I don’t know where I am.

  “Let me be clear: this is not a noble war. This is a war of destruction.”

  I don’t know what I’m saying.

  “There is no mercy on this battlefield. There is only fire. When their kingdom is reduced to ash, then—and only then—will change finally come.”

  “Wake up, boy! I told you, we have a busy day ahead of us!” Horick’s voice rang out as he shook me awake.

  “Okay, okay, I’m up.” I sat up with a yawn, pushing my bangs out of my eyes. Another rough night. Another bad dream I can’t remember.

  “I expected better of you, boy. You’re usually up first,” Horick muttered, shaking his head in disappointment.

  “Well, I’m proud of you, Master. First time you didn’t wake up with a hangover,” I shot back as I made my way to the bathroom.

  “Don’t forget to pack all your—” Horick paused, noticing my belongings were already neatly packed.

  “Stayed up making sure we could leave first thing in the morning,” I said with a hint of smugness. “I packed your stuff too.”

  “I’ll be damned. I expected less of you, boy. There’s a time and place for overachieving.”

  “If you don’t want a model apprentice, then let me sleep in next time.” Despite him being my master, Horick and I bickered often. More than just master and student, we were friends.

  After bathing, changing, and tying back my long blond hair, I was finally ready. Just as we reached the door, a woman barged in, clutching a child to her chest.

  “Help. Please help! I was told there was a healer here—my daughter, she’s throwing up black sludge, and I don’t know what to do!” she pleaded, panic in her voice.

  “A traveling healer,” Horick corrected. “You caught us just as we were moving on. I’m sure she’ll be fine. Just let her sleep it off.”

  Horick had a rule—one month of healing services, followed by a week of rest and travel. He refused to use magic after the month was up.

  “I can take care of this one,” I said confidently. “Ma’am, if you could just hold her still—”

  “No point, boy. Just let her rest,” Horick cut in.

  I ignored him and pressed my hand against the girl’s forehead. She was burning up. Vomiting black bile was a sign of spite—a sickness of the soul. Fortunately, her veins weren’t black, and her eyes looked normal. That meant the spite was weak. It would fade on its own in a few days. Horick must have realized this already, which was why he dismissed it.

  Still, I couldn’t bring myself to tell the mother to simply wait it out. Guilt gnawed at me. I placed my hand over the girl’s chest.

  “Boy, don’t—”

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  “Purge!”

  White flames erupted from my palm, engulfing the girl. They were meant to purify her spirit. Instead, they blazed out of control. If left unchecked, they would burn her soul. But I couldn’t stop them. It was as if my magic was no longer my own.

  Horick’s hand landed on my shoulder, and the flames vanished. A suppression spell. The woman, unaware of the disaster that had nearly unfolded, sighed in relief as her daughter’s fever disappeared.

  “Thank you. Thank you so much.” She paid Horick and hurried away with her child.

  Horick waited until she was out of earshot before whirling on me.

  “What the hell was that!?” he hissed as we started walking.

  “I don’t know! That’s never happened before!” Panic crept into my voice. I had used that spell hundreds of times. I didn’t even know losing control was possible.

  Horick exhaled sharply. “Be careful from now on. Until we figure this out, you’re off healing duty.”

  Disappointment settled in my chest. It had taken me so long to earn the right to heal. Now, just a year in, I had already screwed it up.

  An hour into our journey, Horick suddenly stopped.

  “Damn it…for a spell that small?” he muttered under his breath. Then, in a whisper, “Boy, turn around. Casually walk away. I’ll meet you at the tavern we passed.”

  Horick was rarely this serious.

  I did as he said, managing five steps before a woman materialized in front of me as if she had teleported.

  She was tall—much taller than the average Ethereal-born. Her glowing blue hair shimmered against her pale skin. She crouched down until her face was inches from mine.

  “And what is this?” she murmured, her gaze flicking over my shoulder toward Horick.

  A sharp whiff cut through the air as Horick fired a blast of magic past me, aiming for her face. She leapt back effortlessly, and in a flash, Horick stepped between us, shielding me.

  “It’s none of your business,” he snapped.

  The woman’s expression remained unreadable. “You don’t get to be indignant. I let you operate as a healer with one simple rule—you don’t use magic while your shroud is recharging. And you violated our deal. Again.” She exhaled sharply. “You’re lucky I was the one who picked up on that spell and not some freelance bounty hunter.”

  “I’m sorry,” Horick growled through clenched teeth.

  “Then tell me—” she pointed directly at me—“what is that?”

  “Don’t talk about him like he’s not a person!” Horick shouted. He didn’t look at me, but his voice softened. “Boy, introduce yourself.”

  “M-my name is…” I hesitated, my mouth suddenly dry. “My name is Beat. I’m fifteen years old.”

  The woman’s expression shifted slightly. “Oh… It thinks— I mean, it’s a child.” She turned back to Horick, her voice almost amused. “Oh, Horick. You know I have to confiscate him.”

  “Wait,” Horick said, his voice suddenly quiet.

  She straightened, reciting mechanically, “Mao’s Law 58b. All S-rank relics and special objects discovered by citizens of Terra Vitam et Magia are property of Terra Vitam et Magia. The law is the law.”

  “I know I can’t stop you,” Horick said, his tone heavy with resignation. “But if you must take him…please, let him continue to be a boy.” His hands glowed with magic as he shifted into a fighting stance. “But if you intend to lock him away, you’ll have to kill me first.”

  “Are you serious?” The woman raised a hand, and a white scythe with a glowing blue blade appeared in her grip. “You’re in no position to be making demands.”

  “It’s not a demand. I’m begging you.” Horick’s voice cracked. “Please let him keep living as a boy. Or I'll die defending him.” He took a step forward, desperation evident. “Please, Lillienne.”

  Lillienne’s scythe vanished. “Fine,” she sighed. “He still needs to be studied, but I’ll see to it that he’s treated like a normal Vitamian boy.”

  Horick bowed his head. “Thank you, Master.”

  “Ugh. After all I do for you, and you still won’t call me ‘Mother.’” She turned to me. “I’ll be waiting at the airship port in Tilae City. Bye for now, Beat.”

  With a casual wave, she vanished.

  I turned to Horick, my heart hammering in my chest.

  “What… What just happened!?”