The mists of Du Sverenladen creep forward unending

Strange as the creatures within, form beautiful and roiling.

Blank fronts show All a blanket of total protection

For when everything is bare, there is no need for deception.

“Come to me and be lost,” says the mist,

“I have been here all along. Until the end, I will persist.”

“I have seen eons untold and witnessed all manner of death”

“When your mortal form wears, let me be your last breath.”

“Coming to me does not make you less.”

“I will welcome you with a gentle caress”

“I will be kind. Your fellow man will be cruel”

“I will not demand an insipid duel.”

“Forget the pains of reaching success”

“Forget that which causes you distress”

“Lost, will you be.”

“Not dead, but free.”

“And I will remember all you expressed”

“And I will carry on all you possessed”

“So when the time comes, come to me”

“And find a home amongst the trees.”

- The Mists of Du Sverenladen, Author Unknown

“I’d say it’s nice to see you,” Brynn said, the angels weeping at his wound. “But you stabbed me.”

“You heretic!” The young boy accused, his voice grating in comparison to Brynn’s. “Have you fallen so low that you can no longer maintain a conversation? We have already exchanged pleasantries! Did you rely on Arcus that much!?”

“No, he’s not that good.” Brynn paused and gave the young boy a once over. “Both definitions.”

It took that long for me to get everything that I was seeing through my head. I had no idea who this boy was, but he had his very large sword impaled in the man I wanted as my teacher, and that wouldn’t do. After a moment of consideration, I pulled the dagger from its scabbard and crept around so I was more properly behind the boy.

“You were Chosen of the Heavens for decades.” The young boy said, awe present in his voice. “You were my hero. I was raised on your stories, and now look at you.” He snarled in disgust as he tried to pull his sword out of Brynn, but it didn’t move at all. “Are you trying to steal Arcus?”

“I have to say, he’s rather rude. We are talking now, are we not?” Brynn commented, clearly not talking to the boy. “Hm? Oh, I suppose I had my moments. But that was because you insisted on the cabin, while this one appears to have known civilisation since birth.”

The young boy uttered some divine words and his sword started glowing. He adjusted his grip on the handle and spoke with fervor. “Relinquish my sword, you fie-!”

His divine command was cut off as I hit him in the back of his head with the pommel of the dagger. Really, he had no one to blame but himself. He should’ve worn a helmet if he had come here expecting a fight. Since he didn’t, the boy went down like a sack of potatoes and the glow on the sword faded.

That was lucky. I was banking on the fact that I didn’t recognise him from around town meaning he wasn’t a retired Chosen. If he hadn’t been so hilariously ineffective against Brynn, I wouldn’t have taken that chance. Thankfully, that blow hadn’t needed much strength. Even if I did put everything I had into that strike.

“No. That still lies squarely on you.” Brynn continued talking to the unseen person. “I will say this, All will always supply another. The fact that All has not ended proves that. You could have had a different life, and now you’re stuck with what you have.” He gripped the handle of the great sword and pulled it out while his other hand glowed where the wound was. When the sword was out, he was unwounded, and I had to shake my head again.

Brynn’s eyes suddenly focused and he took in the scene before him. “Ah. I thought the disturbances had become unusually quiet. Thank you, Amber.”

“I don’t want to know what’s going on.” I told him quickly. “I just want training.”

“Well,” Brynn glanced at the great sword in his hand, then suddenly looked incredibly awkward holding it. “We’ll address your weapon choice later, but I’ll compliment your decision not to kill him. Hold this for a second?”

He was holding the great sword out towards me like he was offering it. I sheathed my own weapon before gripping the handle, inadvertently making contact with Brynn’s fingers and blushing because of it. Then I nearly fell over when I suddenly had to support the full weight of the great sword. It wasn’t just a great sword, it was a greatsword, and was thus heavier than any weapon I’d needed to heft before.

Holding it induced a strange feeling inside. It was like being observed within and without, as if my clothes didn’t mean anything to the observer, and, if I had nothing to be ashamed of, that the observer would find me just. That meant they automatically found me wanting because that was the feeling of the Heavens. I really hated the Heavens right now because of my recent interaction with Avien.

So I threw the sword aside.

Who have I been handed to? Name y-! Sounded in my head as my fingers lost contact with the sword. Brynn was lifting the younger boy as the great sword clattered to the ground. The man looked at me in surprise.

