The sun rose that day like all days before it. The sun has no care for the ways of the world, only for the moon. Always chasing or always running. William Divus had yet to decide which made more sense. Today was not like the other days though, at least not for him. His father, Talin, was dead. Leaving Will with sore arms after a morning of digging. Jackson Fallow, his father's close friend, and the baker in Abila found Will resting next to the towering lonesome cedar tree that overlooked the village. It was often a place Talin would take him to train, but that wasn't why he liked it. This hill was the highest place in Abila, and Will would come here daily to climb the cedar, feeling the branches sway with the wind as he went. Sitting at the top he would stare up at the Dremshen Mountains in the distance, where the palace lay behind. With each shift of the branches, he imagined the wind sweeping him up and flying to the peaks of those mountains. It was a dream he would often have at night as well. He loved being in that tree. Today though, he didn't have the urge to climb and so he sat at its base with his arms wrapping his knees and the back of his head resting on the trunk.

"Hey William, I heard what happened. Have you been up here all day?" Looking at the freshly packed dirt and the pile of stones, Jax took a deep breath and continued, "I'm sorry, son. Talin was...well, Talin was a good man. I know he didn't show it, but he was very happy with the man you're shaping into."

Will thought of the lessons with his father and all the beatings he took where Jax was standing, and couldn't help but disagree. His father served in the military but never became a knight even though he had the capabilities to do so with any of the crafts. He chose to hide that he was capable either out of laziness for not wanting responsibility, cowardice for not wanting to be on the front lines, or fear for being a peasant with power. His father wasn't lazy or a coward. Will would have never had thought his father to be afraid of anything, but when the fevers took him, so did the nightmares. He never talked about the war with Ex'ol or the fighting in the Wildlands, but over the past week taking care of his father, Will heard him yelling the god's names. He often heard his father angrily cursing Varuth and Drazen, the god of war and god of death. Most of all though, he heard the name Balin. The god of mischief and misery was no doubt putting these nightmares in his father's head. Will could understand hating him, most did.

Noticing that he hadn't replied, Will stood up and asked a question that's always bothered him, "Jax, why didn't my father become a knight?"

Jax shifted uncomfortably before responding. "Well, Talin was very private. He didn't confide in me much. After serving with him, I'd have to guess it was because he didn't actually enjoy fighting." Seeing Will's disagreeing expression, brought a genuine laugh from Jax. "I swear. He was a beast with a sword, you of all people know. He just didn't enjoy taking a life. I saw him kill a few times, but more often I saw him find ways not to. Listen, I know he was hard on you, but I think it was only to prepare you for the rest of the world. To keep you safe."

Will dusted off his trousers and started to walk back to Abila. Jax put a hand on his shoulder stopping him. "Why don't you come by my place tonight for dinner? Cari is making some of her famous pork stew, and I'll make a nice loaf of bread for us. Damned if I won't get the good whiskey out. How does that sound lad?"

"It sounds great Jax, but I think I just want to be alone tonight," Will replied apologetically. He continued walking down the hill toward the village pausing briefly to look back. He saw Jax standing over the grave he'd made saying his goodbyes. Will had been done digging for a few hours by the time Jax had arrived. He wasn't sitting there because he wanted to be, but because he thought he should say something. It's just that even with all that time, Will didn't know what to say. He didn't say he'd miss Talin because deep down he wouldn't. He didn't say Talin was a good father because in truth he wasn't. Will didn't even give any goodbyes. He looked at Jax and thought, at least his father got one.

***

The sun was almost set when Will heard a knock on the door. Will opened the door to see Jax with a bottle of liquor in his hand and a gentle smile on his face. "Can I come in?"

Will nodded and stepped back into the room. There was a fireplace opposite the door that filled the room with equal amounts of light and warmth. Straw was scattered on the ground to keep some of the chills of the smooth earth floor away. Not that it mattered. With firecraft, Will didn't need to worry about staying warm. A table and two chairs were against the wall to the right. A steel sword hung above the table shimmering, matching the movement of the fire.

Looking at the bowl at the table, Jax quickly apologized, "Sorry, I didn't know you were eating." Once inside, Jax noticed a packed rucksack. He paused briefly, then resumed, "I see. Well, it's a good thing I brought this then." He raised the bottle and shook it slightly, a pained smile appearing on his face.

"Yeah, I'm leaving in the morning. I was going to stop by and ask if you would like some extra space as I won't be needing it," Will stated, gesturing to the room. He walked back to the table and sat, motioning for Jax to follow.

