(Dyn)

  Dyhis street would lead to the city limits and directly to Nightshade. He adjusted his pace, feeling more at ease with each familiar ndmark. Getting the y of the nd made him more fident. Knowing what to expect was the unifying theme to everything that made Dyn feel safe.

  Ba Earth, Dartmouth would have been sidered a mid-sized town. Walking everywhere had given Dyn a new perspective on just he Dartmouth really was. He’d never walked this mu his life. The blisters on his feet callused, and his well-fitting boots helped prevent any more from f.

  “I had pnned on waiting until tomorrow, but it seems you’ve already put some thought into it,” Nathan said, gng at Dyn. “Did you really mean what you said to Charles about joining a guild?”

  Dyn nodded. “Yes, uhere’s another job that teach me more about magic?”

  Nathan tilted his head, sidering for a moment before replying, “Perhaps w directly for the League.

  “Huh, I holy thought you were going to say no.”

  Nathan furrowed his broould I lie?”

  Dyn shrugged. “People say lots of things to recruit you to a cause.”

  “I’m n to fill a quota or anything like that.” A flicker of hurt crossed Nathan’s face. “Part of your tract is to help you find a job that’s meaningful to you.”

  “So, you don’t get a kickback if I join yuild? No referral code or anything like that?” Dyn asked.

  Nathan shook his head. “Not fhtshade. uilds might, though I’m not sure what a referral code is.”

  Dyn waved a hand. “Never mind about the code.” W for the League had never occurred to him as a possibility before. “What could I do at the League?”

  “I think they have a research division. I know the League tracks down, studies, and tains magic, especially restricted forms. Actually, that’s a lot of what Nightshade does. Minus the whole ‘hunting down dangerous people’ part.”

  Learning that the League had their own bck ops division was uling. ‘They ’t learn about the magiside of me. It was bad enough when only one person knew,’ Dyn thought. W for them wasn’t an option. “I don’t think I’d like w for the League very much.”

  “Well, you’d still have to work with the League if you joined a guild,” Nathan said.

  “How many guilds are there?” Dyn asked out loud.

  “In the universe? Or just on Mother ons?” Nathan guided them down a street on their right.

  “Jeez, I fot about the whole multiple worlds thing.”

  “There are at least a dozen guilds nearby. Some of them are even universal—having strongholds on different worlds, like Ebonscale,” Nathan said.

  “And out of these dozen guilds, whie could teach me the most about magic?”

  “Nightshade, without a doubt. The full title is Nightshade, Guild of the Are, and our motto is: ‘Knowledge, to seek and protect.’ Which is why I initially brought it up. You’re exceptionally curious; always asking questions upoions. It’s a perfect match, in my opinion.”

  Even Dyn had to admit, it sounded like the guild would be right up his alley. “I really appreciate your patieh me. You’ve even answered most of my questions.”

  “Of course.” Nathan gave him a reassuring nod.

  Dyn spotted the stronghold buildings rising in the distance, surrounded by endless fields. Excitement surged through him at the thought of being an adventurer. He picked up the pace, adding a spring to his step, pushing the grav-sb a bit faster.

  “I’m so excited.” Dyn smacked the grav-sb in front of him three times to spend his pent-up energy.

  ‘That’s going to leave a mark,’ Dyn thought. His hand stung, except for the numb spots. He kept the grav-sb moving with one arm while shaking out his injured hand.

  Dyn sucked air through his teeth. “Ow. Did I break it?”

  “What?” Nathan blinked, clearly lost in thought.

  “ you use yic to see if I broke my hand?” Dyn’s suspi was firmed as Nathan’s eyes shifted te.

  “Dyn!” Nathan admonished him. “Mraience. How did you fracture your hand? I’ve beehis whole time!”

  “I…” Dyn looked away sheepishly. “Got excited.”

  Nathan took hold of Dyn’s fractured hand, his touch warm. As the spell activated, magic coursed through Dyn’s body, gathering at the injured bohe sensation was faint at first—a tingling, then an itg that spread under his skin, prig as the bone worked to knit itself back together. It would take some time to plete, but Dyn quickly got used to the sensation.

  Nathan frowned, shaking his head at Dyn’s hand. “I’m not sure if it’s just you or your entire race, but you have a very low healing factor.”

  Dyn’s eyes narrowed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “My healing ability multiplies the base healing factor along with any deyed release healing effects. It’s just not very effective on you.”

