Time flowed onward like a quiet river winding through the mountains. Six months had passed since the Festum Animarum—the festival where the city had glowed with thousands of souls rising toward the heavens, and where old wounds had finally healed. Now, the golden warmth of summer was giving way to the cool breath of autumn. The leaves of Ilmenor had begun to turn shades of amber and crimson, falling gently over the damp cobblestones that reflected the faint light of dawn.
During those months, life at the church had settled into a calm rhythm. Zein and Lyra spent their days between books, training, and Meliora's endless lessons, who—with patience that seemed inexhaustible—taught them everything the world of Sylvaris had to offer. Their progress was so steady that they were now almost at the level of the academy apprentices. Zein had taken up the sword with determination under Lucian's guidance, and though at first he could barely keep his balance, now his movements carried weight and purpose.
Kio, on her end, oversaw his mana control, and while Zein learned quickly, it was Lyra who astonished everyone the most. Her connection with magic was so natural it seemed as though the world's energies themselves recognized her. Sometimes, when she practiced with Kio in the gardens, tiny lights would dance around her fingers without her even noticing.
That world, once so unfamiliar, had slowly become their home. They helped in the nearby streets of the church, met new faces every week, and without realizing it, began to build a life of their own.
Only two days remained before the start of the new academic cycle. The church smelled of incense and freshly baked bread, and inside one of the rooms, Meliora was finishing Lyra's check-up.
—I'm tired —murmured Lyra, stepping out with a stretch like a satisfied cat.
—How's the treatment going? —asked Zein, who was waiting in the hallway, idly playing with the hilt of a practice sword.
—Everything's going quite well —answered Meliora, tucking a loose strand of Lyra's hair behind her ear and giving her a gentle pat—. If we keep this up, she might fully recover.
Lyra beamed, puffing out her chest with pride.
—Did you hear that, big brother? I told you I was going to make it! —she exclaimed, throwing her arms up with contagious energy.
—Of course —said Zein with a soft smile, ruffling her hair.
Unable to contain her affection, Meliora pulled them both close and wrapped them tightly in her arms.
—Congratulations, little ones —she said with a warmth that filled the room—. You now know everything you need to enter the academy.
Both of them looked up at her curiously, and Meliora gave them a mischievous smile, lowering her voice as if she were about to share a secret.
—You might be in for a big surprise.
Zein squirmed a little until he managed to free himself from Meliora's embrace, laughing in relief.
—Well, I'd better get to training. I just came to see how things were going —he said, picking up his jacket and adjusting the hilt of his sword.
—Say hi to Zyteg for me —Meliora called out with a knowing smile.
—Me too! —shouted Lyra, still caught in her teacher's arms.
Zein waved a hand in farewell before heading down the hallway. The cool air greeted him as he stepped through the church doors. Dry leaves crunched beneath his boots as he walked through the streets of Ilmenor—now so familiar he could've walked them with his eyes closed. He greeted merchants opening their stalls, children darting through the alleys, and elders who watched him with fond smiles. Even the gate guards nodded at him warmly as he passed.
Beyond the city, the landscape opened into a vast plain bathed in the morning sun. The wind rippled through the tall grass in waves of gold and green. There, two figures awaited him: Lucian, calm and composed, and Zyteg, his metallic wings humming softly in the breeze.
—Hey, Zein. It's been a while —greeted Zyteg, his smile faint but genuine.
—Yeah, it has. I'm glad to see you —replied Zein, dropping his bag to the ground.
—Get ready, we start soon —said Lucian, giving him a pat on the shoulder before going to fetch his gear.
—Just like that? —asked Zyteg, raising an eyebrow—or rather, an eyelid ridge.
—That's how it is with Lucian —Zein chuckled, shrugging in resignation.
Both of them donned padded gambesons and small training masks that covered part of their faces. The sound of tightening straps and steel being drawn from its sheath filled the air. They stood facing each other, the wind whistling softly between them.
The wind whispered between them.
—Alright, here are the rules —announced Zyteg, raising one of his wings like a banner—. No magic, no dirty tricks. Just swords. The match ends when one of you is cornered or yields.
He paused, making sure both were ready, then lowered his wing sharply.
—Begin!
Zein lunged forward without hesitation, a silver flash slicing through the air. His blade aimed straight for Lucian's neck, but Lucian deflected it with almost insulting ease, twisting his wrist in a smooth motion that brushed Zein's sword aside. The clash of steel rang out across the field. Zein recovered quickly, raising his blade just in time to block a heavy downward strike that forced him back several steps.
Lucian was relentless—each blow pressed against him like a surging current. But Zein, recalling the lessons of the past months, suddenly let go of the tension in his stance. The sudden shift threw Lucian off balance, opening a fleeting gap in his guard. Zein twisted his body and swung diagonally, the edge of his sword cutting through the wind with a sharp hiss.
Before it could connect, something cold brushed against his neck. Lucian's sword was already there.
Zein blinked, caught off guard, then smiled in defeat.
—I yield.
Lucian lowered his weapon, and Zein dropped onto the grass, laughing between breaths.
