Umbra stuck to her routine over the next few weeks, trying to wrangle her magic till it was under control and reading in the library. Dovrag didn’t appear at the dining hall for their language lessons and Umbra spent time trying to familiarise herself with Carn instead. It was an awkward weapon, the way it curved and flexed in the air didn’t seem to be dictated by the way she swung it. It had a mind of its own. When she let it rest it would protectively curve around her, its bladed edges obscuring her body as it hovered in the air seemingly defying gravity.

Umbra had gone down to the lava pits once to look for Dovrag. She found him but he was so deep in channelling that he didn’t notice Umbra and Umra left not wanting to disturb him, she guessed he would be there till Master Otaro returned and he could venture into the swamplands.

It was the end of the first month of Master Otaro absence that Umbra ran into Apithe again. Their conversations were a bit stiff as always, Apithe was worried about Dovrag, and she missed their lessons. Umbra could relate. They talked of inane things for a while, both happy to have a break from their various activities.

Over the next month Umbra kept meeting Apithe, Umbra found she didn’t mind Apithe’s haughty manner that had returned when she started to get more comfortable with Umbra. It was nice to have another girl to talk to, she hadn’t had a chat with another since V. Umbra started to enjoy the other girls gossip and descriptions of her home, Apithe was obviously homesick, it made her seem a lot more like a person rather than the cold, aggressive girl Umbra thought she was. Umbra started opening up to her too, not saying much, Umbra wasn’t good at talking about herself, but she recounted fond memories from her childhood, of pranks, played on Mrs. K with V, and food filched from the kitchens, of the festival they snuck out to.

At the end of the second month, Master Otaro returned. Umbra didn’t know how she knew, she was sitting in her room building her figure, and suddenly she felt Otaro’s presence, she put it down to her improved control and sense.

She left her room, curious to see if Master Otaro had brought back any new students.

Umbra lurked in the shadows of the doorway and peered into the morning sun. Master Otaro was already in the courtyard, his back to her and facing three people. The other two barely registered though as she saw the boy in the middle. He was tall and had oddly captivating eyes, they swirled and changed colour, a comforting fire to the colour of the sea. Umbra was so distracted that she didn’t notice Master Otaro calling her name, until the third time. “Umbra step out of the shadows if you would.” Umbra stepped forward, a bit embarrassed at being called out. She walked over to stand behind Master Otaro, the boy with the eyes was watching her, the colour changing from white to match the black of her own eyes.

“Umbra is your senior and one of my most advanced students, she has reached the proficiency of a 20-year mage in only a year,” Master Otaro said addressing the new students, Umbra was startled, Master Otaro had told her something similar before but it was different when he announced it in front of other people. “This should be what you aspire to.” Master Otaro continued and Umbra was distracted from the boy’s eyes by a blue-skinned girl standing on the edge of the courtyard watching, even from this distance Umbra could see the jealousy written on Apithe’s face. While they weren’t exactly friends it was painful to see, and Umbra hoped it didn’t regress their budding relationship. She didn’t want to interrupt Master Otaro’s continued blathering, but when she saw Apithe turn to leave Umbra quickly bowed to Master Otaro and made her way past the new group of students to where she had seen Apithe leave, avoiding the boy’s captivating gaze.

Apithe was walking quickly towards the plains, Umbra ran after her trying to catch up, she wasn’t sure what she was going to say but she felt as if she had to say something best to not let something fester. “Apithe!” Umbra yelled catching up to her. The blue girl turned suddenly, her loose black hair whipping around. Her face was contorted in an ugly expression. “I got my second spell I’m barely a few months behind you and Master Otaro doesn’t even acknowledge my presence,” Apithe said bitterly, “He places you on a pedestal and you murder people for magic, you almost killed me and you weren’t even punished, it isn’t fair.” Apithe’s words hit Umbra hard, she had become quite adept at avoiding thinking about the people she had killed because that’s what those lizards were, people.

“I was punished,” Umbra whispered in reply, “I was blocked from channelling.” But Apithe just laughed in Umbra’s face.

“That is barely a punishment. You almost killed me, you should’ve been expelled from the island immediately.” Umbra was really starting to hurt because she agreed with Apithe, she was a murderer, she had gotten away with little punishment for almost beating a girl to death and then almost putting a knife into her throat. Umbra couldn’t stop the tears that started to fall, she couldn’t remember the last time she had cried maybe a year ago when V had left her.

“I can’t help it,” Umbra managed to say her voice trembling, “You don’t understand what it is like, the only thing I ever want to do is kill, it is always there underneath everything the need for death. You think I want this, I take pleasure in it and it disgusts me, but I can’t change what I am.” Apithe’s bitter face seemed to morph into one of sorrow. Apithe shook her head a bit.

“Wait, Umbra that wasn't me,” Apithe said her voice almost desperate, Umbra didn’t know how to react, Apithe had swapped from bitter and angry to apologetic in a second. “I don’t know what came over me.” Umbra just turned and walked away holding back more tears, she couldn’t deal with this girl, she wouldn’t deal with this girl, she was psychotic and every word from her mouth was true.