“It was being condescending.” I shrugged.

He frowned, but didn’t disagree. “Fair. Angels find it hard to see things from our point of view.”

“That’s not what happened.” I said. If I was going to spit on something from the Heavens, then I wanted any who saw to know the reason why. Or at least not come away thinking the wrong thing about it.

“It rarely is with her.”

“Cease your defamation at once, child!” An imperious female voice declared, sounding more arrogant than I did when I was really trying.

I looked and saw a tiny glowing, golden form standing beside the great sword. It was a woman, decently curved but not to the point that it got in the way. In fact, her ‘body’ was more muscle than anything else. She had long hair and a pair of wings that wrapped around her, affording her some kind of modesty where her transparent and glowing form did not. Despite the lack of details down there, she clearly had a face. One that was pissed off and glaring at Brynn.

“I will not suffer your machinations against my kind.” She continued. “While this smaller child is clearly disturbed, do not presume to poison her with words as you yourself were poisoned by the genieblood.”

“Introductions are in order, I think.” Brynn said, still supporting the boy that kind of looked like him. “Lavina, this is Amber. She is a normal child of Veliki. Amber, this is Lavina, or Arcus if you’re talking at the sword. She is an angel that lost her body and had her mind stored inside that crystal.” He pointed at the sparkling white gem embedded in the guard of the sword. “She raised me, then abandoned me when I entertained the idea of living without fighting.”

“You abandoned your oaths!” The tiny angel snarled accusingly.

“Aren’t angels supposed to be regal?” I asked.

“They are,” Brynn agreed, “But Lavina spent more than half a century travelling with me, Taranath, Weylon, Voxis, and Vycar.”

“Okay. I can see that messing with her.”

“Do not presume to speak of me as if I am not here!” Lavina interrupted us. “I have come here for one purpose, and I will not allow a heretic and a misguided child to delay my champion any more. Awaken, Weldon Pine. My champion!”

Weldon’s eyes blinked open and the young boy groaned. “My head...”

I stared at him with lidded eyes. “What did you expect? You stabbed someone.”

“Weldon Pine…” Brynn Willow repeated, then just started laughing.

Weldon waved a hand at me and mumbled something that sounded like, “I’m always right.” Brynn was still holding on to him.

“Reclaim me!” Lavina commanded.

“Five more minutes.” Weldon mumbled.

“Justice does not wait for the tired!”

That got Weldon up. He looked around with wide blue eyes and started struggling, but Brynn didn’t release him. If anything, that just made Byrnn laugh more. “Let. Me. Go!” He pulled fruitlessly at Brynn’s arm, but he was about as effective there as I was against Casien. It shouldn’t have been as funny to watch as it was.

Suddenly Brynn’s demeanor changed. A divine incantation was spoken. One hand fell on Weldon’s head and the boy suddenly stiffened as magic bore down on him. The Once Chosen of the Heavens wasn’t laughing anymore, instead he bore the face of judgement. It wasn’t just, like Lavina claimed to be. This judgement was one that made its own rules, and gods help all those who did not abide by them.

“Allow me to be perfectly clear.” He spoke, the angels matching his tone with discordant imperiousness. “You are Chosen of the Heavens, Weldon Pine, but that does not make you special in this place. Being Chosen in Veliki is normal. Experience is expected. Manners are compulsory for visitors such as yourself, for the Gods cannot help you if you offend the wrong person.”

He released Weldon and spun him around. The boy did not run even though there wasn’t anything holding him in place anymore.

Brynn then amended that by placing a hand on both of his shoulders and speaking into his ear. The way Weldon flinched was sugar for my soul. “See that girl? She could have killed you. She had the chance, but she didn’t. She’s one of the merciful ones.”

Weldon shook in fear and I rolled my eyes. I knew that Brynn still couldn’t lie, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t use the truth to be dramatic when he wanted to be.

“I came here for training, Brynn.” I reminded him. “I’d like to get to it sooner so I don’t suddenly encounter another Beithir unprepared.”

“A-a-a beithir?” Weldon stammered.

I glared at him. “Yeah, what about it?”

“A-and you lived?”

I grinned at him, just because I knew that responding to that with words would be less unsettling than what I was doing now. It worked. Weldon let out a moan and the pressure coming from Brynn suddenly ceased. The man straightened up and rubbed his hair abashedly.

