Two miles. That’s how far Talith and I traveled before finding a proper pce to cast the spell. Not that it was a particurly special space, or anything, just far enough away from home that nobody would see or sense what I was up to, but still. Two miles. That’s how far I traveled, and that’s how far I’d be traveling to get back to the city. Obviously. Yet when I told the so-called Heroine he’d have to walk two miles - half the distance I’d gone - he looked at me in shock before visibly swallowing his nerves and promising to do his best.

  Two miles! What kind of Heroine balks at a measly two mile walk!?

  …This kind, I guess, because he was the Heroine, dammit!

  “Should we um… Stretch or something, first?”

  I just gave David a bnk stare for that. I thought it was a pretty clear sign to shut up and start walking, but it didn’t stop him from talking.

  “Whenever my css ran the mile, back in high school, we always stretched first.”

  “...If you think it’ll help,” I muttered, eventually. I mean ,what was I supposed to say? No, you can’t stretch? I was exasperated, not heartless!

  Though, honestly, I didn’t see the point. I mean, his attitude towards walking was obviously kinda meh, at best, but his body? That bod was built to move. I mean, those biceps were so big, I was pretty sure I could hang off his arms all day and he wouldn’t even notice. And his legs? Don’t even get me started on his legs! They were so well defined, you could have told me they were sculpted and my only question would be how you managed to make them look so damn idealistic.

  Too bad it was all wasted on David. Someone who couldn’t fight, obviously didn’t have the stomach to kill, and wasn’t even a woman! I mean, come on! What was with this Heroine summoning spell? This mismatch of the physical and mental - it felt like the spell was working off two completely different checklists! The perfect body, with the worst possible mind to fill it.

  Maybe if I could actually read the scroll properly, I’d know what was going on. Failing that, maybe a trip to the library would help? Sorissa kept a lot of research material in there, even if most of it was either gross or macabre. Or both, like that spell that kills its target by turning them into grape jelly. Why grape!?

  Whatever. I’d have plenty of time to find answers to all my questions after I was done kicking the Heroine’s ass into shape so that he could y a beat down on Sorissa.

  “Alright. I’m done stretching.” David grinned as he spoke, soft pink lips forming a goofy grin that probably would have made my heart flutter if I didn’t know it was a man inside.

  Maybe that’s why I couldn’t help but scowl at him as I replied. “Good. Talith, you ready?”

  “Always.” The Lapsi was scanning the perimeter even as he spoke, the red glow of his eyes bright in the darkness. I took a look about, too - mostly just so that he wouldn’t scold me for not being vigint. Not that he wouldn’t find some excuse to do it anyways…

  Whatever. What I wanted to do was cast a proper detection spell, but the summoning spell had burned through way more Breath than I thought it would. As in all of it. More than that, it even nibbled at my lifeforce - and for a moment there, I even thought it would keep going until I died. I mean, it would be a fitting price for summoning a world-saving Heroine, right? But no, it actually stopped pretty quick.

  Of course, that ‘nibble’ it took still left me with stiff shoulders, jelly-like legs, and a body that ached so much the mere thought of a two mile walk made me want to cry… not that I was the one compining.

  Out loud.

  I could - and would - compin endlessly in my head. Not out loud, though - the look Talith would give me if he knew...

  Also, if my mind was determined to wander in the direction of magical theory, anyway…

  “What do you know about magic?” I asked. Totally not trying to surreptitiously rub the pain out of my own back without anyone noticing, with the assistance of a slightly oversized cloak.

  “I. Didn’t even know magic was real, until today…” David ran a hand through his hair, as he spoke. At least he had the grace to look embarrassed about it. “I mean, I read lots of fantasy books. Like, a lot of them. But they all had different systems of magic, and I’m not sure if any of them apply to the real thing, sooooo….”

  “So you don’t know anything.” I finished for him, taking a deep breath. None of this was his fault. I had to remind myself of that. “I’ll test your capacity ter.”