Jax grabbed two cups and filled them with the dark, expensive-looking liquor. "Philosian Whiskey. They keep it on their ships in large oak barrels, and it rolls with the ocean." He handed a cup to Will. They raised their cups silently before downing the warm liquor. Will immediately burst into a fit of coughs. He handed Jax back the cup, who was roaring with laughter. Having never had alcohol before, Will was caught off guard. It warmed him instantly, flushing his cheeks. It had a pleasant oaky aftertaste but slightly dizzied him. "Not too bad, huh?" Jax asked.

Will took the cup smiling after Jax refilled it. "It's good, really. I just wasn't ready."

Jax's eyebrows lowered, his smile leaving. Taking a more serious note, "Do you think you're ready? For going out there on your own, that is. Do you have a plan?"

The smile left Will's face as well, and he looked down at his half-eaten food. "There is nothing here for me, Jax. I don't want to work at the smithy my whole life. I have bigger dreams than that. I figured I'd go north to Sare Vindus and join the Order of the Dragon," he answered. Will wanted to learn crafting. Not just the core five, but air as well. Someone was out that could teach him, or he would find out himself. Will wanted to fly. To go to those Dremshen mountains and beyond. To Ex'ol in the Northeast, and Kantillion in the Southeast. Even to Wildlands, the furthest north the land went. Will continued, "It's only three days to travel to Sare Vindus. I have two gold and a bit of silver that my father left me. Once I reach the King's Road, I'll go to the Waystone Inn and find a caravan that I can pay for a ride."

Jax nodded. "That's a good plan, but there is a lot you haven't thought through. How do you pay to stay in the dormitories? Or pay for food? The University is expensive since it is mostly nobles and the wealthy that go." Jax sighed and took another drink before resuming, "I'm not saying you shouldn't go. In fact, I think it's a great idea. I think there is just more you need to consider. What would your affinity be, metal? I've seen you during your training and I was always stunned that someone so young could swing a sword like you. I think even Talin was surprised at times."

Will smiled at the thought of his father surprised. He did get a hit on his father every so often, but he only assumed it was part of the lesson. To show him how to spot openings in an opponent's defense. "I am getting really close to metal, but I was thinking it would be air."

Jax pursed his lips, eyes sharp, taking a really good look at Will. "Listen, William, only a royal has ever shown any ability with air before. If you're saying you have some, I strongly suggest you keep it to yourself. Nobles don't like sharing with peasants, especially royals. You'll have a hard time at the university as a peasant already. Just stick to metal. Promise me you'll do that."

"I promise," Will replied quickly, noticing the pleading in Jax's tone.

Jax sighed, the tension still visible in his shoulders. "You'll need some help when you get there. Before your father was sick, he told me about a man named Mavin Traunt. Coincidentally, he lives in Sare Vindus. He was a Ferro Knight Peritus and reached Peritus rank in fire as well. Your father says he owns a large blacksmith on the east side of the town, called Peritus Smithing." Looking at the sword on the wall, which had taken on a reddish-orange glow as the fire lessened, Jax continued, "He made that sword apparently. You should approach him and ask for an apprenticeship to help pay during your attendance."

Will sat a moment, considering before replying, "I thought the attendance was free." Jax chuckled, taking another drink of the whiskey, reddening his cheeks as well. Will wondered why his father would know a knight of such high skill, but didn't press Jax on it. Will continued, "Thanks Jax, I'll search for him once I'm there."

Jax poured another splash of the liquor in their cups once again. Will took the cup from him before asking, "What is it like outside of Abila? You've been all the way to Whitefang Outpost and must have seen amazing things. The furthest I've been from home is the cedar tree, and not even taken one step further than the Basset's farm in the West."

"Outside Abila?" He paused for a moment smiling at the memories that flashed before his eyes, Jax answered, "It's wonderful and scary. Exciting, and boring. You'll go through every emotion you can name and find new ones you can't describe. There are lakes as large as oceans. Mountains as giant as the sky." He paused briefly, taking a drink before resuming, "The cities are a hundred times larger, with a thousand times the people. You'll meet sons of nobles. The daughters of innkeepers. Beggars on the street. Treat each of those with the same respect you would a king. You'll be lied to, cheated, and knocked down one day. Only to be picked up and blessed with fortune the next. You'll fall in love, break your heart, and fall in love again. You'll make enemies that want you dead, and friends that would die for you. You'll slay the dragon. Save the princess. Win glory and honor. You'll do all of it and more, I'm sure. First, though, you need to take the first step past that farm."

Will was entranced by the story. Jax closed his eyes briefly, his face showing happiness at the memories and slight sadness with the recent loss. When he opened his eyes he looked at Will. Raising his cup, he toasted, "To taking the step."

Will, smiling excitedly, agreed, "To taking the step."