—And here I thought I'd finally beat you this time.
Lucian chuckled softly, kneeling beside him.
—You didn't do bad at all. You've improved more than anyone in these past six months.
—I guess my contract with Kio has its perks —Zein said, laughing as he stretched out on the ground.
—You should be proud, Zein —Lucian said, offering him a hand—. From now on, you can consider yourself an apprentice of the blade.
Zein raised an eyebrow as he sat up.
—Apprentice of the blade? Sounds like a ridiculous title.
—Oh, but it isn't —interrupted Zyteg, crossing his arms—. It's one of the highest ranks a warrior can earn. A mark of how far you've come… but also one of the last.
Zein looked at him, incredulous.
—If it's one of the last, doesn't that mean I'm still at the bottom?
Lucian chuckled softly as he took off his gambeson.
—Let's say it's the lowest… among the best. In the upper ranks, being an apprentice of the blade is the first step toward mastery.
Zein smiled, letting the wind ruffle his hair. For the first time, he felt he was truly moving forward.
—But it's not something easily earned. I'd say the number of people who reached that rank at your age could be counted on the fingers of your own body —said Zyteg with a teasing tone.
After that, the three of them decided to rest for a while on the grass, sharing a small meal.
—So tell me, Zein, how's your training going? —asked Lucian, biting into a sandwich.
—Pretty well. We finished everything we needed yesterday, and Kio has already taught us most of the spells she says we "must know."
—Like what? —Zyteg asked.
—Hmm, mostly water, air, and fire spells. Some earth ones too. Though honestly, she focuses more on teaching Lyra than me —Zein grumbled, taking an annoyed bite of his sandwich—. Still, Lyra learns magic way faster than I do.
Lucian laughed.
—That's a good thing. You don't have to be perfect at everything to become someone —he said, giving Zein a few pats on the back.
—Let's stay and train a bit longer, please —Zein asked after finishing his sandwich.
—That's exactly what I was about to say —Lucian replied, finishing his own.
They spent the afternoon training tirelessly while Zyteg napped peacefully nearby. After several hours, the sun began to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and violet, so they decided to head back to the city.
—Well, I guess this is where we part ways again —said Zein, glancing at Zyteg.
—Not this time. I'm coming with you —the dragon replied, yawning.
—But how? You're way too big to— Zein didn't finish the sentence.
Zyteg's body began to shine intensely, shrinking little by little until he was roughly Lucian's height. When the light finally faded, a tall, slender man with pale skin and white hair stood before them, yawning as if nothing unusual had happened.
—Well, let's go —said Zyteg casually.
—Alright —added Lucian, gathering his things.
Zein, on the other hand, stood frozen with his mouth wide open.
—You can turn into a human?! —he exclaimed in disbelief.
—Of course —Zyteg replied calmly—. Didn't you know?
—No! —Zein shouted, pointing at him—. Did you know about this, Lucian?!
—Naturally. He's my friend —Lucian answered as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world, continuing to walk.
On their way back to Ilmenor, Zein remained dazed, trying to process what he had just witnessed. When they reached the city gates, the guards greeted Zyteg as though they had known him for years.
Am I seriously the only one who didn't know Zyteg could transform?! he thought, frustrated.
When they finally reached the church, they found Lyra sitting in the main hall, bathed in the silvery light filtering through the stained glass windows.
—Brother! —she cried, running toward him and wrapping her arms around him.
—I'm back —Zein said with a smile.
Lyra pulled away slightly and waved cheerfully at Zyteg.
—Hi, Zyteg.
—Wait— you knew too?! —Zein asked, completely astonished.
—Knew what? —Lyra tilted her head, confused.
—That Zyteg can turn into a human!
—Oh, that. Of course —she said casually, motioning for him to sit beside her—. Come on, Meliora said we should wait here for a bit.
—Alright —Zein sighed, sitting down next to her.
They waited patiently for Meliora to return, though Zein still couldn't stop thinking about what had just happened, stunned to realize he was the only one unaware of Zyteg's human form.
At that moment, Meliora came for them. She gently tied blindfolds over their eyes and guided them toward the back of the complex. When she finally removed them, what lay before them made Zein and Lyra gasp in surprise—a courtyard completely decorated and glowing with light. Strings of lanterns hung from above, tables overflowed with food, flowers adorned every corner, and at the center stood all their friends and several of the church's sisters.
—Congratulations on entering the academy! —everyone shouted in unison.
Zein and Lyra's eyes lit up completely. The celebration didn't just mark the start of a new chapter in their lives—it was also the anniversary of the day they had first arrived at the church. The night unfolded in laughter and games; lights danced between the branches, music floated through the air, and every corner of the courtyard brimmed with life. Little by little, the laughter softened, leaving behind a warm, peaceful atmosphere.
—Heeey… Kiooo… —mumbled Lucian, completely drunk—. I've got a questionnn…
—You're already drunk? You can't handle anything —said Kio, taking a sip from her bottle as her ears twitched lazily.
—When you talk… why does your voice sound normal? —Lucian asked, slumping over the table.
—What do you mean? —she tilted her head, her tail swaying side to side.
