Fog collected at the recesses of Keisha’s mind. She heard voices in the distance and jostled upright. She looked around with big-eyes, Keisha was no longer in the cave but on a bed tucked underneath warm covers. She wore the same white nightgown as the first day she had come to the Illicit.

Something shuffled on her lap.

The She-Wolf girl from the cave slept curled in a ball, ears twitching. She was clothed in her human form - her arm healed from the burns.

Keisha reached out a hand to tap her awake when she noticed a crescent-shaped mark on her wrist.

“What is—?”

“The She-Wolf imprinted on you.” Keisha snapped her head up when Verona came through the door. “She hasn’t left your side since.”

Dazed and confused, Keisha stared at Verona as she walked into the room preparing their bags. She had an inkling of knowledge of what ‘imprinting’ meant but didn’t understand what had happened.

“How did that happen?”

Verona sighed. She didn’t stop packing. “Words have power here. Like Verses, when you vow yourself to someone. You are bonded to them and them to you.”

Keisha looked at the She-Wolf. “I don’t feel anything. Is it because I’m an Earthborne or something?”

Verona scoffed, standing from her crouched position. “Yes.” Her brows were pinched together, and her lips pursed. “What were you thinking, using a Verse without a Stanza? It could have killed you without proper training and without a Stanza to channel your Malia, it took some of your life force instead.”

Keisha’s expression turned somber, seeing the irritated look on Verona’s face. “I—I’m sorry. We might have been hurt. I didn’t think.”

“Yeah, you didn’t think,” Verona mumbled. Her eyes like daggers. “Just don’t be stupid again.”

The She-Wolf stirred. Her tail swished from side to side, and she sat up to stretch, letting out a loud yawn, revealing sharp fangs in her mouth.

She stopped stretching and peeked at Keisha with one eye.

“You’re up!” She screamed and jumped on top of Keisha. “Oh, I’m so happy!”

The She-Wolf nuzzled into Keisha’s chest and let out faint purring noises. Keisha laughed. She patted the She-Wolf’s head and brushed her hair.

“And you can speak again. I’m so glad.”

Verona sighed and turned away.

“Oh, I hope you’re okay. I sensed a thick wave of sadness just now. Did the scary girl say something to you?” she whispered the last part. Her ears twitched, and she glared at Verona. “I have no problem attacking her for you.”

Keisha nervously chuckled and waved her hands in front of her face. “Uh, nope, nope, no attacking necessary I’m fine—”

“Celra, my name is Celra Lucca and I’ve decided something.” She smiled with a wide toothy grin.

Keisha tilted her head to the side. “Decided what Celra?”

“I want to travel with you.”

“Huh?” Verona said, her brows pinched together. “Come again?”

Keisha waved her hand at Verona to tell her to stop. Verona rolled her eyes and leaned against the wall with crossed arms.

“Are you sure, Celra? It’s going to be dangerous.”

“I’m well aware. I think with you I can track down my pack; I know they are still out there. It will also give me a chance to repay you for saving me. It’s a Lucca’s promise to pledge their loyalty. We are imprinted after all.”

Keisha shifted in the bed. The thought of ‘imprinted’ made her feel weird. She didn’t want anything ‘printed’ on her—it was far too close to a prisoner or worse.

“Well,” Keisha said. “If we’re going to be traveling together, we’ll be companions and not someone who is indebted to the other. You aren’t a prisoner Celra, or my pet, you are your own person and someone I’d like to call friend.”

Celra’s eyes extended and she playfully whimpered, her tail wagging happily behind her. She tackled Keisha into a hug once more.

“Okay,” Verona interrupted. Her hand on her hip as her scowl returned interrupting the giggles between the two girls. She walked to the end of the bed. “Enough of the formalities and mushy-gushy feelings, I have a present for you.”

Verona held out her hand and revealed a circular gold ring.

Keisha stared at it. Her eyes twinkled at the sight of the beautiful jewelry. “That’s...My Stanza? How long was I out for?”

