“…so now you know the rules.”

  Teller walked in front of the line of students, his voice drowning out the busy whispering.

  “Oh yeah, don’t mangle Boo. Let’s start from the beginning…”

  The test was at the end of the spring. Rumors about a new exam were gaining momentum, although no one knew exactly what was in store for them. The conversations between the Director and the professors of the Academy were a mystery, only flaring up the students’ imagination. Rosa was sure that they would be sent on a mission for the Guild. Lilum was of the opinion that the University would choose the best for a special program. Arthena simply waved them off, and then yelled to move it, so they don’t get slapped on the thigh with a spear.

  The beginning started with those who came forward first, with those confident in their abilities. The rich-boys-trio demonstrated metal control, and an air wave, and a force push. Their resonances were highly pronounced, but somehow... curtailed.

  “Hmm?” Rosa looked around inquisitively, standing on tiptoe. “It seems some of our year are not here?”

  “I noticed that Bellethor approached Gerda after breakfast today,” answered Tally. “Do any of you know what her resonance is?”

  “Nope. We missed most of it back then, during the entrance examination.

  “Do you think he'll drag us out for a personal execution again?” Rosa asked gloomily. “Or just slaughter us in front of everyone?”

  “He would have told us by now,” Gebbi remarked. “I mean, if he took Gerda away...”

  “Maybe he’s setting an ambush! Waiting for us to relax.”

  “Will you ever stop your fantasies or not?” Lilum interrupted irritably.

  “Or not... Oh, look, our blockheads.”

  The tall guy who had just created a small tongue of fire in his hands stepped back. Now Han stood in front of Teller. Surani expertly fished out of the pocket of his worn pants an angular rock, then theatrically threw his hand towards the scarecrow. The rock shot out of his palm like out of cannon, exploding into crumbs on Boo's face. The coach nodded.

  “Rocks in the skull,” humorously mocked Rosa. “I see why he's so hard-headed.”

  “What do you say, Tally?” Gibiska teased.

  Tally showed no emotion.

  “About what?”

  The sisters giggled ominously, Tally slapped away Rosa's hand, reaching in to pinch her.

  Marcell stepped forward with a bottle of water. With a gesture of a circus magician, he made the water fly gracefully out of the vessel and, making a leisurely circle in the air, return back. A couple of girls in the front row eagerly clapped for him. Frank made a graceful bow.

  “What about power, dem?” Professor Teller asked expressively.

  Marcell pointed the bottle at the dummy – Boo got blasted by a powerful stream. Ton of droplets rolled down over the wet burlap, the dummy looked positively scandalized.

  “It's easier when there is a lot of water around. I'm from Hallis, you see.”

  “Sea hunter?” coach noted with interest. “Is that why you carry a harpoon?”

  “Yes, dem. Never seen a leviathan, though.”

  “That’s for the better, boy. Those who have often do not return to harbor.”

  Watching the short demonstrations of resonance, Rosa thought about what Bellethor had said. The types really did seem hard to tell apart. Also there were some people who supposedly had resonance but couldn't use it...

  “Rubin?”

  She quickly perked up – lost in thought, Rosie didn't notice how she ended up at the front of the line. The Professor raised an eyebrow questioningly.

  “Well?”

  Rosa evaporated in a wave of strokes and appeared next to the coach. Then she spread her arms happily:

  “Ta-da!”

  “Oh yes, our little hooligan...” the professor drawled, making notes. “How far?”

  “Rude! And I don't know. Ten-ish meters?”

  “Are you a diffused type?”

  Rosa wrinkled her nose in confusion.

  "The diffused resonance type is the fourth type that none of you ever manage to name," Bellethor's lecture surfaced in her memory. "Characterized by a prominent manifestation and almost nonexistent control."

  “Emmm... No? I don't know, we haven't... I mean, I haven't had any formal tests.”

  “Okay, we'll see another time.”

  Her turn came, and Gibiska punched the air – Boo got enveloped in a wave of flame, like a bonfire shooting up into the air.

  “What type?”

  She just shrugged.

  “I don't know, we didn’t...”

  “Okay, I got it.”

  Lilum, looking like a prima donna, walked up to Boo with her sword. She drew her weapon and made a short swing, drawing an arch of steam. The steam suddenly disappeared without a trace, and Boo was surrounded by a ring of ice, menacing blades pointed at his neck. The dummy looked unimpressed, although excited whispers rise up from the audience.

  “And you came with a weapon?..” coach said slowly.

  “It helps me to create forms more reliably.”

  “In other words, you depend on the air humidity,” Teller stated.

  “That is not!..” Lilum clearly pouted. “It's merely an insignificant detail!”

  “Of course.”

  The princess walked away, angrily stamping her heels. Whispering rose up – Arthena approached Boo. The beautiful face of the ellisian was pointedly calm, in contrast to the audience’s excitement.

  She simply raised her hand, and a deafening clap of thunder struck – a blinding blue line crossed the air from Arthena’s hand to Boo. He started smoking, but didn’t fell. The room now smelled distinctly of rainstorm.

  “And here we have a manifestation, isn't it?” coach asked.

  “That’s right. I suppose it is in the documents?” Arthena answered politely.

  “Right, right...”

  Rosa joyfully charged through the crowd, causing indignant exclamations. Illios gasped in surprise, squeezed in an unexpected hug.

  “Awww, Arthena, you're sooo cool!”

  “I've so many times asked you to stop that.”

  But Arthy still hugged her back before leaning away. Those who were about to begin paying their respects to Demma Illios, stepped aside in discontent, pretending that they never even had any intent to do so.

