The days dragged on, steadily growing longer and hotter as the first day of summer fast approached. The vibrant flowers that colored the trees and bushes of the Anuk grounds during the spring had grown sparse, replaced by leafy foliage that only seemed to grow thicker and more radiant as it fed on the abundant sunshine. Despite this, the carefully curated forest was still filled to the brim with color.

Those who had meticulously planned out the grounds in advance wouldn't allow such spring beauty to be replaced with nothing but a sea of green. As such, the parks, trails, and places of rest and leisure were filled with vegetation that sprouted leaves of all hues. It was done in a way that made the seemingly random placements of plant life come alive as a living mural whenever the breeze blew or clouds shifted.

There was a spot on the northern side of the estate that exemplified this well. It was a place full of gardens, trickling streams, and vine-covered archways. There were winding, circuitous pathways that led a person through scenes filled with foreign flora—plants from all over the world arranged together to make living works of art. Some gardens showcased waves of deep royal purple accented by streams of navy and hints of orange and dazzling yellow, reminiscent of the sky at sunset or the light that lingers in the darkness of the soul. Others were more vibrant, using not only contrasting colors but differing sizes and scents to create living paintings of faraway lands. Those were only a few examples of the true artistry put on display at the estate.

Despite the breathtaking beauty, the place was one of the least popular areas on the grounds due to its distance from the Lodge. As a result, those who roamed its trails often found themselves alone and unbothered, able to appreciate its wonders in peace.

Kora was quite fond of the park, having spent no small amount of time there as a young girl—sneaking away from the prying eyes of her family to meet with the young man who would one day become her life mate. It wasn't until much later that she discovered her mother, the current matriarch, had been well aware of her "secret" courting with Kobi. Looking back, Kora should've realized something was off. After all, no silver-ranked beast could breach their walls, yet somehow her love, a mere high-tier copper, managed to sneak through their defenses multiple times a week.

Even after they were mated, they would spend evenings together among the gardens. Once they had children, they brought them there as well, using the privacy for quality family time—even if the children did manage to ruin a garden or two throughout the years.

Perhaps that was why the place was so often empty—the other family members not wanting to linger somewhere so close to the future matriarch's heart, leaving the park to her and her immediate family. Whatever the reason, Kora didn't mind; it simply meant more time to herself without the pressure of the family weighing on her shoulders.

Unfortunately for her, now was not one of those times, as she was not alone. She was joined by Isla Joreen, the two women strolling casually through the gardens, enjoying the sights as well as the sounds of the birds and the running water.

Kora had been spending personal time at the center of the gardens, quietly meditating in a gazebo when a nervous messenger interrupted her, informing her that she had a visitor. While slightly annoyed by the timing, Kora had expected Isla to reach out at some point. What surprised her was that the cannid woman had waited so long. Kora would never say it aloud, but she thought Isla could be a little too curious for her own good—one might even call her nosy. Still, she was glad the wolf-woman didn't act as though she were entitled to know everything.

"You know, if you wanted to see me, you could've visited me two days ago while I was at my family's townhouse in the city," Kora said, still slightly peeved about being disturbed. "You didn't have to come all the way up here."

Isla gave her an apologetic look, knowing full well she'd called on Kora at a bad time. "I didn't intend to disrupt your personal time—for that, I'm sorry. However, we both know that being heads of our respective families comes with responsibilities. I would've preferred to speak with you in the city, but I found myself consumed with matters regarding the family business."

Both women knew it was a polite fib, as both shared a similar position, as Isla had pointed out. While Kora typically had her schedule packed with family and business matters, neither could stop her from making a day trip if she pleased. In comparison, a jaunt across the city to meet other aristocrats was practically work. The questions, then, were why Isla had waited until now and why she had visited at all.

Kora, of course, was certain she knew the answers to both but wanted to hear them from the cannid herself.

"Well, you're here now," she smiled invitingly. "What brings you by?"

"I can't stop by to see an old friend?" Isla asked, returning the smile.

Kora simply gave her a knowing look, and one of the cannid's ears flicked. Kora wasn't under any illusion that Isla didn't have perfect control of her actions—whether that be her tail, her ears, or her aura. The move was simply to show that she knew she'd been caught.

