In the afternoon visitors – applicants and accompanying persons – already left the university’s territory. The first day of new enrollment was coming to an end. The professors discussed papers and exam results.

  Gebbi was looking for her sister. For a couple of hours already.

  The trip from the university to the hotel didn’t take long. Having left the motorcycle in the parking lot, Gibiska found her room. After some hesitation, she asked if anyone had seen a red-haired shorty of female variety. The hallkeeper showed her the way. The room was closed. Gebbi waited in the foyer, absentmindedly eating the sweets she had bought for reconciliation, but Rosa still had not appeared. She noticed the black-haired Tally. That one replied that she had not seen Rosa. It turned out that they all being settled on the same floor, their rooms were next to each other. This meant that Diamas would also show up sooner or later. At the end of the second hour, Gibiska start asking questions.

  “No, I'm not sure...” said the broad-shouldered blonde girl with a soft braid. “I mean, I saw you in the hall...”

  She flashed endearing smile.

  “Awww... If only I had thought to join as a Freeone!”

  The dark-haired companion, a tall young man of Tian appearance, with high cheekbones and slanted black eyes, shook his head reservedly.

  “Leave it already, Fjora.” He turned to Gibiska: “I didn't notice her either. We were busy with our luggage. Maybe she's looking around the grounds?”

  “Maybe” said Gebbi, “but if I know her, she's too exhausted by this entire adventure. Usually she would be sitting in her room hugging a pillow... But her room is empty, I knocked.”

  Fiddling with her braid Fjora greened and said with awkward note:

  “Don't get me wrong, I barely know either of you, but maybe she's... you know, sulking?”

  “No, no,” Gibiska said absently. “I offered her caramel with nuts, she's not there...”

  “Ouh, that would definitely have worked on me!”

  Her companion shook his head disapprovingly. Several more students gave negative responses. Gibiska politely declined Fjora's help offer and looked around, planning to stay in the common room with good view of the entrance. There she was tapped on the shoulder.

  “Excuse me...”

  It was the tall, flame-haired girl, Illios, who was with Director King in the hall.

  “I accidentally overheard that you were talking about your sister, right?”

  Gibiska was about to open her mouth when the girl caught herself and pointed somewhere behind her.

  “Oh, isn’t that her?”

  The older sister turned around, overcome with a mixture of annoyance and relief.

  “Oh, there you are! And don't you dare to run away from me, I was so... worried...”

  Gibiska froze, puzzled, a couple of steps away from her sister. Rosie stood in the passageway, as if doused with cold water. Her scarlet eyes were glassy.

  “Gebbi...”

  Sister rushed closer in alarm.

  “What happened? Are you hurt? What?”

  “Aaiii... waas roobbed...”

  The incomprehensible waling turned into a guttural sobbing, and Rosa agreeably buried her face in the sister's stomach, grabbing her in a desperate embrace.

  Sometime later, when a small crowd presented a glass of water and leading questions, the happenings was finally become clear. Rosa returned to the autocarport in an attempt to get her things from the storage room. They demanded the key from her. She did not find the key. She was shown the door.

  “But Rosie...” Gibiska said awkwardly. “Robbed... Maybe you, just by accident, did actually...”

  Rosa took her face away from her sister's wet shirt.

  “I did not lose it!” she said in a terrible voice. “I know!”

  After half an hour of arguing with the storage attendant and the guard who was planning to throw her out, Rosa manage to achieve the ordering to name the number and describe the luggage. After which she was informed that the luggage was already been taken. By producing the key and the number.

  “But this is...” the fiery-haired girl exhaled angrily. “You need to go to the police immediately! Someone picked the key out of your pocket!”

  “I knowuuu,” Rosie drawled.

  She suddenly straightened up, causing everyone around to flinch.

  “She told me! Who took my backpack! It was that prick... with his stupid cigs...”

  The woman from the storage remembered who had taken such a backpack. The policeman called by the guard took the statement and, threatening that if Rosie would not calm down, he would arrest her first for disturbing the order, wrote down the description of the offender. A man in a sandy suit and...

  “And his slut with coffee hair...” Rosa hissed. “Oooo, if I catch that dick, I'll cut off his own...”

  “Aaaand we heard enough.” Gebbi hastily covered the younger one's mouth. “So, be honest now, how much money did you have?”

  “None,” Rosa huffed.

  “The papers?” Gibiska asked, puzzled.

  “Nooo... I'm not a moron; I took everything valuable with me in my bag.”

  She throwed her head up, in a general area of ??their rooms. Gibiska was silent for a moment. Then she flicked Rosie on the nose, causing her to gasp in offense.

  “Your numbskull! You scared me something awful; here I thought it was something serious...”

  Rosa pointedly pulled away and sat up straight.

  “I knew you are heartless. I have no sister.”

  “What was in there?” Gebbi asked mockingly. “Your pencils?”

  “Yes! For your information. And my favorite skirt. And my magazines. And comics...”

  Gebbi ruffled her sister's hair, causing an indignant grumble.

  “I'll buy you your stupid pictures, just don't cry anymore...”

  “No you won't,” Rosie whined. “They don't print them anymore, and neither magazines... Ouuhoo...”

  Illios sympathetically patted Rosa on the shoulders.

  “It's so terrible, losing your favorite things...”

  “You're so nice,” Rosie moaned. “I'm sorry, I don't know your name...”

  “Arthena...”

  Rosie reached out to her and buried the face in Arthena's stomach. She became noticeably red, but didn't try to break free. Gebbi stood up with a grin and decidedly pulled her sister towards herself. Rosa allowed herself to be lifted and taken to their floor. Already at their rooms, she pulled her sister's hand.

  “I'm sorry I yelled at you this morning,” she mumbled, looking at the floor. “I'm glad that you're here. I missed you...”

  Gebbi smiled and hugged the sister, holding her tightly to her chest.

  “Don't believe it. I for one didn't miss you at all.”

  And she kissed Rosie on the top of her head.

  Rosie's morning began with a chaotic attempt to figure out what to wear to the exam.

  Rosie had spent the previous evening moping around in her room, bemoaning the loss of her comics and her skirt. And her blouse and her sketchbook and a pair of her granny's socks and a box of spare ammo and a packet of biscuits...

  Gebbi looked around the university grounds by herself, and visited a modest building on the way to the academy's dormitories. The cafe was a large covered pavilion that could accommodate at least a hundred people at a time. The majority of students were producing some kind of cards for record, then got whatever they wanted, though some had to pay. After picking up some sweets, she returned and went to her sister to make sure girl is okay. Already planning to go to bed, Gibiska ran into a white-haired princess in the corridor. They parted, glaring at each other with spite.

  She was then awakened by a banging on the door and a rattling that their exam was starting soon, a physical test, you need to show up in sportswear, and my backpack, everything was in the backpack, but all you can do is mock, and now I have nothing even, why didn’t you remind me, your things here, you got to have...

  Gibiska grabbed Rosie by the face without looking, smothering her angry babbling.

  “Enough. That's right, your clothes...”