  “I'm more interested in your ability,” said Arthena. “How do you do it? If you don't mind, of course,” she quickly corrected herself.

  “Oh, no, I don't mind. But I never thought about how I do it,” Rosa waved her hand dismissively. “It just... happened one day. I concentrate on an empty space and – poof, I'm there!”

  “I see.” Arthena gave a sly smile. “I suppose that's just it.”

  Rosa returned the smile.

  “Aww, look who's talking. I'm not a complete simpleton, you know.” She spoke in a half-voice: “I know what you do with a weapon, it's like it sticks to your hands…”

  She was interrupted by a loud crack, as if a hundred old rags had been torn in an instant. Boo was emitting smoke from a dozen scorch marks, looking positively grumpy. The smell of ozone in the air got stronger.

  “Oh, I didn't mean to!”

  Fjora fearfully shook her head, covering her mouth with the hand. The coach shook his head in disapproval.

  “Recharged before the test, didn't you, demma? I believe I did said – minimal effect! There will be opportunities to burn dummies later.”

  Boo silently approved of the scolding. Fjora, guiltily hanging her head, walked past Tally back to the line, where Lin comfortingly patted her on the shoulder.

  “Does she have the same resonance as you?” Rosa turned to her friend. “What do you think, Arthy?..”

  But she was not there. While Rosie and everyone else were looking at Fjora, Arthena slipped away. Rosa looked back, hoping to see Tally use her resonance, but she was already walking away from Boo...

  Artorius clutched his focus in his hands, dazedly looking somewhere off.

  “Do you remember what we talked about?”

  He twitched nervously and turned to Arthena. Then smiled wearily:

  “Oh yeah... Your advice really helps. But I don't think... I mean, I should probably just talk to the professor. Right? Like Gerda, she also doesn't... I mean, she seems to be als...” He noticeably cut himself off. “I mean, she can't use it.”

  “True... But...”

  “You're right, I shouldn’t wait!”

  With the determination of a suicidal charge, Artorius walked forward. Arthy lean to follow, but stopped.

  “Camellon. So...”

  “I... um...”

  The coach looked at the guy.

  “Yes? If you're not ready, then just...”

  “No! I mean... I...”

  Arthur collected his thoughts.

  “My resonance makes things hard.”

  A clear laughing was heard from aside – belonging to one of the three peacocks, judging by the tone. Teller shook his head.

  “Metamorph, right?”

  “I didn't... I didn't take the test... But I can show you. Yes, demonstrate, so to speak...”

  The Professor spread his hands quizzically. Arthur approached Boo with almost unnoticeable nervousness. The dummy looked ready to take on anything. Arthur formed his sword. Then he brought it down on Boo's head with all his might. A thundering noise went through the gym.

  The Professor shook his head skeptically.

  “It would be better with something worse than a weapon... Maybe go get some...”

  “No, no!”

  Arthur quickly stopped himself, then added.

  “I mean that...”

  He came closer, showing the blade.

  “The weapon would definitely be chipped from something like that, right? But you see – not a scratch!”

  The trainer carefully examined the sword.

  “True... But still...”

  “And... I can't...”

  Arthur let out a sigh of monumental melancholy.

  “I can't use it on anything that doesn't contain silver. So, only on my weapon.”

  “Aha,” Teller nodded. “I see. There’s no need to waste time. It is nothing to worry about, it's a matter of technique. Now, next?..”

  Arthur stepped aside, glancing around wearily. The Free Ones had huddled in a talkative group around Arthena. Lilum radiated irritation, instantly wiping all desire to get close to them. Illios met Arthur's gaze – and smiled encouragingly. He nodded. Then secretly caught his breath.

  Dodged that one.

  ***

  At the end of the second month, potential shadowslayers were provided with an access to the armory. The building stood away from the main premises of university. It resembled some kind of fortification, low and ribbed, with strong steel doors and narrow horizontal windows under the ceiling.

  “Okay, yeah, this is definitely not normal...” Lilum said slowly. “I asked around, and access to the armory is only granted after advanced training.”

  “We are definitely being prepared for the real thing,” Rosa answered seriously.

  “You will never let it go, will you?”

  “But it is true.”

  “We were forced to sign safety regulations, Rosa,” Tallia reminded. “We are still in training.”

  The long building housed an armored vault for the arsenal of training weapons and a closed shooting range. They, however, were taken outside, to the shooting range behind the building.

  First, the shooting range instructor found out who had experience with wielding. Those who didn't have it were taken aside for the briefing. Those who remained were given a long and boring lecture, where a skinny elderly instructor made them repeat the rules of gun safety. Only then were the students allowed to begin. Some brought their own weapons – like the Pavrelis’s trio – but others went to get weapons from the stands.

  “Do you only have firearms?” Rosa asked in a businesslike manner. “No crystal charges?”

  “The same thing every year with you, newbies,” the instructor said tiredly. “We are not made of money.”

  “But Elysium is the richest haven in the world.” Rosa played dumb.

  The man snorted in irritation.

  “Tell that to the guttersnipes from Lightless.”

  The students took turns in occupying the shooting range lines. Soon, deafening shots filled the air. Ignoring the lineup of weapons, Lilum armed herself with her sword. An elegant swing painted in the air a dozen thin ice blades. They rushed into flight, piercing the targets pinned to the sandbag. All the targets had a blurry spot, reminiscent of either a shadow creature or stains on an old mattress.

  “What are you doing?”

  Lily paused, looking back at Rosa.

  “We're supposed to be training with firearms...”