“It’s almost dawn.”

Celra jumped off of the bed, landing on her bare feet. She strode over to Verona at the end of the bed and sniffed at the ring.

“It doesn’t seem dangerous.”

Verona shoved her hand into Celra’s face, pushing her away. “Would you back away? This isn’t for you.”

Celra growled. “I will do whatever it takes to ensure Keisha’s safety.”

Verona rolled her eyes. “Gosh, I can’t believe…here, try this on and let’s practice proper Verses.”

Keisha got out of bed. She took the ring in her hand and examined it. It looked like a plain wedding ring like her papà’s, but an inscription was written in Italian on the inside.

“Daughter of the Silver Tongue?” She looked at Verona for an explanation.

“You blew your cover. Blacksmith saw past my Malia and knows you’re an Earthborne.”

Keisha’s jaw dropped. “And he let us go without turning us in?”

“I think we’re even. A rumor was spread we took out a She-Wolf with weapons made from that blacksmith—there was quite a line of eager people waiting for him to forge them a weapon to take on a powerful Demi.”

Celra sniffed in Verona’s direction. “Smells like you started the rumor. I can smell deception on you.”

Verona gritted her teeth. “You’re about to smell blood in a minute if you get in my face one more time. Let’s awaken your Stanza before we go.”

Keisha nodded. She slipped on her ring and faced Verona.

Keisha stretched out her hand and spread her fingers apart. She screamed at the top of her lungs as she focused on her Malia. Verona gritted her teeth, and Celra flinched, whimpering, as her ears bent.

“Woah, Woah,” Verona called out, stopping Keisha’s screams. “What are you doing? Are you trying to alert the Calvary?”

Celra whimpered. “I admit, that was painful. Sorry, Keisha.”

Keisha’s cheeks reddened. “What? That’s how my favorite characters charge their powers. It takes a while, but they end up changing into their next form.”

Verona’s brow rose. “By screaming like a banshee? That’s the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. What show are you even watching?” She shook her head.

“With Verses, remember the rule of three; practice, exercise, believe, and perform. The stronger you get, the more your Malia you can use to make Verses.”

Keisha counted on her fingers, scrunching her face, and twisted her lip. “That’s four things, though.”

Verona gave her a dead-pan look. “Just concentrate on the ring itself.”

Keisha gazed at Verona as she nodded, rubbing her chin. “But concentrate on what?”

Verona rolled her eyes. “The elements are all around you, and your Stanza is a part of you. Just like that furball has bonded to you. You need to become your Stanza, become the elements—the grip of a Stanza or the warmth of a fire; the cool and wet touch of water, things like that, and let it flow through you naturally.”

“I’ll be sure to poop in your cot,” Celra mumbled.

Keisha closed her eyes, tightening them, and concentrated. She imagined what her staff would feel like and how she’d call upon it. The feel of all the elements that would play a role in her Malia and how each one would be in her.

But every time she’d feel a sensation prickling her skin, thoughts of her mother’s capture reappeared in her mind. Keisha flinched.

“You’re thinking too hard. You need to let all thoughts clear your head and let it come naturally.” Verona’s voice played out in her head. “Think about your Malia and its power flowing into the ring.”

Keisha huffed, then exhaled. Again, Nothing happened.

Keisha peeked from one eye. “Did it work?” she asked, seeing Verona’s no-nonsense face and Celra sitting cross-legged on the floor.

“No. Try again, now concentrate.”

Keisha closed her eyes but pouted.

“I am trying!” she whined.

“Obviously, not enough. Your mother’s life might be on the line.”

“Verona, that’s not fair!” Keisha snapped open her eyes. Hearing about her mother’s life in danger brought tears to her eyes. “I’m doing the best I can. I just—”

“You’re best isn’t enough, Keisha! You wanted to do this and find your mother, so you need to be ready; otherwise, you’re going to die just by breaking your leg.”