  Searching did bear no fruits. Tall and curvy Gibiska wore clothes that hung on her skinny, short sister like a sack. Watching Rosa straightening her T-shirt with a gloomy expression, Gebbi couldn’t resist and smirked into her fist. The T-shirt flopped on the floor.

  “Grrr! Shadows tear it! I'll just go in my own clothes.”

  “Ok stop...”

  Gebbi caught her sister's hand and pulled her back into the room.

  “Sit tight, I have an idea.”

  Soon Gebbi returned with their new friend. Fjora dragged in a bunch of spare sports clothing.

  “Ooh, do you like flowers? Look, I have one with roses! Actually no, these are poppies...”

  Dressed in fresh clothes, Rosie adjusted her T-shirt again. Fjora examined her critically.

  “Hmm... Sorry, I'm a little broad in the shoulders.”

  She turned around thoughtfully and felt herself up, just in case.

  “A lot broad.”

  “No, no,” said Rosa. “Maybe it’s better that it’s a little buggy. Especially in the chest...”

  She ruffled her T-shirt sourly, causing Gebbi to laugh again. Rosa glared at here.

  It turned out that not only Freeones, but all the other students also was doing a physical test. The gymnasium was located in one of the buildings further away. The vast building had several floors, but they found themselves in a gym that looked like an indoor soccer field. It was occupied by massive steel structures – ladders, hanging ropes, climbing walls.

  “It looks like these are all students of the Academy,” Gibiska said as they entered the hall. “I recognize the lot of them, saw them at the table with recommendations.”

  Rosie spotted Tally a little to the side, today in a sports shirt and shorts, but still with a stunning headband in her hair, which she pulled back into a ponytail. They stood at opposite ends of the small crowd, Rosie restrained herself to catching her eye and waving with a smile. It seemed to her that girl would simply turn away, but then Tally briefly waved back at her. Rosie also saw Arthena, but she was quickly hidden behind all other students.

  Rosie chose not to notice the easily noticeable white figure in an expensive-looking tracksuit. Diamas responded in kind.

  They were soon joined by a broad-shouldered man with gray hair and bright, piercing eyes. He was short, but muscular like a professional athlete. And he was dressed to match, in a simple sports T-shirt and shorts. On his feet, however, he wore strangely heavy boots.

  “Professor Dalah Teller,” he introduced himself. “You can just call me ‘coach’. That will do.”

  Then followed a short lecture about the importance of physical health and how the university is proud of its physical education programs.

  “This is especially true for you,” added Professor Teller. “You are applicants for a place at Academy of Shadowlore. Of course, I know that not all of you want to fight the Shadows face to face. However, such are the rules of our courses. I assume everyone here received their basic training in the school?”

  There was an affirmative murmuring. Almost all havens in the world still had a policy of preparing residents from an early age for the possibility of shadows attack.

  “We are not in the army, and not even outriders, but confident ‘Yes, dem’ would be ideal.”

  Almost confident “Yes, dem” sounded over the group of students. Professor Teller nodded.

  “That's better. Here's your task...”

  The labyrinth of structures was designed to test the endurance of the applicants. Start on command, three at a time. Don’t interfere, don’t push, don’t fool around... When the coach walked along the students’ rank, the sisters quickly noticed that they had clearly been taken note of. Presumably the other two as well...

  Close by a hand hesitantly rise up.

  “So, how many times do you need?”

  Rosie recognized the guy who sat next to her during exam.

  “Until you fall. Whoever remains standing after an hour passes automatically.”

  A disgruntled muttering flow over the student ranks. The man walked in the other direction unfazed.

  “Technically, you only need to complete one lap. Like I said, I know that not everyone here wants to be a hunter. When you finished – you may fall.”

  He looked around the line, and Rosie again noticed how his eyes lingered on some of the students. Including her.

  “The rest... Let's just say, I expect excellent results.”

  The first three approached the first ladder. Whistle ring out and the students scramble forward to climb.

  “First mistake,” Professor Teller announced loudly. “There is no need to rush in head first, this is not a speed test. But also no dillydallying. I'll be speeding you up. Concentrate on the obstacles.”

  Students concentrated, gradually filling the entire set of obstacles. The sisters fell into line. Between the structures, Rosie noticed Tally climbing the rope.

  “Oooh...”

  The dark-haired girl was flexible and grippy, like a cat on a branch. It was their turn now, the coach was taking notes on his clipboard. The whistle blew.

  The obstacle course took Rosie and Gebbi maybe three minutes. Accustomed to the forest around Haiven and training with the weapons master of the local academy, the girls were ready for much more grave challenges. Rosie have a though that even an ordinary elysian could handle this, the stairs most definitely, considering how much you need to climb to get to the monorail, and there were still the upper tiers. Even though there were no ropes on the streets. And you probably didn’t need to climb the side of a building either...

  On the N-th circle, Rosa noticed that her companions had changed. Gebbi got stuck a little behind – an attempt to dashingly jump up while on the rope almost sent her flying to the floor. A white spot loomed ahead on one of the shaky stair ladders, Rosie huffed indignantly...

  “Prissy...”

  That one moved quite confidently, although she looked skinny...

  A strangled scream was heard nearby, and Rosa turned around to see the blond guy awkwardly falling to all fours. Another student nonchalantly walked around the fallen man, Rosa paused, letting to pass ahead.

  “Hey, are you okay?”

  She bent over the guy. He turned around with effort, lifting himself up a bit.

  “I dunno. I'm not sure I can feel my legs...”

  Rosie smirked and offered up her hand, suggesting to rise.

  “Hey, at the bridge!”

  They turned at Professor Teller's shouting.

  “Everything’s okay?”

  The guy suddenly jumped to his feet, doing a strainedly relaxed pose, and waved his hand casually.

  “Everything’s sharp, coach! Business as schedule!”

  “I don’t think he believed it,” Rosie commented when the Professor turned away. “Are you sure you don’t want to take a break?”

  “No,” the guy muttered. “No, I... I have to move on. I mean, it's just a little jog, nothing complicated.”

  “Whatever you say...” Rosie doubted. “Do you want me to lead the way? Just stick with me.”

  “Yes, that's an idea. Thank you…”

  Rosa was sure that blondie will just plummet right off the rope, but he managed it. When they returned to the starting line, sweat was raining down off the guy.

  “I'm not sure it's worth it...”

  She turned around at the muffled muttering. The guy caught her eyes and put on an innocent face. She didn’t push the matter.

  “I thought that with a letter you were simply accepted,” Rosie noted instead of the question.

  “Me too,” nodded the guy. “It turns out that things are much more difficult than I imagined...”

  “Do you want to be a hunter?”

  He twitched nervously. Then he quickly wiped his face.

  “Of... of course! What can be cooler?”

  Rosie grinned and patted him on the shoulder.

  “You know it! Oh, whoa...”

  She hastily grabbed his hand when guy started leaning sideways.

  “I'm Rosie.” She decided to change the subject. “Rosa Rubin.”

