"Lady Empyrean, Hibiscus Berna."

I read and reread that simple line of text hundreds of times. It had to be wrong, it was a joke, it was some sort of oddity of this pendant, right?—I knew where I grew up. It was a little shack, miles and miles away from the nearest settlement.

"Kirin, is that right?" Tulip asked, her voice filled with equal levels of confusion to what I felt.

"Tulip doesn't know either?" I thought quickly, the surprise and shock sending my mind into overdrive—If she didn't know, then maybe that was why she didn't say what had happened to the Berna family?

"That's her, that's my mother, I know it is—I've heard… I think it's my father's voice, saying her name, 'Hibiscus,'" I tried to justify it, I was trying to make any sense out of it at all. "Tulip… You never said what happened to the Bernas…" I pried my gaze away from the pendant, my eyes meeting Tulip's with desperation reflecting in them.

"They all died out—Kirin, if this is real then, written history is wrong," Tulip started, her own voice filled with wonder. "The Berna's are said to have died out nearly a century ago. Their last heir never had children, they died with no known siblings…" Tulip trailed off, her words falling as the unspoken fact spoke out between us.

"He can choose the truth." Tulip's words repeated in my head, the answer planted before the question could be asked.

"I'm sorry, Kirin." Tulip's voice sounded weak, defeated as we reached the same realization.

"It's not your magic," I said with a sigh, my knees pulling up towards my chest. I desperately stared at the pendant, thumbing the image with longing. "If I'm stronger, it will get weaker, right?" I didn't pull my gaze from the image, my sorrowed gaze unwavering.

"It… It should, Kirin," Tulip raised a hand, gesturing like she wished to reassure me. Her hand however never made contact, instead it remained floating inches away from my back for several moments until it dropped. "Are you… Feeling alright?" Tulip asked softly.

"I…" I tried to start, just to feel my voice fall away into a hitched sob. I could see her face now, I knew it was my mother, yet I still couldn't remember a thing. "What does being an Empyrean mean?" I asked, clenching my jaw to fight back against the urge to scream.

"You would be, politically speaking, equal to Miss Carmine, or myself," Tulip said, her gaze shining a little. "There might be land still in the Berna name…" She trailed off into thought.

"Carmine knows?" My head snapped up, staring at Tulip with the shock of revelation settling in on me.

"She'll know more than me—Father's magic can't change Archmages, not without either their consent, or him overpowering them. Neither of which he could do to Carmine," Tulip offered slowly, her voice growing somber. "There's a chance she didn't know who your mother was, Kirin. Or if she did, she will have had a reason to keep it from you, I'm sure of it." Tulip added with certainty in her voice.

"I'll talk with her in the morning." As I stated my intent I moved to stand. My legs, weak from emotion, shook as I stood, they barely held my weight for long enough to guide me to my bed. Once at my bedside I unceremoniously fell into it, the pendant still held firm in my hands.

"Get some rest, Kirin," Tulip said with a forced, somber smile on her lips. "Talk in the morning?" She asked as she found a seat on her own bed.

"Mhm…" I grunted a response, pulling the blankets up and over my shoulders.

Sleep didn't find me quickly, if at all that night. Even when Akemi pressed kindly into my side, all I could do was stare at the silver pendant. My mother's smile, engraved upon it, it really almost looked like she was smiling upon me.

Dreams never found me that night, my mind and body only managing to sink into the most surface layers of rest. Those layers of rest were quickly chased away by the shifting air pressure, as through the night the island began sinking closer to the ground.

It wasn't long after the island sank towards the ground, still hours before the first vestiges of daylight would come, that I heard a soft knocking on the door.

A deep inhale brought me to sit up with a start. I was thoroughly awake thanks to the changing air pressure, my ears. being rather unhappy with the altitude changes.

"Who's there?" I called out, not too afraid to raise my voice as Tulip was already stirring.

"It's time to get up, Kirin," Carmine's voice spoke through the door, her tone distinct enough for me to recognize even with the muffling. "We need to get you ready for tonight." She added with an almost anxious tone.