  “Magic capacity?” David asked. There was an obvious excitement in his voice - enough to make him sound like a little kid receiving a present. It was kinda… cute. I mean, I remembered being that excited, too, back when I was going to be tested… Of course, I’d been five at the time.

  Things had been a lot simpler back then.

  “We call it Breath capacity, but yeah. It’s the limit of how much magic energy - or Breath - you can hold at any given moment. The higher your Breath capacity, the more power you can pack into your spells. I’m pretty sure a Heroine’s capacity should be pretty damn high, but I guess we’ll see. I mostly only brought it up because mine’s empty.”

  It was probably going to be at least a day before I recovered enough energy to cast a spell as big as that summoning, again. Which was just another reason why I’d have to make things work with this Heroine.

  “Is running out of Breath dangerous?” David asked. His voice actually held concern of all things, so I gave him a quick shake of my head.

  “It means she can’t use spells for a while… In fact she’d be better off not using any magic at all.” A particurly heavy step signalled the end of Talith’s search for threats, and the start of our walk.

  I wondered - did he really finish scanning the entire perimeter? Or was my worrywart brother rushing through things to try and keep me from doing anything stupid?

  Either way, he was already traveling through the forest, clearly expecting the two of us to keep up. David went along with it, too, running right after him.

  “What would happen if she tried?” he asked. His voice still had that concern in it. Like I needed it…

  “I’d pass out, or die.” I had to walk fast to catch up to them, something I did not appreciate. I mean, come on! I had the shortest legs, the least physical stamina, and my feet felt like they were iron weights! Also, did I mention the jelly legs?

  Not that I was compining, of course.

  “If you run out of magical energy, it’ll drain you for whatever physical energy you have, until you bck out. Once you start casting a spell, it won’t end until you’re unconscious or dead. Even those who hang in there and finish the spell often end up dying in their sleep afterward.”

  David stared at me, wide eyed and worried. Worried about me of all people. “You could have died, summoning me?”

  “That’s a detail she could have mentioned,” Talith muttered, doubling his pace and pulling ahead.

  I, meanwhile, purposefully slowed my pace to a brisk walk in protest. This was unfair discrimination against short girls with short legs! Not that I was compining of course. Just protesting! Totally different.

  Of course, Talith realized he’d left me behind after a few seconds, after which he looked back to find me going at a slow pace and David… well, mostly just looking lost as his head swiveled between us. Like he didn’t know who to follow.

  “Maybe we should find shelter for the night, if you’re going to be so slow,” he grumbled. “We won’t make it to the city before dawn at this rate, anyways.”

  “Homebase will get scooped up if we stay out a whole night.” I noticed David giving me a confused look, but chose to ignore it. We could talk about the housing situation ter. Right now? It was time for a lesson in magic.

  “So, like Talith said, spells are pretty much off the table for me, at least until morning. But spells aren’t the only way you can use magic.”

  “Lonna…” Talith growled. He didn’t actually say anything after that, but I knew what he was getting at. He didn’t want me putting my health at risk, or doing anything else that would lead to him dragging one or more bodies through the woods.

  Such a worrywart.

  “Rex, Talith, I’m just giving a quick lesson.” I fshed him what I thought was a pretty reassuring grin, but he only replied with a scowl.

  “What other ways?” David asked. There was this spark of curiosity in his eyes, now - and a smile on his face. Honestly, you’d never think he’d been a step away from breaking down just a bit prior.

  “There’s a couple different ways, but the one I want to talk to you about is ‘gifts.’”

  “Gifts?” David frowned, softly, his brow furrowing ever so slightly as he thought. “You mean, like. Special skills?”

  “Exactly!” I ced my fingers behind my head , half leaning back, in a position that totally made me look like I was at ease - even though my back was actually screaming at me. It gave me a great view of the stars, though. “Gifts are special, magical abilities that don’t require incantations or runes to activate. Most of the roots - or races, if you prefer - have singur abilities, shared across all members. But humans? Humans are unique.”