  Nathan took over for Dyn, pushing the grav-sb. Steering was the easier job, and Dyn managed with his good hand. Once parked outside the dorm, they worked quickly, hauling the tents from the grav-sb to Dyn’s room.

  Dyn took a step bad admired the wardrobe. It was only partially full, but it was more than enough to give him options—a luxury he wasn’t used to.

  Dyn stood triumphantly in front of his wardrobe, hands on his hips. “I’ve decided…” he said.

  Nathan turned, squinting, and guessed, “On… tomorrow’s outfit?”

  “What? No.” Dyn shook his head. “I’ve decided I’m going to join Nightshade.” His grin widened, and he looked like he might hug the prismatic elf. “We’re going to be guildies!”

  “Oh, that’s great.” Nathan gave him a genuine smile. “We should start training for the trial tomorrow.”

  “When’s the trial?”

  “They’re leaving the day after tomorrow for this trial.” Nathan gnced sideways at Dyn, assessing him. “But I was thinking we could start preparing for the one.”

  “And when’s that?”

  “In four months.”

  “Four months?!” Dyn’s eyes widened in disbelief. “I ’t wait that long.”

  Nathan raised an eyebrow. “Are you pnning on going somewhere in the meantime?”

  “Yeah.” Dyn nodded. “On adventures or tracts or whatever you call them.”

  Nathan sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Please don’t take this the wrong way, but I just don’t think you’re ready for the trial.”

  Dyn looked himself over. “Sure, I’m a tad ht, with a bum hand, and limited dietary options. But I won’t let that stop me.”

  “Good,” Nathan said with a faint smile. “Those are all things we work on.” He paused, his expression softening. “For the rial. So, I need you to be patient in the meantime.”

  “Aw, e o me go. I do it.”

  Nathan gave him a skeptical look. “Says the man who fractured his hand pushing a grav-sb—a device specifically designed so that even the young or frail operate it. There’s far too much risk to your health right now. Maybe in a few months, after we’ve improved your physical dition.”

  Dyn’s shoulders slumped as he shot Nathan a disappointed look. “I see what you’re doing. It’s already gone down to a ‘maybe.’”

  “I just don’t want you to get hurt, or worse.”

  Dyn pnted his hands on his hips, a defiant edge in his stance. “I’ve already had worse. That didn’t, and won’t, stop me.”

  Nathan shook his head, a relut smile tugging at his lips. “You’re very persistent. I’ll give you that. I promise, once your body’s as tough as your attitude, we’ll go to Wedge and ask him to add you to the trial.”

  Dy him for a moment, then his expression softened as a devious idea came to him. “Are you hungry?” he asked. “It’s been a while since you’ve eaten. You should grab something. I’ll be here, since, you know, I ’t eat.”

  Nathan took his time answering. Just when Dyn thought he had caught on to the pn, Nathan asked, “You remember the restroom doht?”

  Dyn rolled his eyes. “For the love of… Yes, Nathan, I remember where the restrooms are. Now go eat.”

  Nathan li the doorway for a moment, his expression torn, before finally leaving the room. Dyn waited for his footsteps to fade, then began ting to one hundred in his head.

  ‘… y-eight, y-nine, and one hundred.’

  He pressed himself against the doorframe and peeked into the hall, cheg for Nathan. No sign of him. Dyn tiptoed out and walked three doors down, ready to dud run if Nathaurned early. After double-cheg that the coast was clear, he quickly rapped a knuckle on the runelock door.

  There was no a first, and Dyn was about to leave when he heard the telltale scrape of a chair. Moments ter, the door swung open.

  “Good evening, Dyn,” Wedge said, leaning casually against the doorframe. “I hope your day was less eventful than mine.”

  “Thanks,” Dyn fshed him a quick smile. “Hey, listen, are you in charge of signups for the trials by any ce?” He already khe answer but tried to py it cool.

  “Yes, are you ied in signing up?”

  Dyn gave him a big grin. “I am.”

  “Does Nathan know about this?”

  “He said I’d be a good match for the guild.” Dyn didn’t lie, but he k wasn’t the plete truth either.

  “We are leaving the day after tomorrow. Will you have enough time to prepare yourself?” Wedge asked.

  “How long will the trials take?”

  “This question gives me pause. Why do you wish to partake if you do not know everything it entails?”

  “When you go on a tract, does it always go acc to the pn?”

  “No.”

  “I’m going to learhing I about magic,” Dyn said ftly. “And I don’t know what that entails yet. Do you?” He crossed his arms, raising his eyebrows.