  He steadied himself.

  “Arty... I mean Arthur. Artorius,” he corrected himself haltingly. “Camellon. Hey, you...”

  “What?”

  He lowered his voice conspicuously:

  “Aren’t you passing the trial? As a Free Hunter.”

  “Yes.” Rosie also lowered her voice. “Why are you whispering?”

  Guy came to his senses.

  “Oh no, I just...”

  Someone shoved Arty in the shoulder, almost sending him to the ground.

  “Don’t stand in the way like jackasses.”

  A couple of tough looking guys with faces of assholes rushed by them.

  “Hey, it's an obstacle course!” Rosie shouted in their backs. “Go around!”

  “I said no messing around,” sternly reminded Professor Teller. He scribbled something on his clipboard and blow sharp whistle. “Half an hour!”

  “I think you’d better keep running,” Arty said. “I’ll... just take a break... for a minute.”

  Rosie completed the hour-long run without difficulty. With mean satisfaction she noticed how among many students who gave up after a couple of laps there was white-haired brat. Also Arthur Camellon was there, sitting on the floor with an exhausted face.

  In the end, there were only a handful of people left, including Rosie and Gebbi and Tally, and also Fjora and her companion, and a couple more guys and one girl. Tall Arthena completed her final lap. She looked almost fresh.

  “Demma Illios,” noted Professor Teller, writing something in the papers. “The rumors were true, an impressive result...”

  “Professor, please…” The winner’s voice sounded irritated.

  After raising students off the floor, the coach said that results would be ready tomorrow, however they will mean little to the students.

  “As I said, it was just a test...” The professor paused and finished with emphasis: “For those of you who do not plan to receive the Guild’s license upon graduation.”

  He called a dozen names. Including four Freeones and sisters acquaintances.

  “The rest are done for today. Follow your schedules and good day to you.”

  When the last of the dismissed students left the gym, the professor continued:

  “You’re anticipating the following – you go to your rooms, have some rest, grab a snack, I do advise you. At one o'clock in the afternoon I am awaiting you in this same place. Dress code – anything, focus – compulsory.”

  Excitement spread throughout the group.

  “That’s right,” the coach chuckled slightly. “Your first test as shadowslayers. Dismissed.”

  Gebbi was forced to buy her sweets three times – it was the only way to keep her quiet for at least a moment. They changed into everyday clothes and now waited for the time to come on the benches near the cafeteria. Rosa was overwhelmed by a surge of emotions.

  “What if they holding living Shadows somewhere?”

  “I don’t think it’s possible, Rosa...”

  The girl couldn't decide whether she was alarmed or exited.

  “What if there are rules? If the weapon is not up to standard…”

  “I don't think that’s a problem...”

  “But could this be...”

  Gebbi shoved her half eaten cream roll into sister’s mouth.

  “By the Light, Rosie, shush! No wonder Tally didn't come to sit with us.”

  Rosa tried to grab a hold of her dark-haired friend, but girl politely refused to share a breakfast, artfully evading the grab. Gibiska couldn't shake the feeling that moody pretty girl was hiding something. It’s like, for a second she looked like she wanted to go, but then decided otherwise...

  “I bet it's because of you,” Rosa declared.

  “And why is that?”

  “I dunno. I just want to spite you.”

  “You’re such a sweetheart, you know that?”

  Gebbi tried to flick sister on the nose, but she dodged, almost dropping the roll.

  After free time was at end, the girls went back to the hall. In some unknown way, the heavy-looking structures had already been pushed to the walls. The center was now occupied by a single stuffed dummy, vaguely shaped as a large dog, about the height of a man’s chest. The assembled students, all wearing their everyday clothing, were partly divided into groups, and partly surrounding the tattered dummy. Fjora, in a loose short dress, were talking with her companion, absentmindedly patting dummy on the forehead. The short animata girl with a large fluffy tail confusedly pressed her ears to her head, she looked awkward.

  “Oh, someone's popular.”

  Arthena was surrounded by a large group of mostly guys. She smiled politely, but looked very official even in her simple plain dress, reminiscent of something medieval. Rosie didn’t immediately realize that she’s seeing classic ellisian tunic for the first time. Diamas stood in this group, saying something to Arthena lively. Other one nodded politely, without changing her expression.

  “And someone wants to suck up, as I sense it,” muttered Gebbi. “Wow, look at this one!”

  The sisters moved towards Tally. She, judging by the expression that briefly flashed across her face, was considering possibility of innocently slipping away. The girls caught up with her before that.

  “Are you sure this is an appropriate outfit for testing weapons?”

  Rosie measured the dark dress, loosely clinging to Tally's slender figure, it was circled by a wide ornate belt. The headband in her hair was replaced by a fluffy ribbon with a large bow.

  “I can tell the same.”

  Tally responded with an emphasized stare at the school skirt.

  “Aww... All my things were stolen, my fancy clothes are gone.”

  “That's not what I meant.”

  “I know.” Rosa perfectly understood the hint and smiled broadly.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  “So... Where's your focus?” asked Gebbi.

  The dark-haired girl huffed. But before they could start a conversation, as far as it was applicable to Tally, there were heavy footsteps. Professor Teller entered the gym, also dressed casually, a gray jacket and trousers.

  After the roll call, he pointed at the dummy.

  “This is Boo. He will help you with the demonstration. Be gentle, this is the Academy's mascot.”

  They started by each presenting their focus. Rosa stared hungrily at the sparkling silver items. Wands and crosses were the most popular. When Artorius walked away from the professor writing down the features, she took him by the shoulder, causing nervous startle.

  “Oh, it’s you,” the student breathed out with relief.

  “I noticed that you use one too.”

  Rosa spun her cross, the guy watched her movement with bewilderment.

  “Not so skillfully, but...” He caught himself: “Yeah, oh yeah. This is... my family focus. You know? Very rare vintage stuff.”

  “Oh, really? I also got mine from my mum,” she said. “What's in it...”

  “...here we need to undergo such interrogations?”

  An irritated voice echoed around with unexpected loudness. The guy standing in front of Professor Teller crossed his arms with a self-important look on his face.

  “This is not an interrogation, demus,” the man said dryly. “These are the rules of conduct on the territory of the University. And I assume that you, demus, acquainted with rules of carrying weapons within the walls of this haven.”

  Under the Professor's gaze, he quickly simmered down, losing the drive to make a fuss.

  “And if you believe that, for any reason,” Teller emphasized the words in a harsh tone, “the laws of this haven do not apply to you, then you are free to leave the university at your own discretion.”

  He addressed the crowd:

  “The liberty to carry an argentum weapon is your right, but it is also a privilege. It is believed that any hunter picked up a weapon in order to protect people from darkness, not for their own personal satisfaction.”

  The man looked at the students with unexpectedly stern eyes.

  “The scientific approach to the alchemy of silver and lighcrystals changed the world. Modern technology can even mass produce foci, not to mention simple weapons for militias and armies. But it was only a matter of time before such things would become strictly regulated. No person with a small arsenal in their pocket would be considered non-dangerous. In the modern world, your reputation is everything. As you, demus,” he told the guy, “I’ll assume know quite well.”