Keisha's hands gripped into fists, and she glared at an annoyed Verona. The tears in her eyes poured out.

“Hey!” Celra jumped in to defend Keisha. “You’re being mean, don’t you think? I don’t know too much about this, but she just got the ring and needs time to adjust.”

“We don’t have time to adjust!” Verona exclaimed. “I don’t understand why it’s so hard for her Malia to kick in. She’s still Dante’s blood. These were the lessons my father taught me, and I turned out just fine.”

“Oh, what a fun childhood you had,” Celra mumbled.

“What did you say to me furball?” Verona said, glowering in her direction.

“You heard me,” Celra retorted. “Have you ever thought that people learn at different paces than you? Not everyone will get things as quickly. You need to be patient.”

“I’m. trying. too,” Verona enunciated, “But we don’t have the luxury to take our time. Her mother is out there and if the Monarch’s get to us first, I won’t be able to save her!”

“And she won’t be able to help anyone if. She’s. Dead!” Celra growled back at her. The two girls glaring at one another.

Tensions were high and they continued to bicker. It was causing too much of a distraction for Keisha to concentrate anymore.

“Everyone, be quiet!” Keisha slapped her hands over her ears. As a million different emotions controlled her waking thoughts. A barrage of wind whipped around her. The shock prickled her arm and down to her fingertips. Keisha gasped as the sensation traveled to the place of her ring, and her finger warmed as the Verse flowed past her lips:

“Come forth, thy Stanza

And permit me your aid!”

A brilliance of light shrouded the room—the ring formed into a long gold cylinder pole. Swirling gold light circled Keisha’s body and replaced her clothing with a thick-plated gold vest, a gold circlet rest around her head, and bracers around her wrist.

“Woah.” Celra stared in awe.

At the base of Keisha’s Stele, there was a figurine of a woman holding the fiery sun. The Stanza’s reflection caught her bright grazing eyes. She reached her fingers to touch the base of the sun.

“I…I did it.” Keisha beamed. “Just like Scarlett Hero!”

“Who?” Celra questioned.

“Er, she’s a superhero in the Hero Society. They’ve got the coolest comics, anime, and costumes!”

Celra’s eyes twinkled, jumping with excitement with her tail wagging behind her. “Ooh, that sounds cool. What are those? What are they like?”

Verona cleared her throat to pull them out of their excitement. “While interesting, you aren’t a ‘superhero’. You’re stronger than any comical fantasy and what’ll make you different from other Legacy’s is you don’t have a seal.”

Keisha looked from the Stanza to Verona. “A Seal?”

Turning around and moving her hair away from her neck, Verona revealed an infinity symbol.

“Remember what I told you about performing without a Stanza?” Verona said, moving her hair back into place. “There is a Seal designed by the Monarchs to limit a new Legacy’s powers from potentially turning into Maleficio.”

“Oh.” That was all Keisha could say, and the light surrounding her vanished. If she couldn’t contain her Verses without losing control, how would she ever protect herself and find her mamma?

“Hey, don’t let this ‘boomer’ ruin your mood again,” Celra chimed in, breaking Keisha’s wayward thoughts.

“What did you call me?” Verona glared.

Celra shrugged. “I don’t know. It was a word I found in her head.”

Keisha laughed. “You’re not using that right, but you can read my thoughts?”

“More or less, it’s kind of like random thoughts jumbled together, and when someone’s emotional, it’s sent out like a beacon! But don’t worry about that Stanza taking your energy. As long as we’re imprinted, our two souls are bonded, making us even stronger.”

“Won’t that hurt you?” Keisha frowned. She didn’t want anyone getting hurt because of her.

Celra tackled Keisha to the ground, snuggling her cheek into her. Keisha let out a giggle. “As long as you’re safe, that’s all that matters!”

Verona rolled her eyes and turned away.

“Let’s hurry and gather our things so we can press on to speak with the Mortal Light—our next destination is the Descent.”