  Wedge took his point. “Fourteen days. Meet me in the armory after breakfast tomorrow. I hope heights do not bother you.”

  Dyn tilted his head. “Heights?”

  Wedge strode past Dyn, closing the runelock door with a soft click. After taking a few steps, he paused. “Have you eaten already?”

  Dyn sighed, venting his frustration. “Yeah, I’ll be good until tomorrow m.”

  “The dining hall will be full soon. Plenty of ces to ask questions and prepare for the trial.” Wedge resumed his walk down the hall.

  Dyuro his room, his mind rag with thoughts of the trials and the challehat awaited him. How would he prepare? And, more troubling, how would he tell Nathan? The knot in his stomach tightened as a knock came from the open doorulling him from his thoughts.

  Nathan popped his head in and gave the doorframe another quiock. “Hey, would you mind helping me bring down my things from my old quarters?”

  “As long as it doesn’t involve any terror tubes.” Dyn shuddered.

  “Terror tubes?” Nathan shot him a puzzled look.

  “It’s like aor, but circur. Invisible walls and a rock disk with neon lights pulsing in the dark,” Dyn said.

  “That sounds like a geo-lift. Does it bring you up and down to different floors?”

  “I’m pretty sure its primary fun is a torture device, but yeah, it also does that.”

  Nathan shook his head. “There aren’t any geo-lifts in the dorms that I’m aware of.”

  Together, they made their to Nathan’s old room, the quiet halllifying their footsteps.

  “Whoa, what happened?” Dyn stared at the man-sized hole in the wall.

  “Dorian.”

  “Is that some kind of explosive device?” Dyn asked, eyebrows raised.

  “Basically.”

  Nathan purposefully opehe runelock door to his old quarters, casually ign the gaping hole in the wall. Together, they began clearing the room, hauling Nathan’s personal effects one by oo his new quarters. The quiet shuffle of their footsteps and the creak of furniture filled the time as they worked iermined silenathan paused for a moment to look back at his empty room as if saying his goodbyes.

  Dyn carefully made the st trip dowairs, holding a picture frame in both hands, mindful of the missing gss between the frame and the image. He wondered briefly who was in the photo, sensing its importao Nathan.

  Dyn handed Nathan the picture frame as he walked into the room. “Who’s in the picture?” he asked.

  “That’s me.” Nathan poio the taller elf, which Dyn could have guessed—their hair color was identical.

  “And who’s the smaller kid?” Dyured with his .

  “Dorian, my brother.”

  “That’s Dorian?” Dyn blinked in disbelief. “He’s the one who knocked a hole in the wall?” He gnced back at the damage. “But he’s so small.”

  “That’s the difference a Might orb makes. Now he’s much bigger than me, and strong enough to knock down walls with his bare hands.”

  “Wait, he just puhrough the wall? With his fists? Without magic explosions?” Dyn couldn’t decide if he was more disappointed or impressed.

  “Just his fists,” Nathaed wearily.

  “What does he look like now?”

  “You ’t miss him.” Nathan frowned. “He’s the tallest, handsomest elf you’ve ever seen. Just ask him.”

  “Better looking than you?” Dyn couldn’t believe it. The prismatic elf was exceptionally good looking.

  “Much,” Nathan scoffed.

  Dyn sat on the bed as the prismatic elf meticulously put his things away. He absently flipped through the pages of a handwritten book he couldn’t read.

  Nathan froze, shooting him a ed look. “What are you doing with my diary?”

  Dyn shrugged. “Don’t worry, I ’t read.”

  “You ’t… read?” Nathan’s only grew.

  Dyn sighed, tossing the journal on the nightstand where he’d found it. The right moment to mentiorial kept slipping away. His wot stuewhere between his thoughts and his tongue. When Nathahe framed picture on the desk, it felt like the final touch—his new quarters were plete.

  “I’m going to turn in for the night,” Nathan said, rubbing his stiff neck. “You should probably do the same. You’ll need a good night’s rest if you want to train tomorrow.”

  “About that.” Dyn was still searg for the words.

  Nathan stifled a yawn, his shoulders slumping as the day’s fatigue caught up with him. Dyn couldn’t help but notice the tiredness behind those eyes.

  “About what?” Nathan asked.

  Dyn waved dismissively. “It probably wait until tomorrow. Sleep well.”

  “Good night, Dyn.”

  Dyn shut the runelock door with a quiet clid trudged back to his room, guilt gnawing at him for not telling his friend the whole truth. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. He’d clear it up in the m.