"Alright…" With a sight I pulled myself up. I still held the pendant—My pendant—In my hands, I stared at it for several moments before making my way to get dressed and meet Carmine. The pendant disappeared, fading away into my ring as I walked.

I pulled on my school uniform—The gray, form fitting design that was comfortably thick for the cool weather. It took only a few minutes to change before I was reaching for the door, Tulip beginning to properly stir as I did. My hand reached the door, turning it with a soft click to reveal Carmine.

"Good Morning," Carmine started softly. She was dressed as she always was, her high-cut kimono covering her body as it often did. "Ready for today?" She asked with a reassuring smile.

"Do you think I am?" I asked, my expression showing the exhaustion that was wreaking havoc through my body.

"I think you're as ready as you can be. Is Tulip joining us?" Carmine asked with a raised brow.

I turned my head, looking back with some surprise when I saw that Tulip was already up and ready to go.

"Yes, I will be." Tulip piped as she walked to my side, Topaz handily landing on her shoulder when she stopped.

"Very well—Let's go, we have a carriage waiting outside the school." Carmine turned and began down the hall, walking with quick purpose in her steps.

Akemi ran out of the room, jumping onto my shoulder just as I closed the door. I watched as it slowly swung towards the frame, inching closer until the light was snuffed out with a soft click.

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"Kirin?" Tulip asked softly when I didn't turn to follow, her tone filled with equal parts care and concern.

"I'm fine…" I huffed, turning to start following. "I just didn't sleep very well." I quickly stepped past Tulip, jogging quickly to avoid her gaze and catch up to Carmine.

The walk out from the school was one made in silence between the three of us. Carmine had given me a questioning glance, her brow raised with curiosity—But when I didn't return her gaze she looked back forwards.

Cold air whipped into my face when we left the gates of the school, the edge of the island comfortably resting against a purpose-built row of stairs. It honestly almost looked like the island was even with the ground, sitting like a particularly large hill a small ways outside of the city.

If I had to guess, when the island inevitably left it would more than likely look like a large bowl.

"Was this made for the school?" I asked curiously as we approached the stairs, the silence finally growing to be too much.

"The school was made here," Tulip answered from the opposite side of Carmine. "The people who made it knew it would need to land properly one day, so after it first took flight from this spot they maintained the crater for later use." She continued after she took the first few steps down.

"So the school was built on this spot?" I asked.

"Yes it was—The School wasn't always a flying island," Carmine answered this time. "If I remember correctly, the idea started as some absurd idea for safety." She added.

I nodded in silence, somewhat understanding it. My gaze turned from the pair of them forwards, shifting down towards the road leading to the city. My eyes grew wide when I saw just who was leaning against the cart, my body launching into action before Carmine could finish reaching over to grab me.

I flashed down the stairs in a burst of electric magic, leaving Carmine and Tulip behind as I ran. Once I neared the bottom I slowed just enough to shout out:

"Darek!" I called out joyously. The emotional exhaustion felt like it was washed away the second I saw his hardened face, his single emerald eye shining with the smile on his face.

"Ah! Kirin!" He bellowed out, chuckling happily when I without hesitation hugged him. I still was barely up to his chest, but as soon as I felt his arms softly cover my back that momentary annoyance was chased away.

"How have you been?" He asked softly, his hands ribbing my back when I buried my face into his chest. Despite the countless terrible memories, despite what his role once was, I missed him so desperately.

"I'm honestly not sure… So much has happened in a year." I slowly looked up at him, Akemi following my gesture. Both my eyes and Darek's met, a mutual understanding flitting between them as he chuckled.

"Well, happy birthday, Kirin," He said with another chuckle, one of his hands moving to ruffle my hair while he spoke. That lasted only a moment however, his posture growing more serious when his strong hands gripped my shoulders firmly. "No matter what happens today, I'm certain, your family would have been proud. In their place, I'll make sure to be proud too." Darek's voice was so soft, almost like it spoke of personal pain when he mentioned my family. But all of his gentleness was chased away when Carmine spoke.