  The guy, noticeably taken aback, stepped backward.

  “I just... meant that... it’s a very valuable item and...”

  “I know very well the price of hunters’ weapon,” the professor interrupted dryly. “Now then. Next…”

  The guy walked off back, and started indignant chattering with a group of equally arrogant-looking students. Rosie noticed with interest that Diamas who were standing next to them was looking off into space, with conflict on her face.

  Soon all foci were recorded. The sisters presented their cross and bracelets respectively. Tally, whom were nearby, presented a thin black chain, which she pulled out from behind her wide belt.

  “Not now,” she cut off Rosie, who had already opened her mouth for a great many questions.

  “Now we’ll check their integrity,” said the professor. “This is exactly the moment that we all – me as well, I assure you – have been waiting for. You will demonstrate your basic training on this dummy.”

  They moved steadily through the list. Swords, spears, halberds, a battle axe larger than herself...

  “I don’t know, coach,” Fjora doubted. “I don’t wanna kill Boo!”

  “He tougher than he looks.”

  Hesitantly, the girl raised her weapon. The battle axe was long and narrow, with a shining semicircular blade. It crashed into the dummy with a dull “tumb.”

  “Very good.”

  With a smile, Fjora easily twirled the weapon in one hand.

  “I bet she’s stronger than you,” Rosa taunted, nudging sister in the side.

  “We'll see bough that!” she answered with feigned indignation. “I heard the gymnasium for students here is great, we'll see how she does with the irons.”

  Soon the sisters were called up. Rosa happily twirled the cross in her hand, turning it into a scythe. The sweeping, diagonal blow ricocheted off the head with a ringing sound, tearing off the fabric. Rosa reflexively spun around herself and hit the dummy with outer side of the blade in the nose area.

  “Whoa, easy there, demma!” Teller intervened.

  “Sorry,” got flustered Rosa. “It was automatic.”

  “I thought so.”

  Gibiska took a stance, and the bracelets covered the girl’s hands, turning into steel armor. Boo jumped slightly from the powerful blow to his nose.

  Arty came out with confidence, which was betrayed completely by the slight scare on his face. His cross turned into a long sword. A sweeping blow slipped almost past Boo's head, summoning couple of short laughs.

  “I’m... Can I do it again?”

  “No need,” the professor answered distantly. “We’re checking the effectiveness of transmutation. Your focus is obviously functional... since it didn't melt into a puddle.” The professor clearly couldn’t suppress the remark.

  The guy trudged back into line. Rosa patted him on the shoulder encouragingly.

  “Do cheered up, Arthur. I personally think that your weapon is cool.”

  “Thanks,” the guy livened up. “Yours is great too. Both of you,” he corrected himself.

  “Make a move on my sister, and I’ll smear you over the pavement as a bloody paste,” Gebbi smiled nicely.

  Upon seeing his face, she wisen up and quickly raised her hand:

  “Relax you, I was joking...”

  “Ah... yeah...” Arty noticeably took a breath and with a nervous laugh changed the subject: “I thought the Hunter’s Scythe was just a rumor,” he remarked. “Isn't this...”

  “Your focus’s style looks familiar,” Gebbi interrupted. “Where are you from?”

  “Albia,” he answered in steady tone. “I’m from... from some fort. Near the haven.”

  “Oh, we’re almost neighbours,” Rosie noted. “We're from Haiven.”

  “Oh, really? It's funny, it turns out that most of the people here are from other havens.”

  “Except for them,” unimpressed Gebbi nodded at the group of snobs. “I’m more than sure that they are the local Bright Young Things. Brand clothes, fresh foci...”

  “The attitude of a school bully...” the guy said sourly.

  Rosie patted him on the shoulder.

  “I bet you could smear him over the floor.”

  “Yeah... Yeah, probably.”

  “Or that one.” Gebbi nodded towards the next student.

  Lilum Diamas approached the dummy. Today she didn’t have the case with her, and Rosie realized with displeasure – the sight of the princess caused displeasure simply by default – that now they know what was it so important inside. The pale girl had a scabbard decorated with flying lengthwise lines hanging from her belt. Approaching the victim, prissy princess with a graceful movement unsheathed her sword – a long silver blade covered with intricate inlays and patterns.

  “Whoa,” breathed out Rosa. “This is definitely some kind of family treasure.”

  “This is a new model. Actually.”

  Everybody turned to Tally. No one would admit it, but they all kinda sorta forgot that she was still near them.

  “I don’t think it’s older than a couple of months,” she added.

  In response to surprised glances, Tally raised an eyebrow questioningly.

  “Oh yeah...” Rosa caught on. “That's right, you do know who she is.”

  “Right.”

  Taking a graceful stance, Diamas made several diagonal strikes. She was frail, even slightly skinny, but she still looked impressive. The movements were swift and graceful, almost like a dance, and caused a slight murmuring among the students. The force of her blows, however, didn’t impress neither dummy nor sisters. Demmas couldn’t help but snort with disdain.

  “I take it you don’t use focus?” Professor Teller enquired.

  “No, this device helps me use my resonance,” Lilum said businesslike. “I suppose I’ll have a chance to demonstrate this later?”

  “That's right...”

  “So what, she just uses one sword?” Rosa wondered. “Isn’t this go against the doctrine?”

  “The doctrine is not universal,” Gebbi noted. “It just the recommendations from the Guild.”

  “I guess we'll see...” said Rosa. “What do you think, Arthur?”

  But the guy didn’t hear her. He greedily consumed Diamas with his eyes while she were gracefully putting the blade back, and then, tapping the heels of her stylish shoes, gracefully walked away from Boo.

  “She's so beautiful.”

  The sisters looked at each other. Then they looked at Tally. They were pleased to see the skeptical expression on her face.

  “Beautiful,” agreed Rosa, “as much as she’s mean.”

  The guy absentmindedly turned away from the object of adoration.

  “What? Do you know her?”

  “Unfortunately... But, actually, no, Tally knows her.”

  Under the gaze of six eyes, girl sighed.

  “She’s from Azgart. Her father is the owner of ‘ZtjornLyus-selskap’.”

  Tally said this with a strange pronunciation reminiscent of a Diamas accent. Others looked at one another with puzzlement, but the dark-haired girl didn’t take note.

  “Sjour Diamas, founder of ZLS and their First Chairman.”

  “Aah, ZLS...” Gabbi said understandingly. “That explains her attitude. Even in Haiven they sell their batteries and radios.”

  “Of course,” Tally commented with a gloomy note. “ZLS is a trading concern, interhaven. Their products are being distributed throughout all of the Shard.”

  “But you said it,” got puzzled Rosa, “like as if this sword is their product. They just, like, making batteries.”

  “They've been making... a lot of things lately,” Tally replied flatly. “Contracts for the extraction and processing of lightcrystals are only their parent production. Purchasing territories, settling forts, developing new technologies, even...”

