Alright. I’ll admit I hadn’t put two and two together about Prince Mito and the significance of handing over his father’s sword to him. But let’s be fair; I’ve had a lot on my mind, not that I had mentally resolved any of it.

“Remind me, which part of all this has been a party?” I asked indignantly. “Getting sent back here sans resources? Trekking halfway across the continent and learning that everything isn’t exactly status quo? Or maybe it’s all the little mysterious yet irritating tasks that keep piling up! Can’t you tell I’m just having a ball before the ball?” I threw my arms up in the air. “Maybe that’s why I’m late!”

Nora cleared her throat, glancing guiltily at the note on the table from Clare. “Um… maybe that was a little harsh of me…”

With a sour grunt, I replied, “Maybe indeed.”

“Speaking of tardiness, Lady Nora,” a loud yet wooden voice intoned from the other side of my door. “While the customs of your home world may differ, in Speranza, it is the student's obligation to be punctual for lessons as decreed by the Master. Perhaps a 1,000-word essay on the importance of timeliness will instill a proper understanding of this cultural expectation.”

Nora flinched visibly and muttered a curse under her breath as she ran towards the door. “My bad, Master Landon! My bad!”

“Your bad what, exactly?” he replied without the slightest hint of curiosity.

“Uh… sense of time!” Nora said with a fluster as she opened the door.

Master Landon, garbed in a hooded, unadorned steel-gray robe, regarded his pupil silently with faint blue eyes. A single lock of pure white hair cascaded down the right side of his face, making it hard for me to estimate his age. His face was as still as a mask, without a single blemishing wrinkle.

“Well?” he asked, his lips barely parting.

“Um, I apologize for my… tardiness,” Nora faltered, bowing awkwardly.

“Your apology is noted but insufficient," the instructor replied coldly, pointing down the hallway. “Your future actions must reflect your understanding. Ensure this does not happen again, and only then will I find your response sincere.”

A sneer threatened to surface, but Nora managed to suppress it and mumbled, “Yes, Master Landon…” as she slunk down the hallway past the guards, who made a show of not looking directly at either of them.

Master Landon watched her disappear before turning back toward the doorway. “Chosen One,” he said with a perfunctory bow. “I believe I will be indirectly causing you a great deal of grief during the next few days. Know, however, that my lessons are meant to educate even the most savant and not simply coddle them into a false sense of superiority.”

“Ah…” I rubbed my cheek, bracing myself for additional feistiness from Nora. “I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you for helping my best friend, even if she hasn’t realized that’s what it is yet.”

He gave a subtle shrug. “It is my pleasure to serve the Chosen One even as I share my wisdom with those… lacking.” The tiniest smile tugged at his lips for a brief moment before fading. “If you will excuse me.” He turned sharply on his heels and marched off down the hallway.

Maybe I ought to try meditating on my own for a little while…

Just as I started to close the door, however, Tetora shouted, “I know she’s in there; just get out of my way!”

As I reopened the door, his rage-filled roar echoed through the hallway. His face was filled with grim satisfaction as the two guards instantly retreated to either wall, unblocking his path. However, he simply waved his arm for me to come to him. “Weapons lesson, now. I found a good spot to practice.”

Looks like he’s in no mood for an argument… but…

I frowned, unable to recall any area big enough to practice freely. “Where?”

“Outside this building. Hurry up!”

Although venturing outside tempted me, I didn’t think we needed additional trouble. “I’m not allowed to leave the temple.”

“It’s part of the temple… technically. You can’t get to it from outside the grounds.”

That is good enough for me!

After hastily gathering my equipment, I rushed down the hallway, barely keeping pace with him.

“Where’s Aleph?” I asked, struggling not to drop anything.

Tetora grabbed my bo staff to lighten my load. “Talking with that priest about the pilgrim encampment,” he muttered angrily. “I couldn’t listen to it anymore, so we’re going to get a workout in, understand?”

While curious about what had been said, I knew better than to ask immediately. “Yes, sir!”

“Sir…” Tetora shook his head vehemently. “I don’t like that. Grandmaster Tetora!”

“Yes, Grandmaster Tetora!”

“…Thanks,” he mumbled, sounding a little more appreciative than usual. “Now let’s go find His Highness. His form needs even more work than yours.”

Prince Mito looked at us both suspiciously from behind the crack in the doorway leading to his quarters. “While I am sincerely thankful for your instruction thus far, I believe my time would be better served—”

Tetora snorted. “You can either walk with us or ride along over my shoulder. Which is it?”

