Panting, I fell to the ground exhausted.

  Our week here was almost over. I had discovered on the second day that my magic easily removed the soreness from my muscles, and this had excited Sybil to the point of obsession.

  "I'll have to throw out my entire lesson plan. We can train as much as you like, Sophia."

  I had wanted to train as much as physically possible, but over the course of the week Sybil's excitement had slowly turned to worry. And now, on our final day in Guldenfel, she had simply asked me to run around the yard in a circle until I couldn't anymore.

  The answer was only three laps. But, with my magic, I could simply stand back up again and run three more. I'd lost track of how many times I'd done this, and the mental fatigue was starting to wear me down even as I grew more practiced at reducing the physical fatigue.

  Sybil let me lie there as she chewed on her tongue, staring at me with an intense focus while I bid my magic to repair my body in preparation for another three laps.

  "Something's not right here, Soph."

  "Huh?"

  "Catch your breath, first. But tell me, how hungry are you feeling?"

  "Ah... I don't know. Thirsty, but not that hungry, I guess. Why?"

  Her face was still deep in thought when I rose to my feet.

  "And you've been using your magic pretty much constantly, right? Even outside of our lessons?"

  I jumped a bit, surprised that she had noticed. "If we ran into Diana by chance, I couldn't bear forgetting her again."

  "...Yes, at all times, to some extent. Is something wrong, Syb? You've been acting strangely all day."

  Sybil held up one hand to start counting on her fingers.

  "And today you've eaten... a couple sausages? Two eggs? A single bowl of soup? Anything else while we weren't together?"

  "No, that's everything. Now, will you please tell me what's on your mind, Sybil?"

  She sighed, "Sorry, I just wanted to be sure before I brought it up."

  "Soph, you've been working yourself ragged every day, but ever since we started training you this way, you've been eating less every day. I double checked with Tor, and he says you usually eat far more than this."

  I put my hand across my stomach and gripped at the shirt she had lent me. "I hadn't realized..."

  She looked down at the multitude of marks in the ground she had been using to count my laps.

  "And today you've eaten the least of all, but you're still kicking after dozens of laps."

  "Couldn't that be a good thing?"

  "Soph, part of the reason we're doing these lessons is to start building up your strength. If you're not eating, where's that going to come from? Magic?"

  "I... I don't know, Sybil. I've never really thought about how my magic works."

  She leaned against her heavy practice blade and looked up at the sky. Her eyes seemed to be looking at something far away.

  "Back in the place you call the southlands. My home, Corone. I was taught how to fight by my mother. She was a witch hunter, Soph, and even though everyone's magic is personal, I've never heard of healing making it so you don't have to eat. The new flesh has to come from somewhere, right?"

  Her face softened, and she put her hand on my shoulder.

  "We should probably stop using your magic for training. If even you don't know what's happening, it's better to be cautious until you're taught magic by someone who can help you figure it out. I couldn't bear being the one who pushed you to do something that ended up hurting you."

  I nearly fell over in my disappointment. "So where does that leave us? I was hoping that my magic would let us get me sword ready by the time we part ways at the Hiems estate. Is it all going to be for nothing?"

  "Not for nothing, no. Your skill with the dagger is already passable enough that I feel comfortable letting you keep it with you. But you probably won't be strong enough to wield a sword properly in only the few weeks we have."

  I hung my head low, and she reached out to raise it back up with one finger.

  "Chin up, Soph. Building strength takes months, not days. It was always going to be a long shot."

  I frowned. "So... now what?"

  "Now, you run three laps until you're really tired, and then we get you to a bath."

  ---

  I stared at the wall of the communal bath while Sybil mingled and laughed with the other women.

  Alcohol was being passed around, and Sybil was regaling the group with one of her favorite stories about a man she had met in a nearby bar. She had her arms around a couple of them in a friendly hug.

  Sybil had that fun sort of laugh that made her friends wherever she went.

  "And if you ever visit, tell him I sent you!"

  I poured a bucket of water over my head.

  "Why does Sybil only have this kind of story?"

  ---

  As the other ladies went their separate ways, Sybil moved to sit down next to me.

  Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

  I turned away from her.

  "Hey Soph, sorry about that. I saw you were uncomfortable, earlier. I can cut the sex talk around you if it's bothering you."

  "Ah... No, don't worry, Sybil. That's not it... It's, well, it's my issue. I'm the weird one here, it's not you"

  "Weird?"

  My head felt a bit flushed, and I continued to avoid looking at her directly.

  "Uhm. Well, no. Don't worry about it. I'm just not used to bathing with other people, still."

  I could feel Sybil shift a bit, and I suddenly felt like her eyes were piercing through me.

  "Soph, you don't have to talk about it, but you're my apprentice. If something's bothering you, I'm here when you're ready."

  "A-Apprentice?"

  "You saying you don't want to be?"

  "I'm just surprised! Of course I want to be your apprentice, Master Sybil!"

  "Never call me that again."

  "Alright, Master Sybil!"

  Another bucket of water was poured over my head.

  ---

  There was a light tap on the door of my room, and Erika walked in.

  "Erika!"