  Tally fell silent, although it seemed like she wanted to add something else. She glanced sideways at Arty. Then she turned her head towards him.

  “I wouldn’t recommend making a move. Zero chances.”

  His shoulders dropped.

  “Yes, you're right, its way over my head.”

  They were attracted by an excited whisper. Copper-haired Arthena came out to Boo with a vaguely tired expression on her face. The short matte-yellow rod turned in the girl’s hands into a long spear. In a movement as natural as breathing, she flown into a combat stance and delivered a wave of three to five blows in one go. Boo answered with a thin ringing sound. Polite clapping rose over the students.

  “That’s enough everyone,” the professor said restrainingly. “This is not a circus performance, and we are not the audience. I remind those who haven't been paying attention, you have yet to fully describe your weapons. But this will be done in the armory.”

  He swapped several sheets of paper on the clipboard.

  “Now the most important thing – the resonance.”

  Contrary to Rosie's expectations, the excitement was not as strong. Many frowned wearily. Some, however, seemed quite pleased. And a moment before the professor could start the survey, a well-trained male voice resounded loudly through the room:

  “And this is where my brilliant entrance occurs!”

  Teller looked at the guest with bewilderment, then walked through the students who had stepped to the sides.

  “Professor Bellethor,” he said with noticeable surprise.

  A tall man in a sharply fit dark suit raised his hat in greeting.

  “Didn't expect you today already. Did she insisted on swift arrival?”

  The man spread his arms frivolously. Of middle age and height, he was dressed in a way of accomplished business dealer. His shoes were shined, and his tie snaked like a colorful ribbon over his dark vest. Face was adorned with a neatly cut beard. Dark eyes looked the students around.

  “You know how our mistress can be. She’s always so passionate.”

  “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that,” Professor Teller noted. “Then I’ll get chewed less.”

  “Or more!” Bellethor readily declared.

  The men laughed reservedly.

  “I suppose that...” Teller said slowly.

  “Correct, I'll spare you of a certain four.”

  The four girls among the students mentally composed themselves. Bellethor walked along the loose ranks, examining the young people with an inquiring gaze.

  “Although I admit, I wouldn't mind to see the new faces. Many interesting... cases...”

  The guest's keen eyes lingered on one student then on another. He raised his hat.

  “Demma Illios.”

  Arthena didn’t show that she was surprised.

  “I... do not think that we are acquainted.”

  “Janus Bellethor, I accepted your letter.”

  He looked at Diamas.

  “And not just... You.” He pointed his finger at the girl.

  “Yes?” she said coldly.

  There was a pause, during which Bellethor, slightly bent forward, looked at the students in surprise, as if he had tried the wrong door and witness something not quite appropriate.

  “Step to me, please, demma, I will be your examiner.”

  That was the tone they used in the shops to explain that you need to press the handle and just push it away from you. With pink cheeks, Diamas obeyed. The man pointed at the sisters.

  “These two as well. To me, to me, come on... and a pair of ears in the back row. That’s right, I can see you.”

  Rosie glanced sideways at Tally with a grin. To her surprise, girl had a very serious face. Not indignant, just... grimly focused.

  “To the exit, please, we will talk to you eye to eye. I will get her the papers myself.” The last part was intended for Professor Teller.

  The girls hesitantly moved towards the exit. Professor Bellethor waved his hand to the other students as he walked.

  “I look forward to meeting you all. Quite sure it will happen soon.”

  He put his fingers like a gun and clicked his tongue.

  “Don't kill Boo.”

  The remark summoned a light chuckle, slightly easing the atmosphere. The doors to the hall closed behind them, and Bellethor, rubbing his hands, stood before four pairs of wary eyes.

  “A lovely ribbon,” he informed Tally without segue. “Complements your hair so well, demma.”

  Tally measured him with an undefined look and said nothing.

  “It would suit you as well,” he addressed Lilum. “Such contrast, very impressive...”

  She flushed with anger.

  “That's hardly proper, Professor!”

  “Or you.”

  Rosa responded with a puzzled look.

  “What about me?” Gebbi butted in. “I have nice hair.”

  She proudly tousled her already slightly disheveled golden mane. Rosa chuckled. Bellethor cached the joke, looking at the girl over with a serious expression, as if he was pricing her.

  “Hmmm... no. No, you would do better with something... like a hairpin. Ornamental, southern. Don't you think so?”

  “I think I can pull it off. Black suits me.”

  “How gloomy,” Rosa stick in.

  “Shush, what do you know.”

  “I beg your pardon,” an icy wave interrupted them, “but I assume you interrupted our tests for a reason, demus?”

  “Without a doubt.”

  There was silence. Bellethor looked at Lilum. She let out a fierce granting.

  “And it is?!”

  “What?”

  “The reason, dem!”

  The professor withstood the icy-searing gaze with ease. Rosa snorted mockingly.

  “The reason is that you,” with a dramatic pause he encircle them with a gesture, “belong to me.”

  “This is hardly appropriate, demus!” Lilum flared indignantly. “Such language!”

  “And I will decide whether you will be taught hunting or not.”

  The atmosphere lost its humor. Bellethor suddenly became serious.

  “Do you have your foci with you?”

  He received four nods.

  “And is your weapons are ready and loaded?”

  Nods again.

  “Follow me.”

  The professor led them across the university grounds. Between the buildings of laboratories and dormitories, along narrow paths away from the central alleys, through little alleys of a well-kept garden, already covered with flowers of early spring.

  “Don’t worry, I will take you back so you don’t get lost.”

  They came out right at the wall. A high wall, different from the one that surrounded the university itself…

  “I knew it, we’re on the outskirts of the city,” Rosa realized.

  “Very good, demma,” the professor commended, taking off his jacket. “Hold up here.”

  They were standing in a clearing that was similar to a forest’s edge. A dozen trees grew here sparsely, right next to the concrete wall, between them were peeking out large boulders, partially sunk into the ground. The professor hung his jacket and hat on the branches of a tree near the path.

  “This,” he walked to the middle of the clearing, “was once a training ground for the shadowslayers. A veeeery long time ago. The old buildings of the fort, which stood on site of the modern University complex, were demolished long ago. Even before Gil laid the foundation for his brainchild here.”

  “Gil? You mean Gilbert King?” Lilum asked dryly.

  “Yes,” answered Bellethor. “Don't tell him that I’ve tarnished his reputation among the students. His lecturing is unbearable, endless scolding, just goes on and on and on, no end in sight...”

  The sisters gave off airheaded smiles, but Lilum huffed indignantly. Tally was still quite serious.

  “It was in places like these,” the professor began to roll up his sleeves, “that in the old days the shadows appeared, which came out of the forest to stalk humans.”

  After finishing one arm, he began on the second.

  “And it was here that the Hunts traditionally began, when humans themselves went into the wild lands, pursuing their relentless enemies.”

  Adjusting his sleeves, Bellethor stood in front of the girls with a serious face.

  “And that’s why it’s here that your trial by combat will take place, demmas.”

