materials.

“Hey,” she greets, melting into a chair and staring at him. “Are you going to Cerlail Academy?”

“Good morning to you,” he murmurs absently. He blinks, registering her words. “Yeah. We’re heading out either the first or the second – depending on how fast Kimala can pack,” Codi grumbles.

It takes a moment for Mara to remember the calendar system. Today’s the twenty-eighth, which makes tomorrow the first of… Eona. “Tomorrow? That’s soon. What do I have to do to go with you?”

Codi stares at her, stunned. “Mara, you barely know anything about this world. Sure, you’ve been having a crash-course ever since you got here, but that’s not enough. You need to learn of the dangers before traveling anywhere quite yet.”

Mara raises her eyebrows. She holds up her hand, showing him the silver sparks flitting around her fingers – the physical representation of her irritation. “I do believe it is in the best interest of everyone that I control this,” she points out.

Codi stares at the silver sparks, looking uncomfortable. “I… guess so.” Sighing, he closes the book and stands up. “Come on, then. We need to talk to Uncle Jonan and the others.”

By the time they had gathered everyone – Kimala included – it is lunchtime. They occupy a corner of the dining room’s huge table that can seat twenty or so people. Ezra sits next to Mara as Kimala and Codi sit across from them. Surana and Jonan are both at the head of the table.

The servants place the food in front of them as Jonan voices the same concern Codi had. “Mara, I urge you to reconsider. Right now is not the best time for you to leave Veera; Codi and Kimala will be traveling on foot because our portal engineer is at the Academy studying.”

Ezra frowns. “What about the kranluk? Trading is over, isn’t it?”

Jonan shakes his head. “Last year’s Heakalius storm was mild, so we’re predicting a stronger one this year. All the kranluk have been sent out to gather as many supplies as possible before this year’s storm.”

“How’s Veera’s barrier?” Ezra asks, concerned.

Mara quietly listens to the conversation as she eats, curious but confused. What is a kranluk? What is so terrible about a storm? Are there tornadoes? What do portal engineers do? What type of barrier are they talking about? Again, her mind is flooded with questions.

Jonan shakes his head. “It needs to be reinforced. I worry our barrier specialist and portal engineer are not going to be back before the storm.”

“When is the storm supposed to hit?” Ezra finally takes a bite of her food. “The admissions deadline is the eighth, right?”

Jonan and Surana glance at one another. “Late Eona to early Vuva,” Surana murmurs. “Our specialist and technician are nearing their graduation dates, but they are close to the time the storm will hit.”

That’s… late next month and the following month, Mara realizes, glancing at Kimala and Codi. No wonder they’re heading out now.

Ezra rubs her chin. “I see… this is a tight spot you’re in, Jonan. I can help with the barrier, but portal engineering is out of my expertise. Have you thought of asking Adul’ne Roanoak for assistance?”

Mara’s eyes widen. She has learned a little about the social ranks, and the title her mother had just casually thrown out is that of a king.

Jonan shakes his head. “I have asked too much of His Majesty these past few months, and they are going through hard times, as well. Paro’ki Shasta has been antagonizing them recently.” Mara recognizes the word for tyrant. “I worry there will be another battle between the two.”

“I apologize for interrupting…” Mara cuts into the awkward pause, her voice quiet. “But… what’s going on?”

Ezra’s smile is strained. “Ah, I apologize. You’re probably very confused. Politics and tein’fu duties, dear. I’ll try to explain them later.”

Mara rolls her eyes. “Mom, I meant with the trip. How does all of this impact whether or not I should go to Cerlail Academy?”

Everyone stares at her, stunned. It’s as if she just said something she should have known the answer to. Irritated, she sets her fork down, not even paying attention to the crackling lightning bolts around her fingers anymore.

“It sounds like you have a lot of problems right now, Uncle Jonan,” Mara directs her words to the tein’fu. “However, this problem – ” she holds up her hand, showing off the silver fireworks, “ – doesn’t need to be one of them. Cerlail Academy is the best place for me to get this under control, and by me leaving, it will free you up so you can deal with what’s going on here.”

Surana, Jonan, and Ezra glance at one another, concern written all over their faces. “You’re traveling on foot, Mara,” Ezra explains carefully, as if picking the best words to convince her otherwise. “You will be going either through or around the Heramus, which is a very dangerous area between here and Quasala. It can take a good four to five days’ travel – ”

“Mom.” Mara stares straight at her mother. “I know three different types of self defense, as well as how to use bladed, blunt, and ranged weapons. I also know how to camp. I’ll be fine.”

Ezra strokes Mara’s hair. “I just want you to be safe,” she argues weakly, knowing she is losing this conversation.

Jonan rubs his jaw, conflicted. “You do have a point, though… Cerlail Academy is the best place for you to control your Source. The Dream’Lord has been doing a fantastic job tutoring you, but we cannot depend on him nor the Common’Lord to teach you everything; after all, their position as Highlords comes before this.”

Mara frowns. She recognizes Aeserast’s title, Dream’Lord, but who is the Common’Lord? Shaniel? They are very odd titles for such an important position as a Highlord.

He continues. “Three of my best guards will be accompanying them: Don, Beral, and Rick. Since the portal is not an option at the time, they are going to skirt the Heramus to avoid unwanted attention.” He glances at Ezra. “One more addition to the party should not be a big deal; plus, Mara did bring up a good point. She has a better chance at the Academy.”

Ezra slumps back in her seat, sighing. “I guess I can’t stop you, then…” She eyes her daughter’s grin. “Knowing you, you would have snuck after them even if we said no.”

Mara’s sheepish smile confirms her mother’s suspicion.