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Walking away from the forging area, passing Enrick's tent, I saw Lili, covered in some kind of thick, drying, deep purple liquid, though half her face was uncovered. She was walking, lacking none of her confidence, next to a male ranger covered in the same substance. She stopped, quitting before her step that would bring her into the captain's tent. She turned her head to her right, straight to me. She smiled her persuasive smile just before walking in my direction. The other ranger walked just behind, holding a dull expression.

"I see you've returned. I also see you're one of us now." She smiled her confident smile once again, holding more pride. It was like that purple substance wasn't even there. "Congratulations, Ladon." She then spoke in my head. "I see you've got your answers as well. Seems as though I was right, though I didn't think it would be a demidragon girl."

"Thank you, Lili. How much of it did you figure out? What's that stuff you're covered in?"

"It was quite the complicated mess of things happening in your soul and mind all together. I'm glad you made it through. What was it like? Killing for the first time, I mean."

"Horrible. Terrifying."

"Good. Don't lose that. Ah . . . this?" She looked at herself. "It's the blood from a pair of gorindralls."

"Nasty fuckin' monsters," her partner added. He wiped his tired expressionless face with his hand, revealing his thick eyebrows that were hidden by the blood, his tightly tied back hair being completely out of the way, not adding to it. "Where's my manners. The name's Karik."

"Ladon."

"Yeah, I know. Lily Pad's been talking about you quite a bit. At least with me anyway."

"Can't a girl enjoy a little . . . mystery from time to time?"

"Never said you couldn't." His expression never changed.

She smiled. "Good."

They're like brother and sister. "What's a gorindrall'?"

"He might as well be."

For a moment, I forgot she could read my mind.

Karik spoke. "Gorindralls are kind of like gorillas. They were created a long time ago, hence why they're classified as monsters. They're a mix between a gorilla, and a type of demon called a drallkinon. They're big, strong as Yorn, and unstoppably violent when provoked. Unfortunately they've repopulated a bit in the last few years. Like with many monsters and beasts, we whittle them down when we can find them. A decent group of those fuckers can decimate a fortress."

Dannas shivered "I've seen one once. Not a pretty sight. Or smell."

"I couldn't agree more." Karik's tone was as flat as his expression, though it seemed like this was him expressing.

Dannas was perplexed, trying to figure out how to continue the conversation.

Lili broke the silence. "I'd hate to cut this delightful conversation of catching up short . . . but we have a report to give, and I'm . . . undelightfully unclean."

"I understand, Lili. We can talk another time."

She smiled again. "Verywell, Ladon. Don't forget to practice your magic. Your control over fire could prove to be quite useful in the future. Goodbye . . . for now."

"I will. Goodbye, Lili. And you, Karik."

He nodded slightly before walking off, just behind Lili.

Dannas leaned toward me without hesitation. "So . . . what now?"

"I'm going to practice my magic a bit."

"Can I watch?"

"It might not be as eventful as last time."

"Psh, I'll just move on if I get bored."

I nodded.

We walked over to the same campfire as when I practiced controlling fire.

"Want me to get one started?"

"No. That's what I'll be practicing."

"Starting a fire?"

I placed my hands close to the firewood. "With magic, yes."

I began creating the cozy warmth I liked to start with. I slowly, and cautiously, raised the heat. Eventually, despite my efforts, it was getting out of hand again, so I brought it back down. I tried again, trying to keep the growth slow. My control held out longer, but it quickly got out of hand, so I just as quickly brought it down.

"Uhm . . . is anything supposed to be happening?"

"You can't see it, but something is happening. In case I mess up, don't stay close."

He took a step back.

I tried again. More incremental progress, same failure. I tried again, getting more tired this time. Even more progress. Just before I could lose control, I saw a small spark on the wood. I got excited, but tried even harder to control it. Before long, one spark turned to two, which turned to five, then ten, then a small flame that grew bigger as I blew on it. I'd finally done it. I made a fire.