—Yeeah… I've met a few of your kind, you know, with cat ears and all that —he slurred—. But they all talk like… with a "nya" at the end of what they saay… Is that like, some kind of magic?
—No —Kio replied, glancing down at her bottle—. I've lived long enough to get used to speaking more naturally… but no, I don't think it's magic.
When she looked back, Lucian was already asleep on the table. Zyteg, noticing the scene, chuckled softly and carried him inside the church.
—That reminds me of something —said Kio as she stood up—. Come, Zein. There's one last thing I need to teach you.
Zein followed her curiously. Kio led him to the center of the courtyard, where the night breeze whispered gently through the hanging lanterns.
—Watch closely. This is the last important spell I'll teach you. You'll need it more than once in your life —she said, and in an instant, her body began to lift gracefully into the air—. I'm going to teach you how to fly.
—Seriously?! —Zein exclaimed, his eyes wide with excitement.
—Yes —she smiled—. First, focus your mana throughout your entire body, as if wrapping yourself in a protective layer. When you feel it flowing, push yourself off the ground with that same energy. That's one way. Another is to use wind magic to propel yourself, though it's usually less stable. And the last… involves creating a vacuum around you so you can move with complete freedom.
Zein tried to follow her instructions, but he only managed to lift himself a few inches before crashing down awkwardly. Kio laughed softly and helped him up.
—You should try using wind magic —she said, giving him a light tap on the shoulder—. Think about it before you enter the academy. I'll leave that as your homework.
Kio walked away with a calm smile, while Zein kept trying again and again. He refused to give up, even though every fall hurt more than the last. And as he kept struggling, he noticed Lyra in the distance—already floating gracefully, perfectly balanced in the air as if she had been doing it her whole life.
Still, Zein didn't lose heart. He continued practicing every day in the forest, the wind whipping against his face, as he tried over and over again to reach the sky.
Until one afternoon, as he tried for what felt like the hundredth time, a female voice interrupted him.
—You're doing it wrong.
Zein looked around, searching for the source of the voice, until he finally glanced upward and saw her. Perched upside down on a high branch was an elf girl staring down at him with an amused smile.
She was young, about the same age as Zein. Golden earrings hung from her pointed ears, and her long, straight hair—an intense shade of red—was tied into a high ponytail that swayed gently with the wind. Her eyes, bright and fiery, watched him with a mix of curiosity and carefree mischief.
She wore a cropped long-sleeved top that revealed her midriff, a blend of light and dark tones, with a brown belt from which hung a delicate golden chain. Her loose-fitting pants moved easily with her agile body, accentuating every shift in motion.
—You have to keep your back straight —she said, pointing at him firmly—. Without that, you'll never get the flight right.
Zein didn't respond; he simply tried again. This time, he managed to stay in the air a little longer.
—Wow! But now… how do I control it? —he asked, wobbling clumsily as he tried not to fall.
—Simple —she replied with a faint, confident smile—. Just think that the sky has always been yours… and that you're merely claiming what already belongs to you.
—What do you mean? —Zein asked, even more confused.
—Come on, I'll show you —she said as she jumped down from the tree. She grabbed his hand without hesitation and, before he could react, they took off into the sky.
They soared higher and higher until the city of Ilmenor became a tapestry of distant lights beneath their feet. At first, Zein trembled from vertigo, but under the girl's patient guidance, he began to relax. The air was cool, and the rush of the wind past his ears mixed with the laughter that escaped between them.
As they floated above the horizon, they began to talk. They discovered they shared many things: curiosity about the world, a taste for challenges, and even a similar way of seeing life. Time flew by—literally—as the sun sank beneath the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and violet.
—By the way… —Zein said with a laugh—, we've been talking all this time and I don't even know your name.
—Kiomi —she replied with a light smile—. My name's Kiomi. And you?
—I'm Zein.
The moment she heard his name, her expression changed. The smile vanished, replaced by a cold, distant look. Without a word, she pushed him hard, sending Zein tumbling down through the air.
The wind roared violently as he fell. Just before hitting the ground, Zein managed to steady himself midair, gasping. When he looked up, Kiomi was still floating above him, her eyes burning red with anger and tears.
—I… I'm sorry? Did I say something wrong? —he asked, confused.
—Yes. It's your fault my mom doesn't come home anymore.
—Your mom? —Zein repeated, bewildered.
—Meliora —she said, her voice trembling—. Meliora is my mother. And ever since she met you, I hardly ever see her. She's always with you—teaching you, protecting you… she even forgets to come home for dinner.
Zein took a hesitant step forward, trying to explain himself.
—I'm sorry… b-but Meliora doesn't spend all her time with me. We only train a few hours a day, and the rest I'm with Lucian or—
He didn't get to finish. A sphere of water formed in front of Kiomi and shot straight at his face, drenching him completely.
—Wha—? —he sputtered, spitting out water.
—You're an idiot, Zein Ravenscroft! —she shouted before vanishing into the clouds.
Zein lay on the grass, his face wet, staring at the darkening sky above.
The wind whispered softly through the trees.
"I never told her my last name," he thought.