"You know, our little girls have always been close," Isla started. "I'm glad Luna had someone her age to grow up with—someone of equal status. When I was pregnant with her, I was afraid she might never have the opportunity to make real friends. That was until I heard you and Kobi were expecting as well."

"Yes," Kora nodded. "I feared the same for Akira. Koshi was already ten by the time she was born and had no interest in spending time with his little sister at that age—or even through his early adolescent years, for that matter. Even as we traveled parts of the world with her, she only had passing acquaintances, and it's been the same with her cousins. I'm glad she had Luna to turn to."

The pair stopped before one of Kora's favorite gardens. They looked out over a decent-sized pond, and behind it were plants that matched the color of the water, giving the impression of a vast sea. Atop that sea were many ancient vessels locked in a naval battle. The scene was so vast and detailed that individual leaves served as members of the crew. As the breeze blew, ripped sails flapped, waves heaved, and the smoke of burning ships drifted across the horizon.

"Of course," Kora smirked, "I say all that knowing you're priming me for something."

"Considering their friendship, I've always hoped they'd one day be on a team together," Isla admitted. "Both for their own sake and for our families. For them, it would allow them to spend more time together while making their exploration of the world far safer. As for us, the Anuks and Joreens are two of the most prominent families in the region, and with our girls on a team, it would only help cement bonds between us—providing greater protection from other families or powers while expanding our influence abroad. The Anuks have business ties in places we don't, and vice versa."

Kora stood there and listened, suppressing a grin. She'd correctly surmised Isla's reason for coming. She had been expecting this conversation for years, and now that Akira was forming a team, Isla had finally come to advocate for Luna. To be fair, Kora had given it plenty of thought herself. She knew all the potential benefits—and the possible downsides. Even so, Kora was rather hands-off when it came to Akira's decisions. Mostly.

Akira was her own woman—or at least, Kora wanted her to be. She wouldn't be around when Akira finally ventured into the world. By then, Akira needed to be able to handle herself and make her own choices—including who she'd allow on her team. For a while, Kora thought Akira would go at it alone, uninterested in joining or forming a team of her own. Thankfully, Lukas's appearance changed that—if unexpectedly.

However, with Lukas on her team, adding anyone else meant they would likely discover that he was an outworlder. To avoid that, he'd have to hide his racial abilities—and while Kora didn't know what all of them were, she was certain he used them in combat. She found it difficult to explain his absurd strength otherwise. There were ways, of course—Lukas wasn't the only person Kora had met who was stronger than their apparent level—but those others had grown up around magic and trained their entire lives. Lukas had not. Hiding his full capabilities would only invite unnecessary risk and injury.

Ultimately, Kora thought it best that Akira and Lukas remain a pair for multiple reasons—but again, it wasn't entirely her decision to make. Besides, there was no way for her to turn Isla down outright; doing so would only seem suspicious or harm relations between their families.

"It's a wonderful idea," Kora said warmly. "Though I'll have to speak with Akira first. I can't just foist someone on her, no matter who."

"Excellent," Isla crooned, her tail swaying with pleasure. "When can we expect a response?"

Kora shot her a sideways glance. "It'll be a while. Akira's out of the city for a few days, and I'm not sure when she'll return."

"Oh?" Isla asked, turning to Kora in surprise. "Where is she?"

This time Kora turned fully, giving her a look. "Come now, Isla, there's no need to pretend at this point. We both know why you didn't come sooner."

"Very well," Isla huffed, her tail swishing in annoyance once, then twice before stopping. "What of the boy on her team—Lukas?"

"Straight to the point now, are we?" Kora smiled.

"I'd like to know more about the man my daughter might be fighting beside," Isla insisted. "Rumors have spread quickly, and I'd like to know what's true."

"You have a point," Kora conceded with a nod. "What have you heard exactly?"

"Plenty—most of it outlandish. There are a handful of things I disregarded out of hand, but others... I'm not so sure," Isla said. "Are they courting?"

"Not so far as I'm aware," Kora shrugged. "Though the two do spend a lot of time together."

"Do you want them to court? I heard he's a commoner. I wasn't sure if I should believe it."

"I may or may not be giving them the occasional prod, but I'd never force anything on them," Kora said, her voice gaining a slight edge. "As for being a commoner—well, we were all commoners at some point, Isla. The Anuks haven't forgotten that. It keeps us humble—though some of the other, much older, noble houses could use a reminder."