“Brynn Willow!” The tiny glowing angel fluttered in front of the man, because she was still here and had a voice to add to the conversation. “You have lied to me. You denied being able to train my champion while agreeing to train this-” She glanced angrily at me. “Plebeian girl.”

“What did you just say?” I demanded.

“I have not broken my vow of honesty.” Brynn told the angel tiredly. “I cannot train Weldon Pine.”

“Then why are you training this unworthy girl?”

“Hey!” I shouted, stalking up to her. I shoved the tip of the dagger in front of her face when she rounded on me. “This girl has a name, Lavina, and you would do well to remember it.”

“Amber, is a resident of Veliki.” Brynn explained, passing me a warning at the same time. “I find it curious that you would approach me with this request not but one day after the rules surrounding training had changed. But you’ve come here under misguided information. I can train residents of Veliki only. As Weldon is a citizen of Kreg’uune, I am not allowed to train him.”

“I will not back down simply because of these laws that you came up with.” Lavina told Brynn, once more speaking imperiously.

“Yes, laws that I suggested, but were interpreted and enacted by the council.” Brynn explained calmly. “If you have a complaint, then go complain to the Gods above. They will no doubt entertain your requests more than any council member here that is not myself. Your authority is not recognised in Veliki, though I’m certain that the Gods would listen. Of course, they have little authority as well.”

Lavina looked like she wanted to argue, but couldn’t raise any points to rebuke Brynn with. Weldon, meanwhile, was standing in the middle of all of this. Me and Brynn were on either side of him, while Lavina was flying above his head. We were all talking over him like he didn’t exist.

“I think we should leave.” He said, but his voice was so quiet that only I heard him. It was pitiful.

“Hey.” I said softly so the angel and the Once Chosen could continue their quarrel. I pulled Weldon away and towards the door. It was the most tender thing I’d done in a while. “You’re not welcome here. Wait outside.” Then I pushed him out the door and slammed it shut.

That felt better.

Then I went over to the sword, took a breath to prepare myself, and picked it up by the hilt. The feeling that the Heavens were judging me once more fell over me, but I ignored it and carried the great sword somewhat awkwardly over to the door. That got thrown out next to Weldon and the door slammed shut again.

With that dealt with, I turned my attention to Brynn and the angel, still arguing with each other. I would’ve thought Lavina would notice me treating her body so roughly, but she hadn’t so I approached from behind her and raised my dagger in the same way I had for Weldon and gave Brynn a questioning expression.

I frowned when he shook his head and I sheathed my weapon.

“What the fuck is the problem?” I asked them, cutting into the argument that didn’t seem to be ending.

Lavina rounded on me. “It is none of your business!”

I glared at her. “You’re taking up my teacher’s time. It very much is my business.”

Lavina spun back around to face Brynn. “I am disappointed in how you are bowing to double standards, Brynn Willow. Teaching such an uncouth and ungrateful child instead of my Chosen One.”

“I’m disappointed in your standards.” I told the angel, who predictably rounded on me with angelic fervor. But she was tiny, so I wasn’t scared. “Weldon is blond and has blue eyes. Brynn is blond and has blue eyes. Brynn started adventuring when he was fifteen, and that’s how old Weldon looks. For Heavens’ sake, his name is Weldon Pine!”

Lavina glared at me with indignation. “That is not-”

“The person you should be disappointed with is yourself.” I cut her off, grabbing her angelic form and starting towards the door. She protested loudly and struggled immensely, but her form had no strength to it, and I was soon at the door and ready to throw. “Now go away!”

“Amber.” Brynn stopped me before I could throw the angel out. “As much as I would to let like you throw the angel out, my oaths will not permit me to.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Unfortunately not.”

“I just threw out the Chosen One and the Angel’s body.”

Lavina struggled in my grasp. “Unhand me, child!” I rolled my eyes and unclenched my hand. She fluttered to stand on my head, which I was not happy with. “Explain yourself!”

“The laws of Veliki prohibit retired Chosen Ones from passing their skills on to those that are not residents of Veliki.” Brynn explained. “The normal residents of Veliki, however…”

“No!” I shouted, stepping forwards, and gleefully noting how Lavina almost fell off of my head. She pulled on my hair to stabilise herself, but she was light enough that it didn’t hurt. “You can’t expect me to actually teach that idiot!”

A very tiny, very not painful strike hit the top of my scalp. “That is not how you should address the Chosen of the Heavens!” She was ignored.