I sighed with a quiet exhale.

"WOAH!"

I took a moment to watch it.

"No tinder, no flint, no nothing!"

We both took a seat, and relaxed at the fire.

"How'd you do it?"

"I made a heat."

"With your mind?!"

"Pretty much."

"Wow." His face lit up, as if he'd suddenly hatched a plan. "Wait right here!" He ran to the mess tent.

Watching the fire; the successful product of training; the product of my magic, Abraxas came to mind. I need to talk to Abraxas soon. There's so much to catch him up on. I'll be seeing Inowyn tomorrow. I guess I should go sometime today.

Before long, Dannas came out of the tent, holding four uncooked sausages and a couple wooden skewers. "I'm not sure how big of an achievement this is for you, but I thought we could celebrate! I'm gonna have to help 'em cook and stuff for a bit as payment, but I think it'll be worth it." He handed me a skewer and two sausages.

We started cooking them over the fire, watching the sausages slowly darken over time.

"I didn't think you'd want to add any chores to your day."

"Well this is a special occasion, right? You're a ranger now!"

"Fair enough. Hey, Dannas?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

"For the sausages?"

"Well, sure, but I meant for what you did."

"Like getting the sausages? You're confusing me."

"No. I was told you were the one who thought to use the mark on my hand."

"Oh that. Yeah, well we were all panicking having two people basically on the edge of death. I saw your hand, and remembered where we were. I took a leap of faith is all."

"Still. Thank you. I don't think the girl or I would likely be alive if you didn't do that."

He nervously scratched the back of his head in a way to seem confident. "It's what any right-minded person would do."

We started eating our sausages. They were spicy, and delicious, tasting of pepper and something acidic.

"I'm going to be leaving later today. I need to talk to Abraxas and meet Inowyn at home tomorrow."

"Can I come?"

"To my home, sure. You and I both know you can't go back to Trelanwi."

He sighed. "I know… Nevermind then."

"..."

"How long will you be gone for?"

"I'm not sure. I'll be there until the girl can leave. Could be weeks or more."

"How're you gonna do it?"

"Do what?"

He smiled impishly. "Go weeks without your best friend, duh."

I used the most sarcastic tone I knew. "It'll be the hardest time of my life."

He chuckled, almost laughing. "Exactly."

Just as I was about to eat my second sausage, I saw Lili and Karik, all cleaned up, walking toward us. I preemptively broke my second sausage in half. When they were close, I reached both hands out, each one holding half a cooked sausage. "Want some?"

Lili was using her smile as usual. "Thank you very much." With her usual alluring posture, she very delicately grabbed one from my hand.

Putting on much less of a show, Karik snatched the other. "Yeah, thanks. I'm fukin' starving."

They both sat down with us.

Lili spoke first. "So, what are you going to do now that you're a ranger? Are you planning on staying with the squad . . . or are you planning to stay at your home?"

"I'm not sure. Depends on how things go, I guess."

"Well, I for one would love if you stayed with us. I understand you have… responsibilities now, so I wouldn't blame you if you didn't."

Responsibilities? What does she mean? The girl?

She nodded at me.

"Will the squad come back?"

Karik finished his half-sausage. "Probably. It'd be next summer, or the summer after, if we do. We're not a winter squad."

"Winter squad?"

Dannas spoke up. "Yeah they're some of the most hardened survivors out of all the rangers. Their squads are a lot smaller. Most beasts and monsters prefer the warmer weather, but rangers are always needed."

"I see. I'll think about it. Whether or not I stay with the rangers, I mean."

"Very well."

The fire was dying down.

I stood up. "I guess I should get going, before I run out of time in the day. I need to tell the captain."

"Very well, Ladon. I'll see you when you return." She smiled before walking away with Karik who didn't say anything.

Dannas stood up. "I'll grab your things; you go talk to Captain real quick."

I nodded, then we separated. I walked to the captain's tent and entered to see her looking at a map at her desk.