"Kirin, you shouldn't be wasting energy like that—Today especially," Carmine said with exasperation. She had sprinted down the stairs after me, but without her magic—Tulip had done the same and was quite winded beside her. "Sir Darek." Carmine said with a court nod at Darek.

"Miss Carmine." Darek spoke with uneasy venom to his voice. It was strange to hear any kind of venom coming from Darek of all people.

"Kirin, in the carriage." Carmine said firmly.

"But—" I started, only just properly noticing the large carriage that Darek had been leaning against.

"Go, Kirin," Darek said softly. "We can catch up after your fight, alright?" He sounded rather certain of that, his hand patting my back softly.

"Alright…" I reluctantly agreed, forcing myself to move towards the rear of the carriage.

"Family?" Akemi curiously asked when I approached the carriage's rear. It was a rather large one, easily spacious enough for eight people to sit comfortably within. The exterior was bland, looking more like a sealed wagon for cargo than one for people if it weren't for the narrow door.

"As close as I have to one." I thought back at Akemi—I really didn't know if she could hear me, but I tried all the same.

"Me." Akemi's voice whispered.

"Guess you can hear me if I'm directing it?" I wondered, smiling a little at her response. "But, yeah. You're my family too, Akemi." When my thoughts fell silent I reached out, pushing the door open to step into the wagon.

I paused, blinking with surprise. The cart was ornate, ornate beyond any measure on the interior. The wall was lined with plush seats that looked more cushioned than my bed, golden accents lined the red cloth with a sort of borderline royal elegance.

The walls were even more surprising, mostly by the fact that they were transparent from the inside. The exterior had been completely opaque, looking like nothing more than wooden framing, yet through some sort of magic the inside was almost entirely windows.

Tulip stepped up behind me, even she had a similar reaction when she saw the cart. When I sat down I gave her a curious look.

"So, how is this surprising for you?" I asked, now curious enough to know.

"I didn't think that carts to transport the competitors would compete with the ones Father uses…" Tulip muttered, sitting on the same wide bench as me. There was a comfortable amount of space between us when she sat, something I was thankful for.

"Feeling better now?" Tulip asked softly as she sat.

"Still exhausted…" I grumbled out disheartenedly. "I somehow don't think I'll struggle to stay awake for a fight though." I added with a derisive chuckle.

"You should try and get some sleep—We're a few miles outside of the city, so it'll be an hour or two before we get there." Tulip added, concern clear in her voice.

"And ruin my neck by sleeping without support?" I grumbled, not too interested in having to work out a kink in my neck.

"And since when did you become picky on where you slept?" Tulip asked with a surprise giggle.

"What can I say? I've been spoiled lately." I smiled a little at Tulip. We continued like that for a few more minutes, a back and forth that rather quickly chased away the remaining tension in my body.

I honestly did feel exhausted, I wanted to sleep, but I just felt too anxious to do so. Though, when Carmine still hadn't gotten into the carriage I found myself starting to sway. My gaze grew narrow as I nodded off just to snap awake more than a few times.

Tulip eventually sighed, turning a little so that her legs faced me before she gently grabbed and guided me down.

"Tulip!—" I cried out, more than a little concerned when she laid my head in her lap. But the flush of embarrassment washed away alongside the remaining tension in my body when she stroked my head.

"You wanted something to lay on," Tulip said with a soft smile, her warm gaze meeting mine. "And this is just as much for me as it is for you, Kirin." Her face grew a little torn, but she continued to stroke my hair.

"But—" I started, just to get cut off.

"No 'buts.' Now close your eyes and just relax, alright?" Tulip's voice was soft and… Honestly, so were her legs. She was exceptionally comfortable to rest up against, the gentle motion of her fingers running through my hair a constant source of soft comfort.

"Alright…" I sighed, accepting my defeat and closing my eyes. I really did wonder what Carmine was doing that took so long, but… Maybe she could take longer if I could rest like this. It was so much more comfortable than the dance, maybe even something I liked.

It was nearly at the same moment that the cart began to shutter forwards, Carmine and Darek both having gone to sit at the front of it that I finally drifted off to a comfortable, warm slumber in Tulip's embrace.

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