“Lightning? But how?” He asked.

Jasper grinned at him as the air temperature suddenly dropped several degrees. The scarred man only had a moment to look surprised before there was a sudden crackle from the area around his feet.

Strands of water erupted from the ground below him like grasping tentacles. They wrapped around him, completely surrounding his body with water. Then they froze.

The battlefield lapsed into a stunned silence. The ice abruptly vanished, revealing the unharmed Vision. The scarred man burst into laughter.

“Illusions. The earth, the fire, all of it! That’s pitiful. Just convincing little tricks!”

Jasper didn’t respond. Dark chains erupted from the ground and latched around the other Vision’s arms and legs. He tugged against them for a moment, but they held fast.

“Are party tricks really all you can do?” The scarred Vision snarled. “Pitiful! I will-”

Two swords punched through his chest. The chains vanished and the Vision’s body crumpled to the ground, shock still evident on his face. Ethan stepped over the man, stabbing him again to make sure he was dead before cleaning his swords off on the dead Vision’s clothes.

“He sure did talk a lot,” Ethan said, sheathing his swords. “You’re getting lax. You should have killed him before he figured anything out.”

“Shut up. I had it handled,” the gremlin replied, but he gave the swordsman a small nod of gratitude.

A golden flash lit up the sky behind them. A dozen bandits hurtled through the air and disappeared into the forest. Linna stood before a group of guards, her hands stretched out protectively.

Linna scanned the area for her next enemy, but the bandits had already broken. The caravan guards didn’t give chase. As the last of their attackers limped into the forest, the light around Linna faded away.

“Looks like you’re getting a hold of your abilities. Any idea what triggered them this time?” Jasper said.

“Not really. I was just trying to stop the bandits,” she said with an apologetic shrug.

“Fantastic. I don’t suppose you’ve managed to figure your Vision out either?” Jasper asked.

Linna just grinned at him. The gremlin groaned and rolled his eyes.

“How did I land the only Vision in the history of time that can’t figure out what they believe in?”

“Perhaps you’re atoning for the transgressions of a past life. Or this one. But we should get back into our wagons not to delay the good lady any further,” Avril called as she approached them.

The majority of the guards had already started shifting the bodies off the road, and Melinda was impatiently tapping her foot on the ground as she watched from her perch at the front wagon. Her gaze narrowed when she saw Avril, but the caravan master chose to say nothing in lieu of checking the casualties from the fight.

The group walked back to Linna’s wagon and piled into it, lining themselves up against the walls.

“You did very well today,” Avril told Linna. She glanced at Jasper out of the corner of her eye. “I can’t say the same for you, Jasper. That was pitiful.”

“Thanks, I think,” Linna said.

“Go bite an anthill,” Jasper grumbled, pulling his hood over his head and covering his eyes. Ethan let out a large yawn and laid down using his arm as a pillow.

“I have to ask. Why are you here? You’re a Vision, aren’t you?” Linna asked Avril.

“I am,” Avril said. “One of Jasper and Ethan’s old travelling companions.”

“One? You mean there was a whole group?” Linna asked. Jasper coughed loudly and rolled over, kicking at Avril from his position on the floor.

“If you couldn’t tell, he doesn’t like talking about us very much. Unfortunately, I’m going to have to make an executive decision.”

“Wait, what?” Jasper yelled, jumping to his feet. Avril drew her dagger slightly out of its sheath at her side and the gremlin slammed to a halt as a wave of gray energy pulsed out of Avril’s body.

It rippled across the floor like a slow wave. Jasper and Ethan vanished the moment it touched them, but it passed through Linna harmlessly. Her eyes flashed golden and she reached for her sword. Avril turned to look back at Linna. The tall woman’s eyes had turned completely gray, like an endless expanse of dead space. Linna’s light winked out as if it had never been there.

“Calm down,” Avril said. “We just needed to talk alone. They will be fine.”

“What did you do to them?” Linna asked.

“I temporarily removed them from this plane of existence if you must know. Nothing major.”

“That doesn’t sound like a minor problem to me,” Linna said doubtfully, but she let her hand fall away from the hilt of her sword.

“You made friends with them quite easily,” Avril said, changing the subject.

“I owe Ethan a life debt, and he’s teaching me to fight for free. Jasper is teaching me how to be a Vision. There’s no reason why I shouldn’t be friends with them,” Linna said.

Avril raised a hand, shaking her head.

“I wasn’t trying to say that. But you really don’t know that much about those two. And frankly, if Jasper had his way, you’d never learn more.”

“Everyone has their secrets,” Linna said. “I’ve got my fair share of them as well.”

Avril let out a small laugh. She saw Linna’s disgruntled expression and gathered herself back together.

“I’m sorry. I hope I haven’t offended you. Your secrets are not on the level of Jasper’s. They are personal, but his are not. Furthermore, this information is very pertinent to you,” Avril said.

“Why does it seem like you’re implying that you know my secrets?” Linna asked suspiciously.

“Because I do,” Avril said with a dismissive wave of her hand. “But that isn’t important. You’re in danger. Every minute you spend with Jasper and Ethan is a possibility of being attacked. You should know that already. You saw the Vodrun back during your first job with them.”

“How do you know about that?” Linna asked in surprise.

“I’m in the business of knowing things,” Avril said. “But that doesn’t change my point. They’re being hunted. As long as you remain in their company, you need to be aware that you are also in danger.”

“The Vodrun, right? Those monsters didn’t look like they were working for anyone with good intentions. I’d be doing the world a favor if I helped Jasper and Ethan kill more of them.”

“I won’t answer that. I didn’t bring you here to control your actions. I have just ensured you are aware that you will know no rest if you continue to travel with us. Jasper and Ethan have racked up very many enemies,” Avril said.

“I appreciate the thought,” Linna said after considering Avril’s words. “However, I’m not a stranger to being hunted. I will be cautious, but I have a debt to pay. Besides, I need a teacher for my Vision powers, and I’m not going to easily find one anywhere else.”

“You have been informed. Your loyalty to your beliefs is commendable. I hope you can keep it,” Avril said.

Another gray pulse ripped out from Avril. Jasper and Ethan popped back into existence and Avril leaned back against the wagon. Jasper pulled his hood back and glared furiously at Avril.