As Xavos had promised, Ayden was a forged mage. The old mentor had used the term enough that Ayden started to use it in casual conversation with Janari or Nadi. Training wore him out enough everyday that whenever Ayden returned to visit Eleda, she would make him spiced tea, or some food as a way to make him feel at home again.

  “You look haggard, boy,” she would say.

  Nadi sometimes patched his wounds when Xavos refused to so he could learn to channel Green Healing. He rarely could so she would mend where she could.

  “No,” he said one day. “I have to learn how to heal myself.”

  “But you also have to survive the next day!” cried Nadi, shoving his hand away and forcibly applying a balm.

  “What is he trying to do, boy?” Janari once asked when Ayden came back with a gnarled gash on his cheek and brow.

  “I fought the Grokians today,” Ayden said.

  “What?” she bellowed.

  Ayden hadn’t told them the specifics before, but after two months of training in such harsh conditions he started to care less of what they thought.

  “He says mages need to be forged like iron,” said Ayden, scarfing down his meal.

  Janari’s eyes softened again. “Oh, you poor boy. He’s a soldier. And he’s making a soldier out of you.”

  Ayden finished his meal and set the plates in the sink. “I’ll help you with the errands tonight. Thank you for the dinner.”

  “Just get some rest,” said Janari. “Do the errands tomorrow.”

  Ayden felt a flash of anger. “What?” he asked. “I’m doing them tonight. I need to continue channeling even after a fight.”

  Nadi stepped out of her room with her hands locked behind her. “Ayden, you might overcast.”

  “Overcast?” scoffed Ayden. “You have no idea how much better I’ve gotten with Xavos.”

  “I know, but-”

  “I’ll get them tonight,” said Ayden.

  Janari narrowed her eyes. “Why are you so upset?”

  Ayden stammered for words, but for once he found them. “All the time I get lectured that I’m slacking or I’m a foolish boy or that I am lazy. I am TRYING! And you can’t stop getting on my nerves!”

  Janari maintained a face of stone.

  Ayden felt guilt prick him. He shouldn’t have yelled like that. Janari had always been like a mother to him and Nadi like a sister. He yelled at them from their home after they gave him food. “I’m sorry,” he said immediately.

  Janari sat down and sighed. “He’s working you too hard. I know that seems silly of someone like me to say, but I’ve seen a thing or two. You’re at your limit, Ayden. He keeps pushing you past it every night. There’s a harness in your eyes, and in your voice. You’re with your family right now. We’re your family. Just let the soldier down for tonight.”

  Ayden steeled himself further. “I have to keep going. You don’t understand.” How could they understand? The world was ripping at the seams. The more Xavos showed him, not told, but showed, Ayden knew he needed to be his best.

  Ayden already had spotted more Grokians roaming around due to the free dead bodies from the constant conflicts on the border of the region and in the untamed forests of the country. With how many dead in the west from riots and revolts, the monsters ate well there too.

  “What do I not understand?” asked Janari, her own voice hardening. “I was a soldier too. I have seen more scraps than the days you’ve lived. Tell me.”

  “Another Scourge might be coming,” said Ayden. “Or a Crisis.”

  Janari pursed her lips and leaned back. “How do you know?”

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Xavos says the world’s monarchs are getting ready for something against each other and when they do, they won’t be ready for what’s really to come.”

  Nadi looked pale from her corner of the room.

  “Nadi go inside,” snapped Janari, without even looking at her daughter. “Now!”

  Nadi slammed the door shut and vanished.

  “The nations are always fighting one way or the other. What’s different about now?” asked Janari.

  “Something bigger’s brewing. Xavos says the mages of today can’t handle it. Too many died, and the system’s changed too much.”

  “Does he have other students?” asked Janari.

  “No…” muttered Ayden.

  “Does this not strike you as strange? If it’s truly so desperate?”

  Ayden saw her reasoning. “He’s training me well. I’ve never been so powerful before. He says if I was someone with standing, they’d take me in a heartbeat. For now, I have to make sure they can’t ignore me.”