  “I hate these things.” Lilum wrinkled her nose in disgust. “Smelly, noisy, not a drop of elegance... Crass rubbish.”

  Gibiska come up from the side – she got held up, explaining to the instructor that she was using a spring crossbow embedded in her focus.

  “You hate guns?” Rosa was amazed. “How do you plan to be a hunter?”

  “I don't have to trudge around like a brigand, with a rifle at the ready,” Lilum said haughtily. “I plan to fine hone my resonance. As you saw, I don't need a weapon.”

  “Yes, just an extravagant skewer,” Gibiska said, adjusting her bracelets. “Are you sure your sword can even be used for its intended purpose? The more intricate the design, the easier it is to break.”

  “This is the latest development, straight from the labs at the Azgart’s Ministry of Defense!” Lilum flared up. “This is not some hand-made do-it-yourself doohickey! More likely will break yours... Whatever those are.”

  “No way,” Gebbi grinned. “I can't use anything fragile by definition, I'll just smash it with a single blow.”

  “That's because you're a loggerhead,” Rosa said matter-of-factly. “Lily, you need to train with conventional weapons.”

  “Don't call me that!”

  “It was the invention of firearms,” Rosa didn’t bat an eye,” that allowed the Heavens to move out into the wilderness, since now even the militia could destroy the shadows effectively.

  “Awww, where this knowledge has being during the history exam?” Gebbi teased.

  “Shut up, sheep!”

  Lilly caught the rifle right near her nose and angrily pushed it away.

  “Stop it, I know better than to... After all, Arthena doesn't need to use rifles, does she?”

  Lilum turned questioningly to Illios. Arthena often stayed close to them. This way specimens of undesirable company didn’t dare to approach her.

  “Actually, I know how to use firearms,” she remarked with a hint of guilt. “This is a normal curriculum in schools, isn't it?”

  “That's exactly right! Look, a self-automatic rifle with five-round magazine, it'll suit you fine... Arthy, grab her!”

  “Oh, I... The thing is, I promised to help someone with... some training. Just a little advice, you know?”

  And with that, Arthena quickly slipped away to the far side of the shooting range.

  “Look, how about this? This thing is great.”

  Lilum flinched away from the heavy-looking carbine thrust into her face.

  “Are you mad?! This thing is loaded.”

  “Of course it's loaded! Hey, Tally, want to try it?”

  Gebbi tried to intercept her, but Rosa dissolved in red strokes and appeared next to her friend.

  “This is not a toy, Rosie,” Tally answered evenly.

  But she took the rifle. Without any segue, she brought it to her shoulder with visible skill and took aim. Rosa came back and grabbed ahold of Diamas.

  “See, Tally knows how to do it. Now you.”

  “Let me go!..”

  Away from them, Artorius concentrated on the target. Inhale – exhale, inhale – exhale, and... The shot banged, and the bullet pierced the target! At the very edge.

  “Damn it...”

  “You're gripping the handguard too tightly.”

  The guy jerked in fear. Arthena smiled softly as Arthur caught his breath.

  “Oh, it’s you…”

  He shook his head in annoyance.

  “I have no idea what's wrong with this thing! I mean, I do everything just like we were told. I even have shot before, but…”

  “Oh, you already know how to handle a gun?”

  “Oh yeah, my father took me hunting when I was little, and we… Well, not Hunting, not hunting the shadows, we just hunted deer. Actually, the forester rifle was a little… a little different.”

  Artorius fell silent, realizing that he had blubbered little too much – of course, a child wouldn’t get to use a combat weapon, only a low-powered one, for small game. He might as well have told that he had only been playing with toys. Arthena tried to hide a curt smile and turned him towards the barrier, urging him to hold the gun up.

  “You just need to relax a little. Don't squeeze the weapon as if someone were trying to take it away.”

  “Come on, who's going to take it...”

  “Still, you're holding on as if...”

  She stopped short. The guy briefly sighed.

  “No, you're right. I need to... pull myself together.”

  He raised the rifle. The shot pierced the target again – still far from the center, but at least in the target circle.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  “Thanks for the help, Arthena,” the guy said sincerely. “You really are talented.”

  “Not at all...”

  Arthena walked around him and stood at the barrier, thoughtfully adjusting the grip on her weapon.

  “You... want to stand here?” He was surprised. “I mean, I don't mind watching you work. It will definitely do me good!”

  “Do you think so?”

  Arthena took aim, then fired three times, piercing a perfect triangle around the center of the target. Arthur let out an impressed "Whoaaah...”

  A strange shot rang out to the side, like a pop from a cannon. It was an explosion – Gibiska blew up one of the targets with her homemade arrow. They were immediately reprimanded.

  “Hey, you’ve being told to notify if you brought your own!”

  The instructor waved his hand sharply.

  “I did notified!” Gebbi was indignant.

  “You said "crossbow"!”

  “But it is a crossbow!”

  “With explosive arrows! With this stuff piss off to the grounds outside the walls!..”

  Arthur looked back at Arthena.

  “Hey, you usually train with the Freeones, right? Do you think you should maybe go there?”

  Arthena wiped off the slight annoyance from her face, and when the guy turned to her, she only smiled calmly.

  “I'm not their mother, you know... Besides, they said they could handle it themselves, so...”

  And when the practice was over, Arthena went out with Arthur, agreeing to have dinner together. Both were thinking that today turned out to be quite a good day.