"So it's true," Isla murmured, idly picking at her pristine dress in response to the rebuke. "Was he truly sent by Kobi? He must be quite the talent to have traveled so far."

"He was," Kora lied smoothly. "And Lukas is nothing if not talented. I haven't seen anything like him in all my years. Since the day he arrived, he's done nothing but work himself to the bone, absorb knowledge at a frightening pace, and train as if his life depended on it."

"And what is he like? So far as I know, no one's spoken to him—not even Luna."

"He isn't one for conversation, no. It takes time for him to feel comfortable around people, and with all the attention on him lately, he isn't exactly eager to socialize."

"Are you planning to introduce him to high society? Being part of Akira's team will bring politics into play."

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

"I've given it some thought," Kora admitted, hiding a reluctant grimace. "I would've liked to wait a bit longer, but with all the noise surrounding him, it'll have to be sooner. The poor boy had a rough enough time during the family's announcement. I can't imagine he'll be thrilled to face the region's most influential people next."

"Really? Where's he from exactly? Most would jump at a chance like that."

"He's from a village near Lighthollow, other than that, I can't say. He hasn't shown much interest in sharing what his life was like before coming here. As for the powerful—Lukas isn't exactly deferential. Not even toward me," Kora said, mixing truth and fabrication.

The two continued talking for a while, Isla asking seemingly harmless questions while Kora deflected gracefully. There was only so much she could say about Lukas before suspicion arose, so she answered in colorful, roundabout ways—telling as much truth as possible. Lies only made things harder later when you had to spin a web of them.

At first, she didn't mind. As Isla had said, she wanted to know more about Lukas before considering her daughter's placement on the team. The questions were simple at first—things anyone might ask of a new acquaintance. Kora also saw a chance to dispel a few of the wilder rumors. Lukas would appreciate that much—the less interesting he seemed, the less attention he would draw.

But when the questions began turning more personal and detailed, Kora decided enough was enough.

"Isla," she interrupted sharply, "I hardly think you knowing the intricacies of Lukas's training regimen is appropriate. I understand your concern for Luna, but this is excessive. Why are you pushing so hard for information?"

Isla was silent for a few moments, as though weighing her words. "When Luna met Lukas, she said she found him curious. Yet from what you've told me, he doesn't seem that way. His strangely strong soul is interesting, yes, but stranger things have happened. Other than that, he seems a regular talent and a fine catch—a stellar one, even—but I don't see what captivated her."

The two continued walking the park in silence for a while before Isla spoke again. "Would it be possible to meet this Lukas? I'd like to get a sense of him myself."

"I'm sure it will happen soon enough," Kora said, masking her caution. "The solstice festival is approaching, and I plan to bring him to the ball to introduce him."

Isla nodded, a small smile curving her lips. "Then I'll speak to him there—and perhaps by the end of the night, Akira's team will have one more member."

***

Tucked away in a corner of the bustling bazaar, Elias spoke with Marcus as the rest of their team haggled with stall owners over the prices of equipment and natural treasures.

"Have you found anything?" Elias pressed.

Just a few weeks ago, he'd tasked Marcus with uncovering more about the mysterious man hanging around Akira. In that time, Marcus had managed to gather a handful of details—but nothing concrete. Just whispers and rumors, half-truths impossible to verify. Then, just over a week later, word began to spread that Akira had officially started a team with the newcomer, Lukas. A name that Elias was beginning to find grating.

It was difficult to separate truth from gossip, especially when word spread so quickly. Thankfully, Marcus had access to information brokers in the Under City and a few firsthand sources of his own.

"Yeah," Marcus grinned, leaning against a post. "In fact, I got a new informant—a guy on one of the Anuk teams. He's disgruntled about being kept out of the upper family circle. He was there the night of the announcement. Apparently, this Lukas is some bumpkin from around Lighthollow—had a lucky run-in with Akira's brother and got sent here."

"What?" Elias hissed, his blood turning to a boil. "You're telling me he's a commoner!?"

His face flushed with righteous fury. The memory of Akira giving his flower to that dirty-blooded cretin flashed before his eyes, and he had to stop himself from breaking something. The thought of those two together made his stomach twist with disgust and his hands tremble with rage. She was his. Why, in the name of the gods, would she prefer that peasant to him—someone whose family was rising in prestige and could trace its lineage to noble blood?