Umbra didn’t make it far before Apithe called out to her and Umbra could hear her quick footsteps behind her. “Umbra, I really am sorry.” Umbra refused to turn around, to see her. “Umbra please, you don't un—” Apithe reached out for Umbra, her hand landing on Umbra’s shoulder. Umbra’s reaction was instant lashing back with her elbow, it crunched into Apithe’s nose and Umbra followed it up with a kick to the legs that sent Apithe on to her ass, the killing lust overcame Umbra as it always seemed to when there was violence. She reached to the cuff of her sleeve for the handle of Carn everything was forgotten except the want of death. Suddenly the air hardened around her and she flew backward. Master Otaro was before her, furious as she’d ever seen him, she shrank back in fear, not that the air let her move all that much.

“WHAT DID I SAY WOULD BE YOUR PUNISHMENT,” Master Otaro’s voice was unbelievably loud, but he wasn’t shouting. His presence roiled off him unrestrained and the wind in the field whipped crazily around. Umbra could barely think; such was her terror. “YOUR MAGIC RIPPED FROM YOU.” Umbra screamed as an intense pain arced through her, she could feel something tearing deep down inside her.

“Wait, master, wait,” Apithe said feebly, the stress of Master Otaro’s full presence affecting her as much as it had Umbra. Umbra let out a sob of relief as the pain stopped. “I asked her to, she hit me because I asked her to.” Umbra stared at Apithe, grateful beyond measure to her for stopping the sickening tearing feeling and pain, even if she had put Umbra in this position, to begin with.

“I’m afraid that does not matter Viw’Apithe’Aerroa, Umbra broke my rule, she must accept the consequences.” Master Otaro’s voice was back to normal and the winds died down a bit.

“Then I must be punished the same way Umbra is,” Apithe said a bit of her haughty manner returning. “For I asked Umbra to hit me, I am as much responsible as she is.” Master Otaro seemed to deflate.

“A worthy argument,” Master Otaro said and the bonds of air holding Umbra seemed to disintegrate. She slumped to ground the aftershocks of pain still shook her. Master Otaro nodded to himself and walked away.

Apithe ran over to Umbra as soon as Master Otaro had turned his back. “I’m sorry, this is my fault,” Apithe said kneeling down beside Umbra but not touching her. Umbra just groaned as the last of the pain subsided. She struggled to her feet, Apithe held out her hand to help her up but Umbra ignored it and walked back towards the estate, whatever gratitude towards Apithe she felt was outweighed by the fact Apithe had gotten her into that situation. Apithe didn’t chase after Umbra this time.

Back in her room in relative safety Umbra broke down. Her tears rolling down her cheeks, it didn’t last long though, the thought of Nyx seeing her all weepy stemmed her tears. Umbra could almost hear the approval in the darkness around when she stopped crying. She pushed down all the myriad of confusing emotions hiding them deep within herself, she did not want to deal with them and the darkness of her room seemed to approve again.

Umbra spent an unknown period of time in her room carefully controlling her magic making sure to use it as sparingly as possible so she wouldn’t be forced to leave for food. She didn’t want to see anyone at the moment. Ironically enough it seemed she wouldn’t have a choice, there was a knocking at her door and when she ignored it the door swung open to reveal a brownie. “Master Otaro requests your presence, you are to follow me,” the brownie said in its squeaky voice. Umbra just sighed, it would not be a good idea to ignore Master Otaro.

Umbra followed the Brownie through the estate until it stopped at a door then left, Umbra recognised it as Master Otaro’s favourite room. She pushed the door open, Master Otaro sat facing the door and Apithe was turned to look at Umbra as she entered the door. Umbra stopped frozen in the doorway, seeing Apithe made the emotions she had buried resurface, she spent a second trying to get them under control. “Come in Umbra.” Master Otaro said politely. Umbra tried to behave normally and took a spare seat next to Apithe ignoring the other girl. “I have an apology to make,” Master Otaro said shifting in his seat. “I will give it as a gift if you would follow me please.” Master Otaro stood and walked out the door obviously expecting his students to follow.

They walked out of the estate and past to the courtyard, heading to the portals, Umbra was surprised but stayed quiet, Apithe didn’t however. “Where are we going?” Apithe asked.

“To your gift,” Master Otaro said divulging nothing.

Umbra found she hated the blueness of the portal even more now than she had originally, it was completely bereft of magic, creating an unsettling void where there was once awareness. Thankfully the travel was quick not requiring multiple portals.

The stepped out on to what looked like a wooden bridge but as Umbra looked around she noticed a thick column of wood that stretched upwards until it reached green leaves far ahead, she was on a tree she noticed with astonishment, a colossal tree. “This is a secret world, as far as I know, it only has one portal connection and that is linked to my world, only a few know of the existence of this world. It is also one of the few remaining Daemon Worlds. I will allow you to search for a Companion on it.” Master Otaro looked at both Apithe and Umbra, “a mage is not a mag without a companion. You must find a creature willing to make a pact with you, once made they are a part of you and they can not be sent away. Every creature on this world is a Daemon each one unique, you should have no trouble finding a worthy companion.” Master Otaro walked back through the portal, leaving as he normally did; without fanfare or acknowledgment.