“Hear me out.” Brynn held his hands out placatingly. “Being taught can only do so much. Teaching someone a technique or a skill is a great way to cement that knowledge. You’ll come out of it much better off than Weldon will.”

“That…” I struggled to find calm words to use. Every step of the way was another obstacle and it was getting annoying.

“It’s the thought behind the School of Paper.” Brynn continued. “You know firsthand that it works.”

“Please do not remind me of school.” I shot at him. “Fucking fine, but I want to be able to teach him however I want.”

“Just don’t kill him.”

That was the best thing he could have said.

“You would have this disturbed child pass on your knowledge?” Lavina demanded of Brynn.

“She will pass on whatever she chooses.” Brynn told her.

“That is not acceptable.”

“It’s what you get.”

“Wait, wait.” I said. “Is this about Rezan?”

Brynn looked to Lavina so she could explain. Given that Lavina was standing on my head still, it put a strange spin on the scene.

“My Chosen is strong. But he does not possess the physical strength required to use me effectively.” Lavina admitted after an embarrassed silence.

I rolled my eyes. “I noticed.” He hadn’t even been able to pull the blade out of Brynn, after all. “How… deliciously perfect.”

“It is alarmingly ideal.” Brynn agreed, giving me a strange look. “Lavina, I will be teaching Amber in the mornings, cementing that in the afternoon, and she can teach Weldon in the evenings. Unless you have some other commitments, Amber?”

“I don’t.” I said bitterly.

“In that case, will you agree to train Weldon in the evenings that I train you?”

“Fine.”

Brynn looked at Lavina. “I’ll hold Amber to that. Let your Chosen know, and you would do well not to interrupt us. After all, Amber will only be able to pass on what she learns from me.”

“We will await this training with trepidation. Do not disappoint me.” Then Lavina disappeared with a flash.

“I’ve decided that I don’t like angels.” I declared after a moment. “That one was a bitch.”

“That one is the most empathetic angel I have ever met.” Brynn sighed, then frowned. “She did seem quite high strung to me. I wonder how the years have treated her.”

“Has the bitch finally left?” The words appeared in my mind, and I couldn’t quite remember hearing them.

“Please do not refer to our guests as ‘bitches’ Voxis.” Brynn requested.

The lobby had a staircase that lead up to the second floor, and standing on it was a form I hadn’t seen before. The gnome was shorter than anyone I’d met that had lived longer than twelve years, and wore a long white scarf with black lettering I didn’t recognise on it that was wrapped around her neck and head enough times to conceal most of her features. But her raven black hair and eyes were on display, and I met large eyes like black furnaces that passed me over with as much interest as I might observe a dead pest on the side of the road.

Voxis Verygood stared through me and passed her judgement. Whatever it was did not have enough distinction to warrant being mentioned out loud. She looked back to Brynn.

“You have agreed to train another birdie.”

“I have agreed to train Amber, who will pass on what she knows.” Brynn amended. “Are the preparations complete?”

“Preparations took five minutes. You would already be underway with your training if you had the spine to spurn that which abandoned you.”

“What’s this about preparations?” I asked, glancing between the two council members. “I thought all that was needed was a sword.”

“Brynn is a child.” Voxis uttered in my direction. She wasn’t facing me, which made it weird. “He has not grown beyond his phase of dramatics and theatrics. Thus, he is planning to train you in a demiplane that resembles the place where he trained. He has made sure that everyone in the building knows and is now testing my patience.” With that, she drifted back up the stairs and out of sight.

I turned on Brynn and demanded. “What’s wrong with just training outside?”

He cleared his throat and gave an abashed grin. “There will be fewer interruptions this way.”

“We-” I stopped my protest as the good points of his argument registered in my mind. “Fine.” Another thought crossed my mind. “Wait, wait. Is this why you told me to wait a day?”

Brynn coughed. “You needed a weapon first.”

“And is that why you were just standing there with the sword stabbed into your stomach?”

“It was better than letting him wave it around.” He argued.

“What about the magic you used to scare Weldon?” I demanded.

“That-” Brynn paused. “I have no excuse for that one.”

“You’re as bad as Voxis says.” I deadpanned.

“Well, Voxis is perfectly capable of speaking normally. But she still talks like that, so my stuff is perfectly admissible.”

I just shook my head in disappointment.

\V/