She didn't look up. "Ah, Ladon. What brings you to my tent so soon? How'd designing your blade go?"

"It went well."

She nodded. "Good."

"I came to tell you I'll be leaving shortly, to go back home. From there I'll be going back to Ith Trelanwi tomorrow, and likely won't be back for a couple weeks, if not more."

"Alright then. That means we'll celebrate when you return." She looked at me. "Make sure you allow yourself some rest once in a while."

"I will. Thank you."

She nodded, smiling ever so slightly. "Safe travels, Ladon. And enjoy Trelanwi. Very few outsiders get to."

"Thank you." I exited.

Dannas was just returning with my quivered bow and cloak, as well as the other armor I never put on.

"Here you go!"

I grabbed them and put them on. "Thank you, Dannas. I'll see you when I return."

"Whenever it may be." He smiled in earnest.

I headed off, south by southwest, back home. I passed the old shadow wolf territory. The scent of their territory was still there, so I didn't worry. Afterward, I crossed the split in the river as I have many times before, and by the time it was getting dark, I emerged into the clearing. Abraxas's head rose slowly to my entrance.

"A week's time, you said. And here you are, a week later… ish. Welcome home, young Ladon. I have missed you." His amber gaze was as welcoming as ever, even in the growing darkness.

"I've missed you too." I opened up my cloak, revealing my new armor to him. "I did it."

He stared, happy and proud, half of his mouth raised. "Congratulations, young Ladon."

I nodded, smiling somewhat.

"I can tell by your eyes that much has happened during this mission of yours. Please, rest up. We can catch up and talk in the morning, when we will have much more time."

"Alright. Goodnight, Abraxas."

"Goodnight, young Ladon."

I entered my cabin, took my equipment off, and layed in my bed, finally feeling somewhat at peace being back. I had no dreams, or at least I didn't remember any. Either way I woke up with the thoughts and memories of that night in the mansion. Even still, they refused to leave.

I exited the cabin to see Abraxas eating a deer from a pile in front of him, and two dead hares resting by the campfire he taught me at that also now had firewood in it. I also saw the atop a tree, ethereal nightingale, along with a black etheral raven. As soon as it seemed like they acknowledged me, they flew off into the sky, heading northwest, in the direction of Moltenbell.

"I was going to wait to eat with you, but the sight of food was too tempting, it outmatched my patience."

"That's alright."

I quickly prepared the hares, attaching them to makeshift skewers, walked back to the unlit campfire with them then sat down.

"I have something to show you."

"Oh?"

I placed my hands close to the wood, created the heat, built it up, and with slightly less correction as last time and a few minutes, I started a fire.

"Well done, young Ladon!"

I was proud of myself, though I tried not to show it. When the fire grew to its proper size, I started cooking the hares.

"The better you get at that, the closer you'll come to the next step."

"Which is…"

"Creating fire without the second requirement: a flammable source. Setting the air itself ablaze with nothing but your magic. It is much harder. However, one day, it will become but a simple task."

"I see." I started eating.

"So, tell me about your journey, young Ladon."

"Well, it's a complicated one. During the task of bringing the wagon to Moltenbell, Tulas, who was coming wih us from Therrin's End, became a friend. I fought off some robbers, then saved their lives from elves, then they became friends. Inowyn gave me this mark." I showed him my hand.

"The mark of the tree, I see. Very curious."

"As it turned out, Moltenbell's mayor was a tyrant who hoarded all the food, medicine, and resources. The robbers wanted to distribute the wagon full of stuff themselves, hence why they tried to take it."

"Was? Did he change?"

"He died."

"How so?"

"After we entered the town, I had to fight a bunch of guards who wanted to take the wagon under the mayor's command. One of them became an ally. I heard rumor of sound logic of a demidragon behind held in the mayor's mansion. My ally investigated for me, and proved the likelihood to be high. I joined the rebellion the day before they were going to liberate the town and burn the mansion."