  I immediately jumped up to greet her, but my legs suddenly felt wobbly.

  Erika dropped her things and caught me.

  "You alright?"

  "Much better, now that you're back. I didn't realize you gathering provisions would mean I'd see so little of you. Where have you been?"

  Erika's mouth twitched, moving to take the shape of her practiced smile, before she allowed herself to frown instead.

  "Getting supplies for my job at the Hiems estate. That took me out of town for a bit."

  She carefully tucked her work case behind the reading chair in the corner of the room.

  I followed the case with my eyes, but turned to look at Erika as she sat down on the bed next to me.

  "How's the inn been?"

  "...It's been fine. Syb's real popular at the bath."

  Erika raised an eyebrow. "Syb?"

  I laughed. "Sorry, Erika, she's gotten to me. It's fun. Did you know she's the reason why Tor never uses his full name anymore? They're great friends."

  Erika smiled as she started to untangle my hair.

  "Yeah... Poor Tor."

  "Poor Tor?"

  But Erika just laughed.

  ---

  With Erika back, the provisions were loaded into a second vehicle for our little caravan: a sturdy cart, and a strong, pretty black horse to pull it. Sybil and Tor packed it tight with spare wheels, fodder for our horses, and plenty of preserved food for us. After they covered it with a pitch-black canvas, we finally took our leave from Guldenfel.

  Everyone seemed a bit on edge about the journey ahead.

  "It's spring, m'lady. One of the wors' times fer this sort of trip."

  Sybil and Ruben had nodded in agreement, looking off to the north as a group.

  "It's not going to be easy, but it'll be good for your training Soph."

  ---

  The rain was coming down hard, and I could hear the roar of the river only a few hundred feet away.

  I was dressed from head to toe in a canvas hood and cloak, and drowning in the smell of the oil that had been used to treat it.

  "Soph, will you... gods damnit. Higher, Soph!"

  I was holding up a wheel, my arms buckling under the weight of it, and my feet failing to find footing in the mud I was sinking into. Sybil and Tor were helping, but my arms were fast turning to mush.

  "Syb, why the hell are you making me do this?"

  "You gotta learn sometime! Now, lift!"

  A mallet struck, and finally the wheel was attached to the axle of the carriage. A metal ring was passed over the end, and with a few more strikes from Ruben, it was secure enough to roll.

  "Eri, now!"

  Erika guided the horses forward, and they dragged the carriage out of the pit that our broken wheel had left us trapped in.

  Panting, but with my task complete, I allowed myself the brief joy of appreciating the squelching noises my hard boots were making with every step as I followed after Sybil.

  "Well, that wasn't so bad."

  Sybil made a warding sign with her hand, sweeping two fingers down her face to the center of her chest, and then flicking them outwards like casting off water.

  "Don't jinx us, Soph."

  ---

  Light peeked its way through the window of the carriage, but I was already awake.

  My body was still jittery with the stress from the night before, and only once the rain had stopped could I find myself relaxing enough to sleep.

  But every small creak or noise woke me back up again. This time, it had been the wind whistling through a small crack in the floor.

  "I hope Sybil and the others were okay outside..."

  I slowly got up, trying to be careful not to wake Erika, but she jolted awake the moment I moved. Her eyes scattered this way and that before resting to look into mine.

  "Everything okay, Sophie?"

  "Sorry Erika, I didn't mean to wake you. It's just daylight."

  She groaned a bit, rolling over to cover her head with her blanket.

  "I can get your breakfast started in a few minutes, just give me a bit."

  "It's okay, I'll just go for a walk. You get some sleep."

  As I opened the door, her hand snaked out from under her blanket to catch mine.

  "Take someone with you, and stay within sight of the carriage."

  "Alright Erika, don't worry."

  I stepped out from the carriage to see Ruben on watch, idly smoking a pipe as he shivered next to a fire he was trying to light.

  "Hey Ruben."

  "Hey twig. You sleep okay?"

  "Not at all, actually."

  He grunted a bit, giving up on lighting the tinder he was holding.

  "Damn... soaked through while I was sleeping. Kept it with me all night, y'know, trying to keep it dry. But my sweat got to it. Irony."

  He sighed, looking up to look around.

  I turned to see what he was seeing.

  The river was still roaring, now further away. It was high, and moving quickly, as spring had begun melting the snow to the north of us.

  The world around us was a steep grade of brown mud and black rock in all directions, with small tufts of green peeking through here and there. There weren't many trees, and what few trees did grow did so in tight, packed thickets along the hillside.

  It reminded me of home, in a weird sort of way. Bump was certainly a lot less wet, but when I looked out, I could see for miles from our elevated position. It was beautiful, in its own way.

  "I was hoping to go for a walk. Erika said I should take you with me."

  Ruben grunted, putting his hands to his knees as he stood to his feet.

  "Alright, lemme wake up the lieutenant to watch the carriage."

  "Lieutenant?"

  "Aye. Tor."

  "Was he... in the kingdom's military?"

  "Ah, no. S'just what I call him, since he's one of Alana's favorites. Bit of teasin' between friends."

  He walked off to the cart, opening up the cover to gently shake Tor awake.

  "Huh."