Kim Ha Eun lived a distance away from Megabuilding A3, in Bastion’s outer suburbs. She had a humble double-storey home, and Evantra looked appreciatively over a small garden in the front yard. It was well kept and lived in, with some toys littered over the yard and a small playground and swings in the corner of the garden.

  “Grandma!”

  Evantra watched as a pair of children ran up to the doorway as they entered. The kids – a boy and a girl who couldn’t have been older than seven waved shyly at her, before a woman in an apron rushed out of the kitchen.

  “Have the two of you done your homework, hmm? And what have I told you about being polite to guests?”

  The kids pouted, but turned towards Evantra in curiosity. She gave them a hesitant wave.

  “Hey there.”

  “Eomma, you’re late! Oh, I’m so sorry, I didn’t realise we had a visitor. Come in, come in.”

  Ha Eun waved the woman away back into the kitchen.

  “Shoo! Take these two away and bring me the tea set.”

  “Awwwwwww,” the children said, prompting a grin from Evantra. It seemed like they were both huge fans of their grandmother.

  Ha Eun’s daughter rolled her eyes, but acquiesced. Evantra followed Ha Eun upstairs into a tranquil room lit by the soft golden glow of candlelight. She could smell a gentle floral scent that set her nerves at ease, and she sat where Ha Eun directed her to.

  “Thank you for welcoming in me into your home.”

  “Why did you accept Ben’s suggestion to train with me?”

  Evantra stared at her instructor in surprise. Ha Eun’s dark brown eyes unflinchingly held her gaze.

  It can't be.

  Does she know?

  Eventually, Evantra let out a slow breath after a moment of hesitation.

  “There’s more to practically everyone that meets the eye in the Training Grounds. That applies especially to the instructors. I figured you were an ex Ghostslayer, or that you would put me through some other form of training if I demonstrated enough patience.”

  Ha Eun paused, gaze hovering over Evantra, before she eventually nodded.

  No point lying about it.

  “Good. I wasn’t interested in doing the dance. Do you know why I’m putting you through this agony? Going through the most boring, simple motions that you could possibly string together in a sequence?”

  Ha Eun’s lips curved upwards into a soft smile at Evantra’s look of confusion.

  “Uh…”

  “It isn’t meant to strain you to your physical limits. Even though I know that that’s what you desperately trying to do. You know, I can see you attempting to tense every single muscle in your body while you do the movements, it isn’t going to help.”

  Evantra felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment as Ha Eun broke out into laughter.

  “No, no. I can tell you now, that I’m also not some hidden master who’s going to teach you techniques that will obliterate veilcreatures and your competition. My teaching is meditative. It forces you to slow down, and to reflect.”

  Evantra shifted uncomfortably under the old woman’s gaze.

  “From the moment you joined my class, you’ve been running. Whether it’s away from something, towards something or both, I’m not sure. But I’m here to tell you that you can rid yourself of the notion that this is a test to be surpassed before I impart ‘proper’ techniques to you.”

  Evantra’s shoulders fell.

  “I… see. In that case… why did you call me here?”

  “To make you an offer. You are welcome to have tea with me every week, to talk through the challenges you face. And then you will return to my classes and continue your exercises.”

  Evantra frowned, her fists tightening as she clenched them by her side.

  “I… am grateful for your generosity. But I simply don’t have the time to spare. I need to prioritise my training,” Evantra said, rising to her feet.

  “Thank you for your letting me attend your classes. And for being honest about what you have to offer me. And... for the tea.”

  Evantra rose to her feet, giving Ha Eun a slight smile. The woman nodded at her with a sigh, and Evantra excused herself from the room, giving Ha Eun’s grandkids with a wave as she exited the house.

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  Her rejection of Ha Eun’s offer had been distasteful.

  But in her opinion, necessary.

  Ha Eun had been right.

  She had been running from a feeling and towards something else.

  The image of the victims of the Rosewood attack lingered in her mind. The students and teachers who weren’t as lucky as her family, who had emerged relatively unscathed. Countless others who lost loved ones in the blink of an eye – an event which would define the rest of their lives.

  Amy.

  Getting injured defending the children in the restroom. The tremors in her arms remaining after her treatment at Saint Raphael’s.

  Minh.

  Trevor.

  Millie.

  The familiar sensation of helplessness and anger twisted irreverently in her chest, as if to mock her. Being granted reality-breaking abilities but feeling like a powerless rat trapped in a cage that she couldn’t even begin to break.

  Then, witnessing the power that others possessed at their fingertips, being able to rip into the veil with reckless abandon, and to bend fate to their whims.

  Tea and tears wouldn’t hold them back.

  She didn’t care if it meant burning herself out to achieve it, she needed tangible strength, not the time or opportunity for some reflection. Evantra scoffed, but she was surprised to find tears in her eyes which she quickly blinked away. The faces of a familiar a grizzled police officer and the beautiful smile of her dearest friend returning to her.

  I don’t have the time for this.

  Focus.

  The ringing of her phone drew her out of her thoughts as she finally returned to the megabuilding.

  “Where are you? We’ve been waiting at the café!” Noelle said. Evantra could hear Sally and Ade’s voices in the background.