Seeing his anger, Marcus clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Relax. From what my informant said, the guy isn't exactly charming," he snickered. "After the announcement, they paraded him around to meet the family, and he barely said a word. Wouldn't surprise me if he's some kind of weirdo."

That mollified Elias a little. It didn't stop lessening the pit in his stomach, knowing how dangerous and depraved someone so dark and quiet could be. Akira wasn't safe with that mask man, and Elias burned with anxiety knowing she was on a team with him.

Closing his eyes, Elias took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. "I didn't mean to snap like that. Thank you."

"It's fine," Marcus said with a wave. "We all know you've been stressed with your family's situation lately. Having some masked freak swoop in and hang around the girl you've been eyeing doesn't help. You wanna lay the guy out, we'll be right there with you."

Elias nodded in appreciation before moving forward through the market crowd. "What you said makes sense. I've heard the same rumors—that he barely goes out, doesn't talk to anyone. Do we have any information on their current location? As far as I know, no one's seen them since that morning they ran from us."

Marcus's grin faded slightly. "Well, apparently that guy, Lukas, made an impressive showing in their illusion arena, and the future matriarch ordered them to go out past the estate's restrictions and gain levels."

Elias froze, "They're out there alone?!"

Just the thought of the two alone for days on end made his blood boil. His imagination filled with scenes that stoked his jealousy and hatred further.

"Do you have anything else on him?" he demanded.

"Some of the family's suspicious of the guy," Marcus offered. "Rumors say he just appeared one day, right around the time all those contracts were being poached up north. Apparently, Akira came to get him in the city, and the matriarch sent other family members already there to meet her. They went to some library, then met with someone higher up in the family. After that, Akira came out with Lukas and headed for the estate."

"That's... suspicious," Elias muttered, frowning. "Do you have any more details on that meeting?"

Marcus shook his head. "No, and what I told you is secondhand. Do you want me to dig deeper?"

"Yes," Elias said without hesitation. "That meeting doesn't match what was said at the announcement."

"That's what I thought," Marcus nodded. "And there are a few other things I've been hearing too."

Elias turned to him sharply. "Such as?"

Marcus hesitated before continuing. "Apparently, Akira's been spending more and more time training privately with Lukas. People say he's her partner, not just in battle, but in... other ways."

Elias's jaw tightened, and a dangerous silence fell between them. The noise of the bazaar—vendors shouting, children laughing, coins clinking—seemed to fade around him.

"That's just gossip," Marcus added quickly, sensing the fury rising off his friend. "You know how people talk. But, if I'm honest, it's weird how much the family seems to protect him. Nobody knows where he's staying, and anyone who asks gets shut down fast. Even people from the estate can't get close."

Elias glared into the distance, barely hearing him. "He's hiding something," he said, voice low and cold. "And I'll find out what."

Marcus gave a sharp nod, eager to keep his friend's temper directed elsewhere. "Then I'll keep my ear to the ground. If anything new comes up, you'll know first."

Elias said nothing, his gaze still fixed forward, hatred twisting into something colder—calculated. "Good. Do that. Because if that peasant thinks he can take what's mine... he's got another thing coming."

***

Andrea moved through one sword form to the next, fighting imaginary beasts in slow motion. She had recently come across a book detailing advanced stances and techniques and had done her best to memorize what she could. Now she was trying to put that memory into her muscles.

Back step, slash, deflect, forward, stab.

She repeated the words in her mind like a mantra, speeding up as her movements gained confidence and rhythmic precision.

Andrea had always been more of an instinctual fighter—out of necessity rather than preference. Her family had never been exactly flush with coin, and it didn't help that her three older brothers used whatever resources were available for their own training and equipment. She might have been bitter about that if not for one thing: she had been born without magic—the only one in her family.

She had spent most of her childhood believing she would live and die on her parents' farm, tending crops and livestock. That changed when, at the age of ten, she stumbled upon a natural treasure deep in the forest—a strange, pulsing crystal buried in the roots of a fallen tree. She hadn't known what it was, only that it called to her. Without hesitation, she absorbed it.