  The last left at the shooting range was four Freeones. Rosie coerced Lilum into a stupid, in the latter's opinion, shooting competition. They measured in which of them could hit the target better. Lilum showed invariably mediocre results. Rosa received a reprimand from the caretaker for wasting cartridges – they were limited for training. Gibiska ran to the dormitory and brought bundle of steel bolts for a replacement, instead of wasting explosive crystal ones.

  In the end, the caretaker practically chased them out with a stick. They linger at the shooting range until the end of the day, and the last bell found them trying to find something edible for dinner – they also got to the cafeteria just before closing time, and ruefully parted with small coins in exchange for sweet pastries.

  The end of a busy day had to end with a shower. Unfortunately, the entire floor was standing in the queue, and when the sisters finally got into the shower, the time was approaching for turning the hot water off.

  “Ugh, I was afraid we wouldn't make it in time,” Gebbi drawled, hastily pulling off her clothes in the locker room, and carelessly shoving them into the cell on the shelf.

  “I'll blame you.”

  “And why is that?”

  “On principle, of course.”

  They entered the shower room. Place was light in blue and yellow tones, decorated with geometric tiles with a mosaic on marine themes, there were a dozen adorned niches with plastic curtains. The last visitors were leaving the room when the sisters entered.

  “You're the one who started playing shoot-the-thing with the princess!” Gibiska said, opening the curtain of one niche.

  “Why is she so stubborn!”

  “To spite you, I guess. I would have done the same myself...”

  Gabby dodged the slap with a chuckle and hid in the niche.

  “Do you think those two won't...” Rosa paused. “Or will they?”

  “What is it?” asked Gabby.

  She peaked outside and stared at Tally in confusion.

  “Why are you here?”

  “I want to take a shower?”

  And Tally calmly walked past her, carefully holding the large terry towel that covered most of her body.

  “Are you going to shower in a towel?”

  “Of course not.”

  "Awww, shy little thing," Rosa sang, turning the taps in an attempt to figure out non-boiling water.

  "At least she's not running around butt-naked."

  Gibiska found herself staring at Tally little more than shower etiquette allowed. Onyxson was always the last one to visit the showers, so the sisters never seen her here before. But even so, far more unexpected was the appearance of another guest. A thin, pale figure appeared in the doorway, like Tally shyly wrapped in a towel.

  “Whoa, all our ghosts are here!” Rosa cried out.

  “I don't remember her coming to wash while someone still in the shower,” Gibiska mused.

  Lilum walked past without looking at them. Her pale cheeks were quickly turning red, and most likely not from the steam.

  “She's afraid of catching our low-born toes fungus,” Rosa said tartly.

  Lilum flinch away in terror.

  “You're not serious, are you?! You came to the communal bathhouse with an infectious condition? This is forbidden, I’ll immediately going to!..”

  The sisters responded with roaring laughter, which was sharply reflected from the tiles and momentarily drowned out the sounds of water. Gebbi, disregarding decency, jumped out into the passage naked.

  “Hey, hey, look over my foot, it seems like something is growing between my toes!”

  She dramatically turned her backside to Rosa and lifted her leg, wiggling the parts in question. Lilum quickly turned away, blushing furiously.

  “Nah, it's just your webbings.”

  “What? But I just cleaned them!”

  “Diamas.”

  Lilum turned around sharply. Tally peeked out from behind the shower curtain.

  “Just ignore them.”

  Leaving the sisters to monkey around, Lilum, red as a boiled lobster, disappeared into the far booth.

  “They just can't wait any longer,” Gebbi noted. “Water turning off soon. Isn’t that right, Liilyy?”

  “I refuse to talk to you! And don't call me that!”

  Gibiska wrinkled her nose.

  “That is right.”

  “It's not bad to be in the last turn,” Rosa said. “No one else here. Hey, look, look!”

  The bar of soap landed on the floor. Rosa get on top of it with a short jump, setting off on a slippery ride.

  “Wee-yaay!..”

  “Hey, what are you doing?!..”

  Gabby rushed after her, but it was too late – Rosa crashed into the wall at full speed and fell to the floor like a ragdoll. Lilum in the booth across responded with a frightened cry. Tally subtly peeked out from behind the curtain.

  “Are you crazy?! No one needs you to crack your head wide open!”

  Gabby froze in confusion, allowing Lilum to rush up to Rosa first. The princess literally stole her own line out of her mouth.

  “Sorry,” she drawled. “I'm fine, Lily...”

  “I don't even know if it's for the good or not,” she hissed. “And don't call me that, I forbid you!”

  “Okay...”

  The princess suddenly came to her senses, glanced sharply at Gibiska, then quickly darted into the shower niche.

  “Haven't they taught you that staring is bad, Citrine?! Get out if you're done washing!”

  “I second that. Get out.”

  Tally, who already picked up her things and wrapped herself in a towel, was now leaving the shower.

  “Okay, okay,” Gibiska waved her hand.

  Already in the locker room when the sisters were getting in their sleepwear – worn T-shirts and shorts, hers for Gebbi and borrowed for Rosa – Gibiska touched her sister on the shoulder.

  “Hey, did you saw? I mean...”

  “Yes.”

  Rosa looked thoughtfully toward the shower, where the water was still splashing. The noise died down. There was an angry groan.

  “Of course! And why is everything always like this?!..”

  The water got turned off. The sisters quickly bolted away, harboring no desire to face Diamas's angry accusations. But Rosie was still thinking about what she had caught a glimpse of on the white-haired princess's back.

  “That scar...”

