Mattie huffed, "you say that 'cause I treat you like the evil weird-o you are instead of like the princess your brothers think you are."

"They don't spoil me rotten! They're awful and steal my hair products!" She scoffed, stopping at the back of the crowd.

"Setria guide them."

"Correct!" Aerit smirked.

The inside was cool and an involuntary shudder fluttered down my spine. It was a large auditorium with a plain-wood ceiling and large windows. Our seats weren't assigned and so we took one closer to the stage. I sat at the first chair, squeezing my leg to soothe its cramp.

Hawkins stepped up onto the stage when everyone was settled. "Good morning Recruits! I won't keep you long since you have a long hike ahead of you. Firstly, every cabin will have a High Shield to oversee exercises, accompanying them will be an Instructor who is also the cabin head, they will give you drills. There are twenty that have been planned, if you pass five of these you will automatically be considered for candidacy, failures will be given a chance for make up during morning and nighttime exercises. If you are unable to participate due to fatigue or disability please let your Shield know. Recruits twenty and above at the end of the week; you will be facing a true demon, you will be under threat, listen to your High Shield and work together to exorcise it."

Hawkins looked over the crowd until he found me, he blinked then looked down the centre aisle. "You have until dusk to find your cabin, otherwise you are disqualified. You can work together or solo and will be split into groups of age. Twenty-five and above, Cabin A. Twenty through twenty-four, Cabin B. Sixteen through eighteen, Cabin C. Please make your way to the waiting areas, good luck recruits." I wanted to run up to the stage to hug Hawkins as I stood, with a soft smile and nod he left the stage and spoke to someone.

"Your Da is terrifying." Mattie mentioned.

"What?" I replied.

"Baron Anshel?" Mattie had motioned his thumb over his shoulder.

"He's not my father. He just watches over me." I said catching the door Aerit opened.

"What about the Baroness?"

"Same, the staff takes care of me most of the time." Hawkins and Yuna had warned me about speaking about them publicly, and had made it known that they had only legal care over me. I would never be part of their family, but even with that truth; we ate together, spent time together, and their lessons counted as well. But they liked their privacy and I couldn't help but agree, it was precious to me, and I wanted no one else to share what I had with them.

"They only teach you?" Aerit's tone was soft.

"Yes, but it's not entirely bad." I said with a shrug, the room we entered was a large windowed dome, there was a small number of us, maybe twenty-or-so if I had to guess.

I stayed at the back, wincing when my palms steamed against my strap, inexplicable dread filled my stomach and chest with cold, tasteless breath. I flinched when the doors opened. The room was startled quiet; there was no buzzer, no chime, just wilderness and a thick stone wall separating us.

"Go!" Someone called out, "it's started, go!" Luckily, it was a slow meander out. Aerit and Mattie had already started walking, waiting for me to catch up with a conversation about difficulty.

The ache had worsened by mid-afternoon, we hadn't lagged too far behind the crowd but a few other teens had slowed behind us, myself included, a tremble led my actions with a heavy pant dizzying each step. "Aerit!" Mattie exclaimed, louder than was necessary. "Let's take a break, my feet hurt."

"We're close though!"

I leaned against a tree, cringing when my hip jolted and sent a shiver of pain up my side and to my jaw. "And I need a break, girlie. C'mon, we should eat too."

I gasped through my teeth, trying to calm the hard breaths taking my awareness. "Raymond?" Mattie's palm rested firm upon my shoulder.

"I'm okay—" I mumbled.

I heard him say, "Did you twist something?"

I shook my head, squeezing my eyes to calm the vibrant eek muffling the next question. "I'm fine, I just need to sit down." I said, sliding down the rough bark gritting against my skin until I sat to the ground.

"What's wrong?"Aerit asked.

"Nothing." I said, rubbing my hip. I closed my eyes, breathing evenly as I pushed the ache away.

"You have a fake leg!" Aerit exclaimed quietly, a few passing recruits looked down at me with a flicker of concern. I flinched, and with a disapproving hum I pushed her hand off. "I could heal some of the pain."

With a shake of my head I said, "I'll be fine."

"I feel bad though, I'm sorry, I didn't realise you were hurting." She said, sitting on her heels with a glance up at Mattie.

"I was hoping to make it to the cabin," I mentioned. "The pain is only this bad after a long walk." I stretched my back, popping it loudly with a gentle twist. I sighed while rubbing at my hip and thanked Aerit when she handed me some jerky.

Mattie grunted, "you should've told us."

My gaze was cast down as I shook my head. "No offence, but introducing myself with a false-limb first seems…counterproductive."

Mattie chuckled, "true, but a warning of a disability would have been nice to know. We could have paced ourselves; I know we barely know each other but it's still something worth mentioning." I shrugged, finishing off my dry meat and taking a sip of water.

"It's good training, I haven't been able to walk long distances like this. And I will have to stand for hours on end when I become a High Shield." I said.

"Surely any noble you're assigned under wouldn't be that cruel." Aerit tutted after she took a few long gulps.

"If Raymond doesn't tell them." Mattie scoffed.

"The person who wants me assigned knows about my leg. But I don't really think it would be a good idea to work with them."

"Who?" Aerit asked, brushing off her pants.

"Prince Sigurd." I said, standing through a slight wobble.

Mattie laughed aloud. "By Setria's tits, you're not joking."

I grinned with a shake of my head, walking ahead with a limp following my steps. "Queen Sigurd wishes for me to be the Prince's bodyguard. Stars know why though."