The pain that followed was more than any ten-year-old should have endured. It felt as though she'd been set on fire and plunged into molten metal, the agony burning through every nerve. The sensation of heat remained long after the pain faded, and when she finally stumbled home, her parents had barely recognized her. Her once blonde hair had turned the color of flame, and her blue-green eyes had become a shocking icy blue. That, and she now possessed a fire attunement.

From then on, her life changed—but not entirely for the better. There wasn't much for Andrea in the way of equipment. Her first armor set and sword were hand-me-downs from her brothers. Training was no better; all she knew came from what her family could teach. It wasn't until she began taking contracts and earning coin that she could finally afford armor that fit and a blade that felt right in her hands.

Now, years later, she had decided it was time to push herself—to be more than just a brawler with decent instincts. That meant learning true technique. Unfortunately, the books and scrolls required weren't cheap, and the coin her team earned was quickly devoured by supplies and travel expenses. Even so, she made steady progress.

She was practicing in one of the four sparring arenas in the city. Around her, adventurers sparred, mingled, and traded tips. She could have trained in the small plaza attached to their lodging, which would've saved her the trip, but it was often crowded with people relaxing after a long day. The arena, on the other hand, offered inspiration; she could watch higher-ranked adventurers display techniques she might one day emulate.

She was halfway through her next form when she caught a few words from a group training nearby.

"—the guy with the mask? The one with the glowing orange eyes?"

"Yeah, that's him!" a female voice exclaimed. "Someone said he was—"

Andrea almost stumbled, her concentration breaking as her curiosity flared. She knew immediately who they were talking about. Ever since the incident weeks ago, she hadn't been able to get the masked man out of her mind. It frustrated her to no end. Her curiosity had morphed into something dangerously close to obsession. She'd heard plenty from others—rumors, speculation, gossip—but none of it satisfied her.

Still, she wasn't alone in that fascination. The man had become the talk of the city over the last week, though the gossip was starting to fade as new stories replaced it. Even so, Andrea felt compelled to know more. Why not join in?

Sheathing her sword, she strode over to the group and smoothly inserted herself into their circle.

"I heard he's some important foreigner," a female scalekin said excitedly, "that he's here to strengthen ties between the Anuks and his people."

"What?" a skeptical cannid asked. "Didn't you hear? Kora Anuk herself said he was from Lighthollow. How can he be some fancy foreigner?"

"Where in Lighthollow is he from? Has there been any word on that?" Andrea asked, unable to help herself. She was a native of one of Lighthollow's many surrounding villages and had already heard that the man was supposedly from there. She had never seen him before Pinewood, but perhaps she'd recognize the name of his village.

"Nah, nothing," a human said, shaking his head. He turned toward the cannid. "But maybe she's right. Maybe the whole Lighthollow thing's a cover—to make people think he's not important until whatever they're planning gets finalized."

A different Cannid scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Don't be daft, Rich. Not everything's some grand conspiracy. Personally, I don't see what everyone's so worked up about. It's just some guy, isn't it?"

"One: nothing ever happens around here," the male cannid countered, holding up a clawed finger. "Two: it's Anuk business. That alone makes it important. Not only that, but it's Akira. Everyone wants to be on one of their teams—they don't skimp when it comes to training their own. Getting on her team? That's a once-in-a-lifetime shot. So this Lukas guy joining her means two things: one, he's strong, and two, Akira's started a team—and might be recruiting."

"So the guy's name is Lukas," Andrea murmured to herself. "What's so special about him?"

The female scalekin piped up again. "Yeah, that's his name—Lukas, Lukas Hell or something? I heard he's super strong and completely dominated in their illusion arena. Supposedly, Kora Anuk herself is teaching him aura control. Which is insane—why would she even train a copper?"

"Marie, who are you hearing this from?" the human, Rich, asked. "None of that sounds real. Especially that name. Whose last name is Hell?"

"No, she's right about all of it," the female cannid interjected. "I heard it from a girl on one of the Anuk teams. And his last name's Hellstrand, not Hell, you moron."

Andrea crossed her arms, deep in thought as the group kept debating. She couldn't tell who to believe. Each new claim sounded wilder than the last, but they all revolved around the same man—the masked stranger who had caught her attention from the start.

One thing was certain, though.

She wanted to know more.

'Who are you, Lukas Hellstrand?'

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