  “Silterran Mages love their politics these days,” agreed Janari. “I remember a time when Silterran Mages were the beacons of hope for the mainland.”

  “I want to be that hope,” said Ayden, holding Janari’s hands. “I want to keep you all safe.”

  Janari cupped his face. “You’re such a sweet boy under that shell you’ve made for yourself.”

  Ayden frowned. “What shell?”

  “A shell made entirely of what you think people expect of you.”

  Ayden pulled away and shook his head. “It’s not that. This is bigger than all of us.”

  Janari gave him a somber smile. “And you feel it’s your job to save the world?”

  Ayden averted her gaze. “If I can, shouldn’t I?”

  Janari shrugged. “Who is to say? But whatever you do, don’t forget where you come from. Don’t forget who you are inside.”

  “I’m a mage, Madam Janari,” said Ayden. “That’s who I am inside.”

  Janari gave him a proud smile which relieved Ayden. He worried she’d scold him or ridicule him.

  “Go out there be a damn good one then,” said Janari, embracing Ayden.

  He didn’t embrace back a first, but eventually his arms found her and he squeezed tight.

  ***

  He rushed roof top to roof top to grab the things Janari needed. He channeled Green Enhancements to move faster. Since the constant fighting had begun, his natural muscles and stamina had honed themselves to peak condition. He used Red for offense, and Red drew from the Body Source. Constantly using Red meant that slowly he burned through his youthful fat and chiseled himself down to a sculpted figure he barely recognized.

  Around this time he’d also grown a whole inch. Xavos mentioned something about Ayden being that age where a boy builds the body he will wear as a man. A critical time according to Xavos.

  Ayden spotted below a familiar face.

  Talda.

  Ayden suppressed the urge to go down and give him a taste of his own medicine. The urge almost won, but Ayden pushed onward, and landed like an acrobat in front of the vendor. The sun had started to sink, but Ayden was just in time.

  “Order request from Madam Janari,” said Ayden.

  “Ayden!” said Madam Hasha. “It’s been some time.” She was a tall, reedy woman in her forties.”Since the fall I have been worried!”

  “Order request, please,” said Ayden, passing the list in his coat for her.

  “No time to talk,” she scoffed. “Kids these days. Always on the run.”

  “Sorry,” said Ayden. “Just want to hit all the stores.”

  “It’s fine, boy,” said Hasha. “She’ll understand.”

  Ayden sighed as he saw one of the vendors close down his shop. “Nevermind, Madam Ulmana has already closed up.”

  “You’ll have a chance tomorrow,” said Hasha. “I am low on some things. Trade isn’t what it used to be. I’ll have the rest in by tomorrow, however.”

  Ayden nodded and ambled away with a sigh. He’d wanted to try and get them done tonight. He had to learn to move faster to make up for the delays in conversation. Next time perhaps. He had many months left before the Silterran Mages returned.

  “Well, well, well,” said Talda down one alley.

  Ayden realized he’d been absently strolling around. He looked up to see Talda and then then residential building. The pole was missing and instead the builders had finished that floor and expanded further upward.

  He scoffed at the building and thought how long ago that felt.

  “I’m talking to you, boy!” Talda yelled. “You got us all into some trouble that day. It’s been a while since then. I haven’t forgotten.”

  The funny thing was that Ayden had forgotten. Or at least no more felt any enmity toward Talda. He seemed a petty thing now.

  “I’ll leave,” said Ayden.

  “What are you smirking about?” asked one of his lackeys.

  Ayden waved his hand and turned to leave, but Talda grabbed him by the scruff of his neck.

  Instincts took over and Ayden enhanced his body, and threw him into a wall. He smacked hard into the brick and slid down like a doll.

  “Sorry!” he cried, hoping Talda still lived.

  Luckily, he started to groan and stir.

  The lackeys had already run off.

  Ayden whistled to himself, and strolled away as well, turning back to see Talda rise in confusion. Ayden quickly darted around the corner and left.