  The atmosphere decidedly became tense. So girls tensed up.

  "We're going to fight the shadows?" Rosa asked.

  Bellethor answered with unexpectedly grim face.

  "The Shadows aren't some kind of toys to be dragged from the darkness of the woods for your entertainment, demma," he said dryly. "No-no, unfortunately we don't have time to send a bunch of kids into the forest, for them to possibly survive a fight with monsters. No. You're going to fight me."

  "Okay," Gebbi said. "It’s a sparring, then."

  Bellethor laughed.

  “Sparring,” he repeated humorously. “Demma, you came here demanding special treatment. And you will get it! A simple brawl will not produce a Hunter. You will fight against a superior opponent, in unfavorable conditions, with your strength waning, and be thankful that you get to keep your foci!”

  A tense silence hung in the air. Each of the candidates built her own personal logic chain, but the conclusion was the same. Something was off.

  “But hunters don’t fight people,” Rosie mumbled. “This is...”

  “Wrong? Oh, yes. But it happens...”

  Bellethor spread his hands.

  “Rosa Rubin, Gibiska Citrin, Lilum Diamas, Tallyа Onyxson.”

  With both hands he pointed at them.

  “You will do everything possible to land at least one blow on me. Or you will not get into the Academy.”

  The man shrugged.

  “So?”

  Silence fell over them. They had expected anything but this.

  "That's ridiculous," Lilum said, voicing everybody’s problem with it. "It's just..."

  She let out a startled cry and dropped the case with the sword. Something seemed to hit her in the hip, a small stone clicking on the ground.

  "You think the shadows will wait until you've gathered your strength?" Bellethor asked harshly. "You think they'll wait until you're ready, and in the right state of mind? You're not at a dinner party, demma, what, do you need permission from your daddy?"

  Diamas let out an angry cry. The stone cut through the air with a rustle, missing the man's head. He looked quizzically at Gibiska.

  "That'll do for starters," he said. "Any other ideas? Or are you going to make faces at me?"

  Gebbi snorted, also filling up with anger, then... quickly jumped to the side, nervously looking around.

  “But you are...” Rosa was still hesitating. “You activated your veil?”

  Bellethor chuckled mockingly.

  “And what if not, demma? What if I start bleeding right before your eyes? Will that finally get through to you? Are you only capable of playing at being a hero, the kind that mostly live in comics? Already scheming something up, Onyxson? I assure you, it is not gonna work.”

  Tally turned up unnoticed on one of the boulders nearby. In her hands was clutched a black chain-focus, stretched behind her back. At the words of the professor, she froze in place.

  Bellethor rubbed his hands, examining the students.

  “We don't have too much time, I can't wait for you to pile your brains back together, demmas. Or is that your answer? Are you going to hunt by sitting on your butts, waiting for your opponent to show up, tipping their cards, and open itself for a killing blow? Is that it?”

  "But hunters protect people!" Rosa protested.

  "And they do it how?!" Bellethor barked, making her flinch.

  "They…"

  Rosa suddenly felt an instinctive understanding.

  "They enter the darkness themselves."

  Bellethor grinned with grim satisfaction.

  "Exactly." He raised his hands invitingly. "So?"

  Rosie lunged forward, forming a scythe in her hands. She wasn't going to attack seriously, just slash near him maybe…

  The ground came to life, standing in front of her like a wall and hitting her whole body, her arms, her legs, her torso. With a howl, Rosa crashed into the rocks on the ground, rolling awkwardly.

  "Are you crazy?!"

  Gebbi rushed towards her sister... but something suddenly tripped her boot and she flew tumbling to the ground, where she awkwardly lay down in front of Rosie.

  “Is something wrong?” man asked in response to a hatred filled look. “Got caught on the root?”

  Gebbi rushed forward, instantly appearing next to him. A series of short blows to the body quickly reach... nothing but air, Bellethor easily dodged. Barely budging his legs by a hair. Gibiska stretched in a lunge and received a blow to the knee, the second blow sent her to the ground.

  “Don't forget your veil, demmas,” the professor said in a businesslike manner. “Otherwise...”

  “I remember!”

  Gebbi, from a low position, made a sharp leg trip. The professor easily jumped up on the spot and strongly hit her in the leg with the edge of his boot. She jumped away with a scream. Limping.

  “...it will hurt.”

  He threw his hands to the side. Tallia froze in place in a ready for battle pose. She covered about five meters.

  “Too long, demma!”

  For no apparent reason she jerked to the side. A short black blade seemed to grow out of her hand, beating away something thin and metallic in a wave of dust.

  “I'm afraid that's not how one hunt the shadows,” Bellethor said ominously. “Aren’t you missing something on your part?”

  Rosa was already on her feet.

  “How are you?”

  Gebbi bared her teeth angrily for a moment.

  “Fine. This bastard is strong...”

  “But if we...”

  “Just wallop him, Rosie!”

  She moved forward again, intending to carry out her own order. Rosa quickly moved slightly away, noticing how Tally was starting to act on her side.

  “What with you, demma?”

  Bellethor playfully dodged Gebbi's onslaught. Rosie didn't even reach him with a swing of her scythe, it if like she was just waving the weapon in the air.

  “Still waiting for orders from above?”

  There was an angry cry from Diamas and...

  Bellethor suddenly turned around, making a wide swing of his hand.

  “And now my own trick!”

  A wave of dust rose up, and in front of Rosa and Gebbi it was suddenly pierced by... a large ice flower the size of a car wheel. Rosa barely managed to dodge the sharp edges, Gebbi covered herself with her hands, breaking the ice.

  “So hands off!”

  Tally, with unexpected from her screaming, flew through the air from somewhere off to the side, almost crushing Gibiska. After rolling on the ground, she stood up, with a stone face, and a pair of blades in her hands.

  For a moment, Rosa noticed what happened – Tallia briefly clashed her own chain with something thin and dark.

  “Chains... He's rising chains from the ground!”

  She nervously looked around, but there was only last year's tree rubbish and young grass around...

  “Good eye, demma. But what will you do with this information?”

  Rosa felt something at her feet. There were spontaneous screams and the girls, all four of them, flew in different directions – the sisters and Lilum forcedly, Tally managed to dodge the capture of thin tentacles, jumping on a stone.

  “He hides them in the dust,” she said evenly.

  Having risen up from the ground, the sisters immediately got themselves at a distance, up on the stones. Rosa looked back to see that Lilum raising herself in the ice made bowl.

  “Oh, so this is her resonance...”

  “Right again, demma Rubin.”

  Bellethor easily withstood the angry stares. All this commotion seemed to be somewhere distant from him; he was simply observing the performance.

  “You didn’t trouble yourselves with exchanging your info before enter the combat?” he asked. “But you are hunters...”

  “We are not hunters yet,” Diamas answered angrily. “It's all simply...”

  “Child's play, compared to what you desire to choose for yourself in the future!” man shouted. “Or am I wrong? Or maybe you are just being shy? Maybe you thought that you were better than others.”