Prince Mito blinked, obviously recalling past instances where Tetora had hauled him around with ease. “I’ll ambulate there under my own power…”

“Good choice. Don’t forget to bring your swords.”

Tetora led us down to the ground level of the temple, pausing in front of the giant sanctuary in the middle as he reoriented himself. “This way. I’m told the inner east courtyard has been abandoned, so no prying eyes.”

Prince Mito looked at me as if to confirm Tetora’s information, but I just shrugged, figuring we’d find out soon enough if that were truly the case. We passed a few sets of guards without any problems, with only the last pair signaling us to halt.

“Where are you headed with all those weapons?” the first guard asked.

Tetora gestured to a set of nearby doors. “We’re going to train out there in the courtyard. Got a problem with that?”

The two guards looked at each other for a long moment as if trying to find an excuse not to let us pass.

“The west courtyard would be better…” the other replied slowly, nervously pointing back the way we came.

Tetora took a menacing step forward. “I’m not wasting any more time trying to find my way over there. Let us through!”

“W-wait here!” the first one shouted. “We’ll make sure the area is clear!”

“Clear of what?” Prince Mito asked, his brow furrowed in doubt.

“Uh… fanatics!” the second guard responded as the first went off to search. “They’ve been trying to get in any way they can!”

“Shouldn’t you go with him at the very least?” I asked archly. “He could be overwhelmed by himself.”

“Er… my duty is…” he trailed off, looking back at the doors as he second-guessed himself. “Y-you’re right!” He darted out the doors, and we all heard an audible click after swiftly closing them behind him.

I scratched my head after we waited for several awkward seconds. “Is it me, or does this all seem rather fishy?”

“Protocol would dictate that they call for more help before abandoning their posts,” Tetora murmured. “Something strange is going on here.”

Prince Mito started to back up slowly. “Maybe we should alert—”

With a roar, Tetora passed Prince Mito. At first, I thought he might be running for reinforcements, but he turned, sprinting back down the corridor towards us. He passed us in a flash and bashed into the locked exit, tearing through the doors as if they were made of papier-mâché.

I quickly followed him, and Prince Mito, after uttering some choice words, decided to join us.

“Where’d they go?” I asked, looking around the abandoned stone and brick courtyard. “I don’t see any other way out.” Even the outer walls of the buildings that formed its boundaries were nothing but a sheer face for several stories.

Tetora sniffed the air, then pointed to a shadowed corner on the diagonal. “That way. Ready yourselves for anything!”

Prince Mito drew his rapier, still favoring the lighter sword. I summoned my aura, which helped to illuminate the corner as we searched.

Tetora, his nostrils flaring as he continued forward, honed in on the scent trail left by the guards. With a low growl, he pounced on the back wall of the courtyard, his eyes narrowing as he examined the bricks closely. His fingers traced the rough surface until they found a slight indentation, almost imperceptible to the naked eye.

“Here,” he muttered, more to himself than to us. Pressing firmly against the stone, a section of the wall slid inward with a grating sound, revealing a dark passageway. “This is where they went,” he announced in a hushed whisper. “Someone else is with them. A human female. Follow me.”

The passage was narrow, barely wide enough for Tetora's broad shoulders to squeeze through. I followed second, dimming my aura so Tetora’s natural night vision could take over. Prince Mito brought up the rear, occasionally bumping into the scabbard of my sword.

“Why hast thou interrupted my practice?” a woman demanded as hurried scuffling echoed back through the passage. “My premiere is within a fortnight!”

“We’ll explain later, Captain!” one of the guards replied hastily. “Hurry!”

“Emmy?!” Prince Mito suddenly shouted from behind. “Is that you?”

All sounds of movement ahead stopped. “Sir James?” came her startled reply. “Will you be joining me on my journey —” There was a startled yelp from one of the guards as a blast of light filled the far end of the dark corridor. “Unhand me, foul cretins! I wish to speak to my former castmate!”

“I can’t see!” one of the guards shouted. The other swore sulphurously before fleeing further down the passage, abandoning his colleague.

“H-hey! Wait for me!” the first cried, ostensibly scrambling after him.

Tetora stopped and crouched, ready to strike anything that came our way.

“Wait!” Prince Mito yelled, shoving past me and worming his way around Tetora to block our advance. “Emmy’s my friend!”

“You would continue to call me... Emmy?” The scornful question hung in the air as a tall, pink-haired woman stepped into view, her aura intensifying and illuminating the small room around her. “No longer shall I be referred to by that outdated Name.” Striking a heroic pose with her hands on her hips, she declared, “Soon, I shall be forever remembered as Captain Raelynn Lightbringer, the returning Paragon of Hope!”