  “Sorry… got caught up with something. I’ll be there in a sec.”

  Evantra wiped away tears she was surprised to find before going to join her friends.

  ***

  “Hey Dora,” Ade greeted her with a grin as she sat down. Evantra smiled as Sally lightly slapped her boyfriend on the shoulder. Evantra was seated in a 24-hour café in the middle sector. The proprietor was one of Carmen’s clients, and she was happy to offer them heavily discounted beverages after workout sessions.

  “Where were you?”

  “Ha Eun offered me some tea at her place.”

  “Oh? Are the lessons coming along well?”

  Evantra hesitated, seeing Ade, Sally and Noelle’s curious gazes.

  “Actually… I think I’ll be trying to find another teacher. It doesn’t look like Ha Eun’s offering me the stuff I really want to learn.”

  “Well… if you want me to school you in the ring, you just have to ask,” Ade grinned.

  Sally lightly slapped her boyfriend on his shoulder again with a glower.

  When Evantra found out that Ade and Sally had been dating, she had been surprised.

  Sally was clearly the daughter of wealthy corpos – likely middle managers, by the quality of her cybernetics. She was staying at A3 to prep for admission into the Academy. Ade on the other hand, had come here with his family in search of a foothold to propel themselves into Elsecaller.

  Corpos usually mingled among themselves, and Evantra was sure that the couple received their fair share of judgment as a result of their pairing, but she was quickly realising that the pair of them couldn’t give less of a flying fuck.

  “Don’t be mean. Evantra, I’ll keep an eye out. I’m sure that there are other teachers offering what you’re looking for. There are plenty of talented people in the Training Grounds, I’m sure you’ll find a great mentor.”

  Evantra gave her a strained smile, which eventually turned genuine.

  “Thanks, Sally. Why are you even dating this good for nothing?” Evantra said, flicking off Ade who simply smiled with his eyes closed and head leaning back.

  “Pff he doesn’t even take me on dates. All he does is fight, fight and fight—”

  “Did someone say fight?” Ade immediately perked up, peeking at them with one eye open before closing it again.

  “Speaking of training,” Sally continued, turning to Noelle. “We can’t forget the woman of the hour. You’ve been at it like an Archdemon, Noelle! You’ve improved so much, so quickly!”

  Noelle blushed, shifting in her spot and avoiding their gazes. It had only been about a week since they started at the Training Grounds, but she could already see definite improvements in Noelle’s stamina. Before long, she was sure those same changes would be reflected in her physique as well.

  Evantra eyed her friend as Noelle shifted on the spot.

  “N-nah I just have good teachers. And friends like you who are willing to teach me the ropes. But what about you guys? Are you thinking of taking on any bounties?”

  Sally and Ade exchanged a look and a groan.

  “My parents won’t let me go on hunts until after I graduate the Academy, urgh,” Sally said with a huff. Ade on the other hand, simply looked dejected. And Evantra was absolutely certain that his pained expression was from being denied potential fights with Veilcreatures, being the battle maniac that he was.

  “Wouldn’t be surprised if the insane demon that is my little sister goes on a bounty before I do,” Ade groaned. “She’s surely going to make the enforcer track, and she’s going to leave me in the dust.”

  “Just run faster if you don’t want to be left behind, Ade. It’s easy,” Evantra grinned. “Speaking of which, have you heard from them? The kids? They finished their excursion to the greenhouses, any news or problems?”

  Noelle and Ade shook their heads, prompting a sigh of relief.

  “They should be finishing off their day at a hotel in Bastion. Nina tried breaking into a laboratory, but that’s mild by her standards.”

  Ade shook his head, rising slowly to his feet.

  “Anyway, it’s getting late. What is it, 2am? Some of us have responsibilities, you know? The little ones must be fast asleep by now. They’d better be.”

  Ade paused, looking down at his phone, which had begun to ring.

  “Speak of the Devil,” he muttered under his breath, before picking up. “Nina? You’re awake at this time? What do you want?”

  They watched as his expression shifted from mild annoyance to confusion.

  “Go to bed.”

  Ade cancelled the call and lay back down.

  “Trouble in paradise?” Evantra said.

  “Just another dumb prank call. First thing tomorrow morning I’m telling mum that she stayed up way past her bedtime.”

  “Oh? What did she say? That she wants to fight with you?”

  Ade grinned but shook his head.

  “She said she wanted to play. She pulls this shit all the time. Little sisters, I tell you man. I’m willing to bet she’s bored out of her mind from looking at plants all day and just wants to stir up some shit.”

  There was nothing like a bit of perspective to be grateful for the angels that were Tai and Lucas, mature far beyond their ages. They shouldn’t have to be, and yet, they were out of necessity.

  One day, she would see to it that they bothered her with prank calls, and got to live out their childhood like they deserved to.

  Given permission to be little demons, and to forget about things like grief and loss. She caught Noelle looking at her and exchanged a smile. It seemed like she shared the same thought.

  Evantra glanced down as her own phone began to ring.

  She smiled when she saw the caller ID.

  “Hey Lucas, you’re awake? Is everything ok?”

  There was silence. It broke with a soft crackle of interference with the reception.

  Then she heard his voice.

  “I want to play.”

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