  Lilum choked on her indignation.

  “What about you, Onyxson? You didn't bothered to inform your colleagues that they were supposed to provide you with cover? Decided that you simply going to use them as a shield?”

  Tally's face was like stone. Then she looked away, annoyed.

  “What if I did.”

  “Then your methods won't get you very far.”

  There was silence. Rosa turned around uncertainly.

  “So... Does anyone have any ideas?”

  “Smash him harder?” Gebbi asked angrily.

  “There's no point in discussing anything while he can hear it,” Tallia intervened.

  “And I won't give you any time either.”

  Black chains like snakes silently closed where the three girls had just stood. Dodging the metal flowing in the dust, they rushed away...

  “To me!”

  Diamas gracefully threw her arms up, as if in a dance move, and stretched upward. Her right hand was clutching the blade. Emitting a wave of steam, it descended downwards, the steam turning into a storm of ice. A thin wall of ice stood up in the way of their running. The girls jumped over at the last moment, steel snakes strike the ice with a clacking sound. The candidates gathered together.

  “My ice will hold off his chains...”

  “This won't last long, demmas!”

  There was a loud crack.

  “For a while,” Lilum added wailfully.

  “Hooow is he doing that?” Gibiska hissed.

  “He's a resonant of a highest level,” Tally answered calmly. “I don't think we have any chance.”

  “Then what does he want?” Rosa asked.

  “That we would get lost from University?” Gebbi snorted. “This is not even remotely like hunting the shadows in the forest!”

  “Maybe a giant,” Tally said slowly.

  She changed her blades for pistols, Rosie let out an “Oooh”. The wall creaked more and more unreliably.

  “You what, gonna try and shoot him?” Gibiska grumbled.

  “‘Try’ is the right word,” Tally spoke dryly.

  “We need a plan” Lilum hissed. “Quickly, what are your resonances?”

  “And who put you in charge?” Gebbi snapped.

  “Enough squab…”

  “I can merge with a shadow,” Tally interrupted. “Become invisible outside of direct light. But there’s no cover here…”

  “I can blow him up.”

  They stared at Gibiska.

  “If I get close,” she clarified.

  “I can teleport.”

  Now everyone was looking at Rosie. Lilum turned pink with anger.

  “And you didn't bothered to!.. Why aren't you both strangling him right now?!”

  Rosa just shrugged.

  “I see.” Garthian took a breath. “Do exactly as I say, do you understand?”

  “And why would...” Gebbi began, but Rosie interrupted her.

  “I want to know what she came up with.” She looked at Diamas: “You did come up with something, right?”

  “Of course!”

  Chains had gathered into something akin to a drill or a spear and were now scraping at the bottom of the ice barrier. Of course they could have got inside in a dozen of easier ways, however...

  "I suppose that's enough time," Bellethor said slowly and looked at his bare wrist. "Ah yes..."

  The ice suddenly exploded from the inside, sending shards flying in all directions.

  "Right on schedule."

  Gibiska's powerful form shot forward. As she ran, she punched the air with her fist – a wave of fire flew out of her steel glove. The explosion crashed into the ground and scattered the metal web to all sides. Rosie flew past, jumping over the places cleared of the enemy.

  "Okay..."

  Already nearing the opponent, Gibiska made sharp jump, under her wave of fire blasted, throwing her up like on a springboard. On the flight she twisted, aiming her fist at Bellethor.

  “We're wasting time,” he lamented.

  The fist crashed into the steel wall that had grown in an instant. A powerful wave of fire struck the barrier powerlessly. Professor was covered by a perfect shield.

  “Not so fast!”

  Gebbi smashed the steel claws of her gloves into the interweaving of chains. And with a tense roar, she spread them away. Rosa materialized right above her shoulder, and, twisting with the blow, precisely thrust the spear into the gap.

  “Very good!”

  Bellethor patted the spear shaft stuck dead in the wall of chains.

  “A very demonstrative maneuver on how to disarm yourself correctly.”

  The spear immediately turned into a wave of silver and disappeared behind the wall. Rosa, as red as her namesake flower, rushed away from the greedy grasping.

  “Come on...” she hissed.

  Behind the Professor the blurry shadow appeared.

  “And again, right on schedule.”

  Bellethor raised his hand – his fingers missed the tip of the black blade by a few millimeters. Tallia faded in with a cry, surrounded by thick entanglement of chains. The professor looked at the thin ice plate hanging in the air. In the distance, Lilum, sweating profusely, were standing in a tense pose. She spread her arms and gritted her teeth.

  “Well... It’s time to finish this.”

  A steel roar swallowed the panicked shouting from the quartet of young girls. A wave of black chains rose from the dust like a real wave on the sea, burying the victims under itself before tossing them up.

  Diamas, standing furthest away, tried to make a break for it, but the chains greedily grabbed her by the thin ankles. Rosa and Gebbi, covered by all their limbs, hung in awkward poses. Tallia with a grim expression hung tied up crisscross like a ham leg for sale.

  Bellethor, without any visible gestures, "brought" the captives closer to himself, doing a slow clap.

  “Well, it's all pretty much as I expected...”

  “Oh, come on!” Rosa bellowed. “What in the?.. How is this even fair?!”

  Bellethor made a surprised face.

  “Fair? In no way, of course, Rubin. You had no chance in the first place. Just like demma Onyxson have told you.”

  “How do you know that?” Rosie was amazed.

  “Just an educated guess.”

  “And so what, you just enjoy the opportunity to humiliate the applicants?” Lilum barked. “What's the point of this farce?! Oh, I assure you that...”

  “Come now, demma,” Bellethor cut her off. “Your status in Elysium is known to you already, I assume. Your family is just one of thousands of other fat-cats here, squandering their stolen money, isn’t it?”

  “What?! How dare you...”

  “Isn't that why you came here?” he interrupted. “Why don't you follow your sister's example? You're already copying her techniques, I can see.”

  Lilum froze, dumbfounded.

  “How do you?..”

  “Now activate the veil.”

  “What? Why would...”

  The chains shook her roughly, causing her to make a thin yelp.

  “Do it, or you’ll be sorry.”

  Lilum obeyed without visible movement, only clenching her teeth with hatred.

  “Good.”

  The chains went limp, and she fell into the dust with a short cry.

  “See, much better than falling without it.”

  She jumped up, burning with anger.

  “I will not just leave this up! And how do you know my sister?”

  “Account of my duties of course. Onyxson, it is time to produce your crystal.”

  Tally jerked in alarm. The pendant with the crystal was caught by a chain as flexible as a tentacle. The chain pulled itself toward Bellethor.

  “I want it back,” Tally said grimly.

  “Don't forget to show this to Circe,” Bellethor declared, then commanded as if to a pet: “Veil!”

  The chains went limp, and Tally fell to the ground. She had already posed herself in the air and merely fell to the knee.

  “Very good.”

  He threw her the crystal, and she swiped it from the air with an angry motion.

  “Can we not get dropped?” Rosa requested.