  The midnight lights of Elysium blazed from every rooftop, building corner and even from some crevices, painting city towers in gold. Even the streets of Lightless were bathed in the dim glow of old crystal lamps. The shadows have no place on these streets. And those beasts who dared to dispute it were quickly hunted down by patrols of keepers or police. Or sometimes, even ordinary citizens. But the port’s warehouses, closed in the time of night, were much less illuminated, staring at the city with blind glass squares of narrow dormer windows. The shadows were not welcome here as well – it’s just here the shadows were far from being the biggest danger to people.

  At the dead end, in the far corner of the wide coastal segment of the Eastern Shipyards stopped a mud-spattered old car. It stopped not far from a slanted fence made of steel mesh. Three men get out of the car. Red straightened his jacket, blindingly white even in the twilight, and surveyed his shabby surroundings skeptically.

  “Remind me why I get dragged here in the middle of the night instead of spending it with someone pretty and talented at my place?” Red drawled. “I've already forgotten how much I hate old junkers...”

  The guards remained silent. They knew that despite the chatter, the boss was focused. The movement with which he put on his hat was honed to the point of sharpness. Stomping on the brown dust they headed through to the half-open gate. Behind it stood an unremarkable building of one of the warehouses.

  The powerful doors seemed to be closed forever, but as soon as the leading soldier knocked on the gate, it opened, letting the trio into the gloomy room. Red walked in the semi-darkness through the labyrinth of boxes and shelves to a corner hidden in the far part of the building. Three men were tied hand and foot to rough steel chairs, their mouths stuffed with rag gags. Two were middle-aged, and a young guy, some kind of animata with dog-like ears. The five gangsters surrounding them parted in front of the boss. Red spread his arms, as if greeting old friends.

  “Marrie, such a long time! Seeing you sooner than I expected.”

  He looked at the men's broken faces and pretended to wince.

  “I told you that's what happens when someone tries to screw me over,” he said with annoyance. “All you had to do was fulfill the terms of the deal, but no, you have to try and get a piece of it for yourself...”

  There was silence. Red sighed and nodded his head. The henchmen simultaneously hit both men so hard that blood flew in all directions. The animata whined in terror, the sound didn’t help to reinforce his humanity in the eyes of those around him.

  “And you even dragged your innocent little friend into this,” Red chided.

  He leaned towards the animata:

  “I'll just assume that you have no idea what is going on, furball. You're an illegal, right?”

  He nodded in horror, moaning something through the gag. One of the men raised a hand, forcing him to shrink back, pressing his ears.

  ‘Right, right... You know, you should have immediately pedaled back to Sura, or Malja, or wherever from you furball crawling into the Wheel. It gonna crush you into mush, you know. But on the other hand, that's why we're here! The shining of the lights! The jingle of gold and the sounds of music!”

  Red walked in front of the "guests", spreading his arms and proclaiming:

  “The whole world revolves on the axis of the Golden Wheel! Elysium – The City of Lights!”

  Boss stopped abruptly.

  “For those who can afford it, of course. And you clearly can't.”

  At the nod, the henchman punched the guest named Marrie.

  “So now. Who. Did. Allowed.”

  Without waiting for a command, the soldier yanked the gag out of the competitor's mouth.

  “When the baron finds out!..”

  Red nodded curtly, and the prisoner broke off under the blow. With a painful groan, he spat a viscous mess of blood and a couple of teeth onto the concrete floor.

  “Let's move on to the part where you start talking business.”

  Another blow followed without warning. The second prisoner was breathing heavily. Red measured him with a glance.

  “What about you? Maybe you want to tell us something?”

  He made a sound of terror. The gag left his mouth, and he quickly moved his lips, as if trying to push the words out. The comrade with the broken mouth sharply barked some phrase in native Albian, the broken dialect multiplied by the broken lips sounded like something unintelligible. The second one cut himself off and looked sideways at Marrie and then at Red with a hunted expression.

  The boss, with disappointment on his face, reached behind his back and pulled out a modern automatic pistol.

  “It's the baron!” the prisoner cried out thinly. “It's the baron! He said that you’ll gonna get whacked, so we can grab the cargo freely!”

  The second one growled something angrily and jerked towards his comrade, almost falling over with the chair. Red's soldiers subdued him with a couple of blows.

  “I didn't!.. It wasn't my idea!” the second one screamed. “Not mine, I would never!..”

  Red made a circle with his finger and the gags returned to the mouths of the losers.

  “All right... Everything is clear.”

  He nodded his head expressively. The men pulled out their pistols, which unexpectedly made the boss cut them off sharply:

  “Not right here, you idiots!” Red pointed at the animata: “What about our guest?

  He clearly whined. Tears had been rolling down the guy's cheeks for some time now.

  “Deck him in the mug and throw somewhere away from here. Then deal with our... other guests, let’s be generous.”

  “Not everyone?” the soldier asked in surprise. “Boss, this will backfire on us!”

  Red made a face at the comment.

  “Pfft... And who are you planning to impress by killing some animals, hmm?” he drawled.

  “But, boss, this is a witness...”

  Red sighed heavily. Then he turned to the horror-struck animata.

  “This is who I have to work with. He thinks you're going to get the badges.”

  Animata looked at him with eyes full of horror. Red raised an eyebrow.

  “Is he right, or what?”

  The guy shook his head so hard that his ears flapped against his hair.

  “I thought so. My face has long been in the papers, you half-wit.” Red pointed at the aforementioned face. “That's why that circus in court was staged for. The badges are in it for a long time now, even though it’s nothing but losses... Do you think some shabby immigrant will make a difference?”

  The boss turned around and walked away.

  “If we slaughtering all the animals in the city, they will simply close ranks. We will get ourselves a situation like in Azgart. Throw it out.”