  “Humans all have different abilities?” David suggested.

  “When they even have abilities,” I replied. “Humans are the only race without guaranteed powers. That just means you never know what sort of talent a human might have, though.” It was the same with Breath capacity - other roots had a higher baseline, practically guaranteeing that every member of them could cast magic, but humans? Humans had range. Unpredictability.

  “So what’s your gift?” David asked. The obvious question, but I grinned all the same.

  “I can control light.” I paused for dramatic effect, but rather than shock and awe David just frowned. “Alright, alright, I know it doesn’t sound like the best ability, but-”

  “No. It sounds amazing. I wish I could do something like that…” There was wistfulness in David’s voice, but no bitterness. Weird. I’d have been totally jealous in his shoes. “Do you think I might have one? I mean, I’m human, right?”

  “No idea…” Honestly, I hadn’t considered it. It would be great, if it existed, but since every human gift was unique there wasn’t exactly a standard way to test for them. “You’ll figure it out, eventually, if you have one. But for now - want to see one in action?”

  “Roots take you, Lonna!” Talith’s voice was explosive, and the way his monobrow furrowed when he looked about told me that it wasn’t just a show. David actually took a step back, before hesitating, and then purposefully stepping back up besides me. Which was sweet, and all - always good to see the Heroine showing a spine - but it was also kiiiinda wasted on my brother. I didn’t need magic to handle him.

  “It’s fine,” I told them both, straightening my aching back, and stretching my tired arms toward the sky. “All I’m gonna do is have a little snack…”

  “A snack?” Talith’s eyebrow lifted. “You mean…?”

  I nodded, choosing to ignore the obvious confusion on David’s face. Honestly, I was looking forward to his reaction. “I’m going to have a little snack. And while I’m at it, I’m going to see if there’s anything in the area worth worrying about. But it won’t cost as much magic as it’ll gain me, so you don’t need to worry about it.”

  “I’m not carrying you, if you pass out,” Talith threatened, turning the red glow of his eyes back toward their surroundings. Although he tried to hide the worry in his voice, I knew my brother well enough to see the tension in his rocky shoulders. He didn’t like this pn.

  He also wasn’t going to stop me, though. I mean, we both knew better than to rely on eyes alone when detecting threats. And it wasn’t like I was in danger - just like I said, I’d be taking in more energy than I’d be spending.

  As long as I was careful, anyway.

  “So… how does it work?” David asked, breaking the tense silence. “If you don’t need magic or incantations, how do you activate it?”

  “It’s like. Stretching a muscle that nobody else has, kinda… Once you get the hang of it, it’s as easy as moving your own arm. When you’re first starting out, though, you don’t know what you’re doing, and there’s no one to expin it to you…”

  I shook my head, slowly, then closed my eyes. “Look, just watch.” Even as I spoke, I was already starting the process. By attuning my senses to the moon and starlight about me, I could feel every particle of light within a dozen feet.

  I pulled that light toward myself, causing our surroundings to grow dimmer even as my own skin began to shine silver.

  “That looks like more than eating to me,” Talith muttered. He still wasn’t stopping me, though! Which basically meant he approved, right?

  “Sunlight is the origin of all magic,” I whispered, my eyes still closed. Not because I actually needed them to be closed for this, but because I thought it gave the whole thing an air of gravitas. “Moonlight has barely anything, by comparison. The effort it takes to distill it, like this, takes up almost as much energy as I get… but it also means I’ll know instantly if anything comes within a dozen feet of me.”

  “What if it’s invisible?”

  I cracked an eye open - the better to see whether David was posing a serious question, or just cracking jokes. His expression was suitably serious, though, so I closed it again and started walking. “The only way to go invisible I know of is making the light go around you. And if there’s a pocket of space where the light refuses to go, I’ll know.

  “We’re safe right now, by the way. Come on,” I called, fully aware of the fact that David was staring at me in awe. “There’s still a mile and three quarters between us and the city, and I for one intend to make it before sunrise.”

  EmilieEmber