It took several hours and much happenstance until Asterin could leave without worry that one of the cadets would see her and raise the alarm. She didn’t need them thinking that she wanted to go out in a blaze of glory only to see her come back unharmed. That would give away too much information on her circumstances.

Rialis, just as the note said, was already awaiting her outside with her wings hidden—a stoic expression on her face.

“I forgot how wound up cadets can get on their first full night, especially after what happened earlier.”

Before Asterin could say anything, Rialis tugged her to the landing square where several figures stood. Four of them Asterin recognized, as their golden eyes glinted as bright as the sun even in the low moonlight. All three Ailadon brothers watched her with wary eyes whilst their father, the Commander, wore a harsh expression as they approached.

Rialis motioned to a meek-looking woman whose steely gaze pierced sharper than any blade. “Meet Commander Priya. She will be overseeing training more heavily, as the General has been called away for important matters.”

“The General has been called away?” Asterin frowned. This was partly Marley’s idea, that she was most certain of now. So why in the Hells would she—

“That’s not what is important right now,” Commander Ailadon said. Though he spoke in a low tone, his voice held the authority as before—passing through Asterin’s body and making her want to stand at attention, despite never serving in a military body before now.

Ada held his hand to his chest and gave a slight bow of his head. “Asterin, my father and brothers have been made aware of your circumstances, alongside myself. We have no arrested you out of respect for the Valkyr, but we do believe some explanation needs to be given.”

“It is quite simple,” Priya said—turning her sharp gaze on the Wanderers. “We have the backing of the General and the Empress to keep Asterin here. She is an invaluable asset for us to deal with the Shadowfaen threat.”

“Ada sensed no magick in her. How can you be certain?” Commander Ailadon spoke directly to Priya and Rialis, as though Asterin herself were not there.

She stepped forward. “Your sons have seen me use magick though, have they not? And Ada himself said what he sensed did not necessarily mean I don’t possess any.”

The Commander’s cheeks flushed but he kept his eyes only on her superiors. “How can we even be certain it’s her and not a guise meant to fool you while the real one is escaping?”

“I vetted her myself.” Rialis crossed her arms and smirked. “I see why people can become so infatuated with Kenra now. Even I was tempted for a moment when I saw her true form.”

Asterin peered at Commander Ailadon. Had they met before? Why else did he avoid acknowledging her directly, never-mind Rialis’ seemingly-pointed jab? She tried to make sense of the aged lines of his face, piecing together how he may have looked as a youth.

A light bulb went off in her brain.

“Boralil?”

All three of his sons stiffened and looked to their father, who turned to face the opposite direction of her with scarlet red ears.

Whether it be his weapon breaking, an accidental injury, or being the last to arrive to an event and being excluded from it all together; it took a lot of convincing on her point to convince Deimos to consider the fact that the poor teenager was cursed. And lo and behold, that was in fact the cast. A small issue for someone as powerful as her brother, but it meant the world to Boralil, who proclaimed he would become an epic her and repay his debt to them both tenfold.

He also possessed a very-much-obvious crush on her that never faded both during his years visiting Deimos for private lessons and later as a Wanderer when he visited their estate.

And it seems to be slightly present, even now, she thought with a small grin.

“If you wanted to see my face again, you need only ask,” she couldn’t help but tease. “But that’s not truly what you’re after. I could have, after all, a layered Glamour that gives me the face of Asterin Kishpu-La’atzu. If you want, I can sell stories—“

“Unnecessary,” Commander Ailadon held up a hand and cleared his throat.

“We will need proof that she holds this value,” Dralais spoke up. “And that you all are not keeping her here fro sentimentality reasons.”

Asterin crossed her arms. “If I were to have the opportunity to show what made the Captain choose me, then it would mean death for many people. You would be wise not to hope at all for such a circumstance.”

“We shall see. For now,” Ada sighed, “I have made myself your mentor for training. Perhaps I will find something of worth through our sessions when they begin.”

“And I will be assisting,” Dralais’ voice left no room for question, though Amos seemed to roll his eyes. “If you truly possess some power that overpowers Shadowfaen, then it would fall under my realm of expertise.”

Asterin looked to Rialis. “Is that all, then?”

Rialis looked to Priya, who nodded. “We can sort out the rest amongst ourselves. You need all the rest you can get for tomorrow.”

And with that, Asterin’s first day as Valkyr cadet came to a close.

It would be the easiest day of them all.