  Powerful blows fell on the heads of the prisoners, knocking them unconscious. When the animata was pulled to his feet, he moaned in horror and tried blindly to break free. A couple of blows to the stomach abruptly calmed him down, although the man literally had to carry him out. Red shook his head and wrinkled nose.

  “A word?”

  The Big approached from the darkness.

  “You don't want to help the boys?”

  It would be an insult to the top rank of their company, but The Big had been with them for a very long time.

  “Boss...”

  Red sighed tiredly.

  “Okay, okay. It was a setup. Obviously. I just wanted to make sure. Relax, the cargo was in another car, I expected one of the barons to try and make his move.”

  “But this is... This is his nephew,” The Big said surprised.

  “Oh yes,” Red drawled. “And I'm thinking of sending him a bill for the services! The old asshole probably already ordered a memorial service for this idiot... But that's not why you came here. And where is Silence?”

  The Big was supposed to be on duty in the warehouse office, on the other side of the building. Something made him abandon the task.

  “On the phone. You have a call, boss.”

  Red glared at him.

  “At this time? Here?”

  The Big just shrugged.

  “Bad news, I guess.”

  Red exaggeratedly shook his head holding skeptical expression.

  “A call in the middle of the night to the workplace,” he drawled. “’Bad news’? Why am I even keeping you all?”

  The Big huffed vaguely.

  “Keep an eye on the guys,” Red said irritably as he passed.

  The office was on the other side of the warehouse. Tucked into a corner by a maze of shelves and boxes, it resembled a large tin cube raised on steel trusses to the ceiling. Red ran energetically up the steps and pushed the door.

  “Honey, I'm home!”

  The furnishings in this office resembled a rich study room in some manor house. Panels of wood and bronze, glass and plastic with colorful patterns. Armchairs with sloping cushions in the fashionable for now bright colors, a strict rectangular sofa of the same coloring, and even a bar decorated with a geometric pattern straight from a catalog for the rich and famous. It was covered with half-empty bottles, dirty glasses and ashtrays with mountains of cigarette butts.

  “Ugh, what a dump,” Red shook his head.

  Sai was casually prostrated on a formidable desk, with no expression looking at the ceiling. The phone was next to her head, she raised her hand which was clutching the receiver like a torch. Red took the receiver, expressively raising his eyebrows in response to his partner's sharp look.

  “I'm listening.”

  His face barely changed. But Sai already knew that something was wrong. No one called here without permission.

  “That's what I thought... No, no, just a call to a place where nobody calls without a special invitation, why should I worry about such trifles...”

  The boss was silent, listening to the other side. Then he pressed his lips together.

  “Well, of course. Everything is on schedule. And how, may I ask, you’re got informed...”

  He was interrupted. Taking advantage of the fact that he was not visible, Red grimaced with anger, but his voice was extremely polite.

  “‘It’s irrelevant.’ Of course it is. Unfortunately, this shipment will be the last one, so...

  He was interrupted again. Now the boss's face was thoughtful.

  “In that case, leave everything on me from now on. Don't stick. Into. My. Affairs,” he spoke sharply.

  The answer made him raise his eyebrows.

  “Oh? That will smooth things over...” A pause. “I am thinking about it...”

  There was another pause. Then Red brought his eyebrows together. Sai quietly watched his transformations, thin fingers slowly sliding along the table top, as if testing the wood’s firmness.

  “And that is?”

  Red listened silently. Then he signaled to his minion to hand him a sheet of paper and a pen, and then, after pushing her in the hip so she would move over, he wrote something down.

  “Of course... Wait a minute, at what time?.. No, it's possible. Most assuredly.”

  The last part was said in a poisonous tone into most likely already disconnected phone receiver. Red sighed curtly. Then he raised the piece of paper theatrically with two fingers:

  “Sai, we have a new order. How are you fancying a stroll through the woods?”

  Two heliwings rushed over the hilly terrain with a roar. Down below thickets of young grass swayed under the light wind, ornate with frequent additions of wild flowers. The machines drawn a slight arc in the air and began to descend, intending to land at the edge of the forest.

  There were three vans there. Powerful vehicles with sharp shaped cabins and ribbed wheels were clearly intended for rugged terrain and built for action, not for beauty. Fresh furrows were plainly visible in the lush grass of the wilderness.

  The heliwings landed against the backdrop of hills covered with dense mixed forest. Rosa, leaning against the window, caught a glimpse of white snow-capped peaks far on the horizon. Even from here, World’s Spine was visible, albeit barely, and only from a great height. Soon they were surrounded only by the tops of trees bathed in the rising sun.

  When the fliers settled down on a relatively flat area near the cars, the side doors opened, urging the passengers to get out. Two dozen people awkwardly crowded between the heliwings and the trucks. Almost everyone who had enrolled in the Shadowlore Academy on this year.

  “They’ll definitely send us on a mission,” Gebbi stated. “I would think you’d be jumping for joy.”

  Rosa answered with a thoughtful “Hmmm.” She looked around, examining surrounding her people. Everyone was dressed in suitable for the wilderness attire. Thick clothes, sturdy shoes. Demmas stubbornly put on skirts – Rosa automatically straightened hers – although everyone was wearing thick tights. Even now, Tully looked like she'd come out of the fashion magazine spread, wearing her usual short dress and a wide headband in her hair.

  Everyone was armed, all foci strapped to their belts. Most people looked quite confident. Some even quite smug, like the idiot Pavrelis and his hangers-on. But many were visibly worried.