  “Whose idea was it to use ice to cover a colleague?” Bellethor inquired.

  “Rosa’s,” Gebbi answered proudly. “Almost worked too...”

  “I expected this from the very beginning, not gonna lie. Veil!”

  Rosie tried to imitate Tally, but instead fell on all four. Gebbi simply collapsed to the ground like a log, and throw her arms tiredly to the sides.

  “Waaahhh.”

  “You should train your skills more, my dear,” Bellethor noted. “You are no worse than your colleagues, but you lack technique.”

  “Who cares,” Gebbi muttered. “We failed anyway. Back to Haiven, choo-choo...”

  “Not at all,” the professor said. “I would place your chances... above the average.”

  She was on her feet in an instant.

  “Really?! So this isn't some convoluted attempt to get rid of us because Rosie dragged us both into a stupid attempt to vault into an academy as a freebie?”

  “Hey!”

  “What? You did.”

  Bellethor laughed and raised his hands calmingly.

  “Like I said, you had no chance of success. But that's what it takes to be a real Hunter. Because Hunters...?”

  He looked at Rosie.

  “Enter the darkness themselves. To push it away,” she finished pleased.

  Lilum shook her head.

  “You really are still a child...”

  Rosa turned to her sharply. And stuck out her tongue.

  “Neee...”

  “I've heard that already,” Lilum noted.

  But despite her haughty tone, the corner of her lips twitched in a hint of a smile.

  “Professor.” Tallia looked at the man intently. “Who are you? Honestly.”

  There was a rustle to the side. Bellethor took his hat and jacket from the clutches of the hovering black chains. Then he with deliberation stretched the jacket in his hands. There was a large tear in the center.

  “Demma Diamas,” he said evenly. “I suppose it was not on purpose?”

  Lilum hid her eyes, getting flustered. The tear was the result of her ice shards. Man threw the jacket over his back in a businesslike manner.

  “My name is Janus Bellethor, and I am a professor at the Elysian University of Natural Sciences, Alchemy and Shadowlore,” he introduced himself formally. And as if reluctantly, he added: “I also have the honor of holding the position of Resonata Primaris of the Academy of Shadowlore.”

  Gebbi choked, Lilum gasped in shock, even Tally let out a short “Ah.”

  “I’m at risk of sounding like a simpleton,” Rosa said evenly, “but… what?”

  “‘The Head Hunter?’” Gebbi told her expressively. “That explains everything.”

  “But that’s Director King, isn’t it?”

  Rosa measured Bellethor up and down.

  “You what, stronger than Gilbert King?”

  Bellethor feigned a frightened expression and comically pulled on the collar of his shirt.

  “Oof! Well, you're putting me on the quite a spot here, demma... What say you, Gil? Duel to the death, for the right to impress our kids?”

  “What, again?” a strong voice rang out over the clearing. “I'm getting a bit too old for this kind of things, you know.”

  The girls turned to the head of the entire university, who was striding towards them. Bellethor waved his hand all friendly like.

  “I did assumed that it’s a bit quiet today,” the Director said.

  Behind him, the graceful figure of the deputy was showing. Bellethor bent down to the girls:

  “Here's your payback. You want to see me getting pummeled into the ground, watch me try to ask Circe out on a date.”

  “And just when I was getting bored, a message came in about... you.” The Director stood next to them. “You didn't even say hello, Jan.”

  “Well, you know how it is,” he intoned. “I got a message about the Free Hunters, four at the same time.” He lowered his voice conspiratorially: “And such cute ones, too...”

  Tally shot him a dark look, fishing a twig out of her hair. Lilum perk up indignantly.

  “Professor! Unacceptable!”

  “I know,” Bellethor readily agreed. “A mature woman in her prime suits me much better. Circe, I beg you, just one chance...”

  Fidelis answered with the sweetest smile.

  “Ah, Janus, I beg the Director to fire you every time.”

  Bellethor lowered his head in defeat. Rosa found that she has a stupid smile on her face.

  “And every year he puts the students in danger!” woman snapped fiercely. “Are you in one peace, demmas? Injuries? Broken bones?”

  The professor looked meaningfully at Bellethor. He straightened up and shook his head indifferently.

  “It was just a bruise...”

  “I was forced to carry him, Janus!”

  “I suppose leaving complaints would be unnecessary?” Lilum asked disappointedly.

  “Useless more like...” Professor Fidelis muttered. “Enough. You are not injured, I take it?”

  Having received a negative answer, she beckoned the girl to follow her.

  “Let's go. I will take you to the dormitory. Get yourself cleaned up, have a rest...

  As she walked, she turned around:

  “Their forms, Janus! Today!”

  “Then dinner together?” he asked hopefully.

  “No.”

  Muffled laughter was heard in the shadows of the trees, and the sisters poked each other in the sides.

  “Good girls,” Bellethor said. “Vent raised them well. You know, considering all circumstances...”

  “Why didn't you came to me immediately?”

  Bellethor measured King with a glance.

  “Immediately? Yesterday, you mean?”

  “Yesterday?” man was amazed. “But then who took the message?”

  “Well, let's just say I have methods.”

  The men fell quiet in the tense silence. The Director shook his head disapprovingly.

  “Is it that bad?”

  “That bad?” Jan looked around, as if assessing the situation right now. “No, it's much worse. Any news from the other end?”

  King remained silent.

  “You know how we operate,” Janus pressed. “Right? You came up with all of it, Gil.”

  The man slowly tapped his cane.

  “How bad?”

  “Lost the tracks in the steppes of Sura.” Janus rubbed the bridge of his nose. “It could have been worse. If the other one would show up.”

  Gil sighed heavily.

  “Or worse still: if he shown up first... and then she.”

  The Director shook his head.

  “We don't know that.”

  “I'm suffering from a paranoia attack, Gil,” Janus said discontentedly. “Now one more time, what the news from the other end?”

  “Nothing, as I said.”

  They were silent.

  “I don't like it when you start thinking that we're all still just your charges at the academy, Gilbert,” Jan said. “You know what that means. I know what that means. No news.”

  The Director looked away. Then nodded few times.

  “Yes. But I don't want to...”

  “Who's paranoid now?” Janus interrupted. “Do you think Circe isn't keeping an eye on you?” He leaned back, assessing the other. “Or you’re also simply certain that she would do anything for you?”

  King irritably tapped his cane on the ground:

  “Janus, please...”

  “Then just trust us for once,” professor interrupted again. “We are not children anymore, fresh from school, who swiped a focus to play in the forest!”

  The Director did not answer.

  “I will take this as a ‘maybe’,” Bellethor said.

  Patting his comrade on the shoulder, he walked toward the path, holding his jacket on his shoulder.

  “We still have time I suppose. Despite everything,” he waved his hand without looking, “I sense some serious potential in this new batch.”

  King continued to stand silently in place until Bellethor disappeared from sight. Then he turned slowly and looked at the haven wall.

  “The ‘new batch’, Janus?” he muttered. “How cruel.”

  Yet nevertheless, he walked back.