"Fire mage." Both of them concluded simultaneously.

"Imagine how neat it would be to work for them though! You'd be able to travel with Prince Sigurd! Who is rather handsome."

I raised my brow, "I wouldn't know, I haven't seen him since we were thirteen."

Aerit raised her hands in the air, her silent enthusiasm gestured towards the sky then me. "How? What was he like? Hardly anyone can interact with him!" She laughed.

"Right time, right place?" I shrugged. "He was polite." I hated how the lie twisted in my chest. I hadn't thought of Prince Chike in a long while, I was glad for it too; his shitty attitude still made me stay up at night with how frustrating he was.

We continued in silence, until Aerit and Mattie continued mundane conversation. The pace was slower and we passed a collection of recruits resting as the day continued. The last stretch to the cabin was exhausting, with a mighty hill inclining the last couple hours of the hike. Each step was practically a stab of pain, my irritation for it palpable.

I leaned against the cobblestone momentarily. Mattie and Aerit were with me, the former had nearly collapsed to the fine stone-steps. The latter was leaned upon her knees panting between swallows.

"Setria's guidance," Aerit said, "why steps?"

"Come on! You guys can do it!" Someone above exclaimed. "We made lemon-water!"

"Is it sweet?" Mattie replied, there was a moment of silence.

"Yeah!"

Mattie groaned as he stood. "Need help up Raymond?"

"No." I took a step and exclaimed weakly.

"Of course you're stubborn. C'mon." He crouched, Aerit had already started up the steps.

"I'm okay, you'll fall with both of us."

He stared down at me and I sighed, adjusted my pack then carefully looped my hand under his bicep. I leaned primarily against the wall, the pressure from jutting rocks were a minor relief as we slowly followed Aerit up the steps.

The open field was vast, empty beside a few benches at the edge by a smooth, stone path wrapping around and splitting down the grass towards the cabin. Which had the doors open with recruits wandering around. The High Shield was meandering, greeting those resting at benches or laid upon the field. She wore a blue cape over her shoulder, bearing the standard of Anshel Keep while wearing grey slacks and thick boots. She was younger than the instructor, who walked beside her; a tall man dressed in a green jacket with rolled up sleeves and the same grey.

She saw me and spoke to the man beside her, they parted as we sat down and I stretched out my leg. "Greetings recruits, right on time. You will have the remainder of the day to rest before the test begins. I suggest claiming your bunks before the best ones are taken. Also, Master Nada, if you would find me after supper please." She bowed then returned to the Instructor.

I stood when the ache calmed and the cool sweet-drink was empty. Aerit groaned while she wobbled to her feet patting Mattie's foot with her own, he woke with a tired flinch.

"Let's go inside. It's getting cold and I wanna shower."

The cabin was a singular room, square in shape with two levels. The first was the common room, with a fireplace centred and couches sunken into the floor. The kitchen and dining hall were a folding door away, restrooms and bedrooms were separated by gender and a wall between the stacked bunks. The fine wood, stone, and ceramic floors had been carved by spiralling flowers, water droplets, wisps of air, and a lick of fire. With the large windows curtained shut and light-sources around the pillars warming the room alongside the hearth. The instructor was in the kitchen with a few recruits helping.

"Raymond, join me?" Mattie asked, nodding towards the boy's dorm.

I moved my bag to my shoulder, tiredly trudging. A few beds had already been claimed with some exploring inside their packs and sitting with new-found friends.

"Aerit are you okay going alone?"

"I don't think there's much choice." She shrugged. "I'll see you guys tonight though, sweet dreams!"

I waved at her then joined Mattie's side. "Are you comfortable by the window?" He asked.

"Sure." I sat down on the firm canvas mattress with relief. Mattie climbed up with ease, rocking the bunk until he sat. Finally laying down, the tension released from my body made me exhale. But before I could sleep I heard the wood floor creak and someone kneel by my bed. I opened my eyes to find the High Shield, her smile and expression kind.

Her words were barely above a whisper as she spoke "I am Shield Luno. Instructor Ve and I have been briefed by Baron and Baroness Anshel. So, I hope you feel comfortable approaching me. I would like to offer you extra breaks in case your leg proves difficult during exercises." I nodded, "rest well, recruit."

My hunger and thirst woke me, I turned on my stomach, listening to the murmurs of the awake and quiet breaths from the asleep. The wall-clock was close to late evening, the smell of food was a faint fog as I sat up and pulled on my shoes. My leg was sore, my limp was especially obvious and I found a few glances directed towards me when I stopped in front of the counter of sorted food.

Sandwiches were offered, with peppers on the side, with a stack of fruits as well. I ate alone, almost tempted to grab another if it weren't for the possibility of others who were also asleep needing it as well. So, I washed my plate and went to sit on my bed for the rest of the evening.

It wasn't easy keeping my nerves from startling me at every noise. Mattie was snoring loudly and there were distant conversations, still excited. But when they realised I was awake the discussions turned targeted. I knew it was curiosity, but it made me want to hide away. I startled when someone walked by me, pausing to shuffle on their bare-feet.

"Um—" they began with a whisper, "I don't mean to bother you…but my friends were wondering—why is your hair white?"

I pushed a bang behind my ear, touching the longer braid resting over my shoulder. "I don't know." I said, "I think I was born with it."

"Oh—well, that's neat! It's really cool, anyway, sorry for bothering you, I hope you sleep well." He waved and returned to his friends.