  The first-year academy students were warned about the exam only one day in advance. Just a couple of days ago, they were only worried about the exams at the end of the course. But along with the exam results, Professor Fidelis also present them with a message that they would now be tested in practice. There was no shortage of guesses, but no one guessed what awaited them in the morning – two heliwings right at the university, and a flight somewhere beyond the walls of the haven.

  The students stood at the top of an elongated flat hill, behind which vast forest stretched. Rosa turned around. On the very horizon, thin flicks of light were visible in the gold of the sunrise – the spires on the towers of Elysium.

  Several people were standing near the vans. Professors Bellethor and Teller, and a middle-aged woman, whom some recognized as the professor from the advanced courses on resonance. Also an older man, with a gray beard and a prominent posture – he was the head of the Alchemy College, an expert on argent. Circe Fidelis accompanied the Director.

  Gilbert King stepped forward. His cane hit the ground, and he folded his hands on it, becoming quite statue-like.

  “Today, you will face your first test in a capacity as students of the Shadowlore Academy.”

  The Director's voice, usually quite good-natured, was now steeled with unquestionable authority.

  “Before you lies the Horazon Forest. And on this day, it is there your first Hunt awaits.”

  A restrained murmuring passed over the students – anxious, indignant, excited. Rosa could not resist an impressed "Ooohh!"

  “Here we go, finally.” smiling, Gebbi nudged her with an elbow.

  “Impossible!”

  Lilum let out a cry before it was stifled by the reluctance to raise her voice in front of the Director. She didn’t have to be ashamed tough, as King simply ignored her.

  “I'm sure many of you have heard about the increased shadows activity around the haven. This is usually the work of our outriders, but I took this opportunity to hold a special examination at our academy.”

  “You're not seriously saying that you're sending us to do menial work, are you?!”

  When prospect hunting became a real treat, Pavrelis’s confidence quickly washed out, but not enough to keep him from arguing with the headmaster of Elysium University. King gave him a cold look.

  “For the hunter there can be no menial work, demus. But since you brought it up, I'll address it right away.”

  King talked to the students, gesturing with his hand:

  “Each of you knows the dangers of your chosen profession. But it would also be absurd to risk your lives for no reason. Those who do not wish to take part in this exam will be allowed to return back to haven. However, in this case, you will not be allowed to immediately proceed to the advanced courses without a separate exam. And according to my personal decision, I believe that this exam will be decisive for those who wish to participate in this year’s Festival of Light.”

  The students released another wave of subdued murmuring. It was basically an ultimatum, the Festival of Light was a prestigious event for all aspiring shadowslayers. Pavrelis with effort regained his unbothered attitude, crossed his arms dismissively and snorted. But someone else raised his hand, demanding attention.

  “And what about me?” Haanash expressively waved his hand. “And him?”

  He pointed at Marcell, who was standing next to him.

  “This goes for you too, demus,” the Director answered evenly. “You know your terms.”

  Han lowered his hand, apparently satisfied with the answer. Rosa looked around. Lilum looked pale – more than usual, which was impressive – and focused. Tally was strangely distant. There was movement behind the Director. Bellethor and the old alchemist pulled a small stand with a map and a folding table out of their cars and quickly set it up.

  “I wonder what all this is actually about…” Rosie said slowly.

  Gerda Venur caught her eye. Short animata’s face looked strangely tense, as if she were struggling with something inside herself, and her ears were trembling, pressed tightly to her head.

  “This is a practical test, Rosie,” Gebbi drawled. “Again, you should be jumping for joy.”

  “Oh, I am definitely jumping, deep down…”

  “Time is running out, demi.”

  A few people reluctantly left the crowd of students and stepped aside. The Director glanced at them briefly, then nodded. Bellethor and the old professor began laying out some stuff on the tables.

  “The Horazon Forest has been the territory of the Elysian hunters since the Age of Darkness,” the Director said. “You are about to follow in the footsteps of those who hunted here hundreds of years ago. Traditionally, hunters would set out into the darkness of the wilderness early in the morning, with the first rays of sunlight. And so, your first Hunt awaits.”

  The Director turned away, addressed the professors in a low voice, then he and Circe moved toward those who had decided to abandon the exam. Dalah Teller addressed the students:

  “According to statistics, Horazon is the safest place in the lands surrounding Elysium. Despite this, you are going into the wilderness, with all the entailing consequences.”

  He gestured for them to gather around. Rosa felt as if this was almost their usual practice as she moved among the other students. However, they were standing in the middle of the wilderness, the morning air still holding the nights chill…

  “Here we are.” He pointed to the edge of the map. “Your task is to get to this outpost.” He pointed to a place in the middle. “The distance is approximately twenty kilometers.”

  Professor Fidelis returned back to the students.

  “You will be attacked by the shadows,” she said. “We do not expect a high level of danger, but I hope my lectures were not given in vain. The shadows are always dangerous. Be careful, even those of you who have fought the shadows before.”

  “Aren’t we supposed to have crystals with us?” someone asked. “You know, to capture particles.”

  A time-tested method of proving the success of the Hunt – an empty lightcrystal immersed in the body of the disappearing shadow was absorbing particles of its strange matter. Scientific experiments began to bear meager fruit only recently, but hunters have been wearing such crystals as trophies for hundreds of years.

  “We are not in a movie picture, demus,” Bellethor said weightily. “You preparing not to simply stroll through the forest and whack a few local beasties to smite some beauties in the fort. No, this exam will test whether our students are capable of acting as a full-fledged hunting party.”