My voice began to shake. "That night . . . I . . . I killed people, killed the captain of the guard, and saved the demidragon girl. I've never killed anyone before, but that night, I killed thirteen people . . . I…"

"Oh, Ladon."

Tears welled in my eyes despite my efforts to stop them. "I-I don't know what to do about it. When I dream, I see them. When I don't, I still see them."

Closing his eyes, he silently brought his head close in an effort to console me.

"I killed people—people with lives, or kids, or siblings, or friends. I-I tried to make it quick for each of them."

"Allow me to put it this way. You killed them to save the girl, right? And they were all guards, yes?"

"Yes…"

"Then the only other path I can see would've been to have no part in it at all. Technically, yes, it would be more morally right to have not killed at all. However, you saved someone who would have died that night. Not only that, but you liberated a town. I may be wrong, but I am going to assume the rebellion would have most likely failed or at least been much less successful without your involvement. Those guards you killed were most likely content with their lives in the status quo, otherwise they would have acted differently from defending it. What would've been more morally right: killing those guards to save a demidragon, and liberate an entire town from tyranny? Or having no involvement, not kill anyone, let a life die, and watch a rebellion likely fail, or succeed with minimal men left?"

"I . . . don't know…"

"Neither is wrong, or right. But now I ask you this, young Ladon. Which would you have regretted more: saving the girl and the town at the cost of those lives, or letting her die, along with most or all of the rebellion, and having done nothing about it?"

" . . . the second."

"There you go, my boy. Allow yourself the time and space to process it — to fully understand the quandary before you condemn yourself."

I sniffled once, before wiping my last tear. "Alright."

"What happened to the girl? Where is she? I would love to meet her."

"S-she's in Ith Trelanwi. Recovering. In fact . . . I'll be leaving today to be with her until she's well enough to leave."

"I see. So you've met Borowyn too, I suppose."

"Yes. He invites you to have a chat again."

"It's been quite some time. Maybe fifty years, give or take. It's fortunate we live in the same forest. Anything else happen?"

"Well, I've been seeing a number of forest spirits. I'm friends with Trewari Borowyn's grandchildren. Also, the girl . . . she's the one. The one that activated the original Ladon's consciousness; the one who dream sought me. It was all so I could save her that night."

"Are you sure?"

"Undoubtedly, yes."

"That poses many questions. I would like to meet her when she is feeling better."

"She's from the same orphanage."

Abraxas paused, allowing for a moment of silent realization. "Another survivor then. I'm glad you found her. It seems I may have two to teach now."

Just then, a redwood off to the side started moaning and creaking, before an opening curled outward for Inowyn's step. She was wearing her cloak, with the hood down. We met each other halfway.

"Am I late?"

"Not at all. How is she doing?"

"Marginally better, but improving nonetheless." She turned to Abraxas. "You must be Abraxas, whom grandfather talks about so much."

"That would be me, young woman. I take it you are Inowyn?"

"Yup!"

"How are your parents doing these days? Last I heard, Kaerwyn was to take part in a battle."

She froze slowly, avoiding his eyes.

"Oh… I am so very sorry. I did not know."

"…It's okay."

"I wish you luck on your path to become a Gythya, young Inowyn."

"Thanks."

Abraxas sighed, nervously staring, as if he was trying to find a way to rid the conversation of its awkwardness.

I walked to my cabin and entered it. While I was putting on my armor and cloak, and attaching my quiver to my belt, I continued to hear the awkward silence of those two outside. I emerged from my cabin, ready to leave.

Inowyn smiled, hiding the awkwardness. "Ready?"

"Yes."

As I made my way back, my ears sensed a shift in the air; a change in pressure. By the time I reached them, I smelt the stench of brimstone. Within another second the highpitched, whistling screech I'd never mistake despite hearing it only once pierced my ears. It was Gerickst; distant, but gaining. He was coming from the northwest.

Abraxas pushed himself up. "Get out of sight! Now!"