  The students started muttering. As many expected, they were going to be divided into groups, and…

  “Attention!” Coach's call restored the silence. “Although this is not a full-fledged mission from the Guild, we decided to simulate the problems that often arise before hunters in our time. In the old days we simply gave out a crystal to confirm the kill of the shadow. Today, your hunt will have a goal.”

  He gestured to the table next to him. There were round cases, folded paper, and short cylinders of two colors in the boxes. Rosa, just like some others, judging by their faces, recognized signal flares. At Bellethor's command, the students lined up in an uneven queue before the professors. First, everyone received a piece of paper with a number.

  “Skipping over one... Yeah-yeah, you... No, you go further...”

  One after another, the students received also – a compass, which a case turned out to be, or a map, or a green cylinder. Each also received a red cylinder. Bellethor showed how to unscrew the lid and where to pull to launch the flare...

  “...until it crunches and... This is not a toy, demma! I will disqualify.”

  Fjora, frivolously throwing the rod in her hand, jerked in fear, it smacked her on the fingers, and for a few seconds jumped in her hands like a wild fish. With a crimson face she hastily stuffed the flare in her pocket.

  “So, did everyone got one?” Bellethor looked around the crowed. “Does everyone have a red signal?”

  After getting a hum of affirmation, he nodded. Professor Teller and demma from the resonance faculty had already fished out together a couple of boxes out of the truck. The box fell to the ground as if it weighed a ton. How Teller picked it up was understandable, but how the old woman did it was anyone's guess.

  “Always have a supply of water and rations with you if you going out for more than a couple of hours,” coach said.

  Each student was given a flask and an unappealing waxed paper package. The old alchemist informed casually:

  "In the future, for those of you who would want to work solo, the Guild almost never supplies equipment at its own expense."

  Demma were kindly explaining:

  "The red flare is for evacuation, my dears. Don't even think of holding back if you get into a bad situation. However, it is also a signal that you agree to leave the exam early. Unfortunately, this will affect the result."

  The Professors conversed in hushed voices. Director King stepped out in front of the students again.

  "In a real Hunt, you will often have to keep in mind that you are not just chasing the shadows for fun. You will be going into the deep wilderness, often with unfamiliar hunters in your group, and with a specific goal. So, today your task will be to reach the outpost in a group of at least three people who have a compass, a map, and a green signal. Upon reaching the outpost in the forest, you must launch the green flare and wait for your group to be evacuated. Any questions?”

  Hands went up.

  “Good. But unfortunately, demi, you will often have to look for answers to your questions during the actual hunt.”

  King's voice sounded unexpectedly harsh.

  “You are leaving in one minute.”

  The Professors were already clearing the tables. Having received the equipment, if it even could be called that, the students began to split into groups right on the spot.

  “Doesn't sound so difficult.” Gebbi unfolded the map. “We wandered through the forest even longer, when we were back home...”

  “I wonder what will happen to those who stayed?” Rosa muttered.

  The students who stood to the side with tense faces were talking to Fidelis again.

  “What did you get?”

  Rosa presented a compass.

  “Great, we just need to grab someone with a signal flare and we're practically done!” Gebbi sang. “Hey, did you see what Tally took? We're going to drag her along, right? I mean...”

  The roar of the engines drowned her out. Demma and the elderly alchemist skillfully took the steering wheel of the vehicles. Both tracks parted with a threatening roar, facing in opposite directions.

  “All odd numbers to the right!” Professor Teller's shout drowned out even the engines. “All even numbers to the left!”

  “There it is...”

  Like many others, Rosa raised her number.

  “Three.”

  Gebbi showed hers with a sour face.

  “Twelve...”

  The sisters looked at each other with a hint of sadness. Gebbi quickly managed a smile.

  “Well... I suppose it was naive to think we could cheat it every time? After all, this is a test of... teamwork, or something...”

  “Right.” Rosa smiled back. “Try not to end up completely friendless, dumbo, okay?”

  “Whaaat? How dare you...”

  They laughed with notes of tension. The shouts of the drivers from the tracks urged the students on. The sisters turned away and went their separate ways.

  Soon the cars roared away. Every kilometer they would drop off the students one by one, according to their numbers. Then they would head to the designated high grounds, to commence observation. The engines gradually died away in the distance...

  “Well then. What a total disaster this will be,” Janus stated with satisfaction.

  King didn't answer, staring blankly at the dark wall of the forest a hundred meters away. The roar of propellers came from behind.

  "What’re you trying to achieve with this buffoonery?" Bellethor demanded irritably.

  "I thought that was your conclusion, Janus."

  King gave him a measuring sideways glance.

  "You said it yourself that this is the best group in years."

  "That's true. And I'm a little bit confused by you just feeding them to the shadows," he replied tartly. "So, what was that? A challenge to the Guild? A flex of political muscle?"

  "Janus!" Circe's stern voice made them both turn around.

  "I hate to disappoint you, but your job won't be done by anyone else!"

  She walked quickly toward them, pointing her finger at the stuff by the last track: tables, a map stand, boxes.

  “And you definitely shouldn't interfere with the others doing their job,” demma hissed in an angry whisper.

  Bellethor shook his head briefly. Then, with feigned insult, he adjusted the hem of his jacket.

  “You always nagging me like that, and we're not even married yet.”

  Circe huffed with irritation and flicked her hand fiercely, chasing Janus away. With doubt she looked around the forest in front of them.

  “And yet...” Circe said, not looking at the director. “This is extremely risky, Gilbert. They... Mostly, they're all just children! Even her...”

  The King didn't answer. He merely looked expectantly at the dark forest.