My head blew up with thoughts. It felt I was spiraling for weeks, but this was even worse.

  I am a fugitive now?

  Mariel could tell I was completely in my own head. She put her hand on my arm to wake me back up.

  “Cade.” She started. “You’re alright, It’s obviously a lie and we’re going to prove it.”

  I nodded. “I know. But at the same time, if he believes this to be true he can kill me right now.”

  Veran still remained with a creepy smile on his face, even after I said that.

  I looked down and heard a low hum noise appear out of seemingly nowhere.

  When my eyes drifted back up I saw Veran with a rag polishing his relic.

  Witherband.

  It wasn’t a greatsword like mine, it was a thinner blade, curved, distorted. It was actually the opposite of mine in a way.

  “Cade.” Veran began, running the cloth up and down the blade. “Do you know why I have this blade?”

  I started to nod my head, but it didn’t actually matter if I knew the story or not. He told me anyway.

  “Back when I was an adventurer.” He took out a sharpening stone. “I was assigned a dangerous dungeon. Normally as you know adventurers are allowed to pick and choose assignments, but S-rank dungeons sometimes get assigned to S-rank adventurers.”

  I knew that already though.

  “Now, this dungeon was straightforward. Simple even. Difficult, but simple. The boss however was anything but simple. The empire assigned damn-near every S-rank hunter we had to attempt this dungeon, but none of them succeeded.”

  My face remained blank. I already knew all of this.

  “Then the empire gave seven teams a test.” He stopped sharpening and put the stone away. Admired the blade. “We didn’t know it but the test would determine who would get a relic to give them the power to finish the dungeon.”

  The nodding, blank expressions, and fake intrigue was hurting my face.

  “When I passed the test I made a relic and its power is simple, anything I cut with the blade does not heal. Helpful for fighting a monster that regenerates continuously I’d say.”

  This was dragging. What was his point?

  “Cade,” he lay the relic down flat on the table. “This is quite simple. I’m going to give you a cut that will not heal. And you’re going to bear that mark til the day you die. That seems fitting.”

  I blinked. “What?”

  Veran was dead serious. “Your body with healing magic will seal the wound no problem. But this creates an indent on your body’s blueprint. Tissue, nerves, all of it will cease to have feeling.”

  My head was spinning. “Why? Just wait until I’m convicted.”

  Veran closed his eyes and shook his head. “Unfortunately for you Cade, that will not work for me. As you have defied me since the moment you arrived here. Maybe one small mark should remind you that you are nothing.”

  Hearing those words made my heart race. It felt like drums again. This wasn’t fair. This wasn’t right.

  This was bullshit.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  I looked around for something to use to defend myself but there was nothing.

  My hands yearned for Gravewake.

  I needed it.

  Veran slowly stood up and grabbed Witherband by its handle. I felt the very mana of the blade change. It was like Veran’s intent was solely being poured into permanent harm inflicted upon me.

  He was dead serious.

  That was the scariest part.

  The blade rose into the air, this felt more like a killing blow than anything else.

  As he went to strike down I felt the air in the room shift from multiple places around the room. I then was pushed and slammed into something hard.

  I was a little dazed for a moment but I looked up and saw Mariel had pushed me out of the way.

  How did someone as small as her push me so far?

  But I also saw something else. The blade was being held in suspense.

  Cecilia had blocked the attack with one of her halves of the double sided rapiers.

  Why was she here?

  My eyes were swirling the same as my head was.

  Mariel’s pendant looked like it was depleted of mana.

  That’s how she pushed me so far.

  “Veran, you vile scumbag.” Cecilia started. “You overstepped your place.”

  His angry face returned. “Get out of the way, woman. I’m–”

  Cecilia slapped him so hard he fell to the ground.

  “Need I remind you I outrank you Aldric?”

  He stumbled back to his feet, the slap had sobered him up a little. “No, ma’am. I was just–”

  She slapped him again. Highly unnecessary but felt so good to watch.

  “Idiot.” She sheathed her blade in the void. “You get intel and immediately act on it? Utterly no patience whatsoever. You were waiting until something happened with the kid here and went to act.”

  Veran wanted to speak but Cecilia immediately shot him a look that put it down.

  “This kid wants nothing more than the longevity of the people of the empire. He is determined to achieve that goal by studying hard and training even harder. Yet you wish to punish him?”

  Cecilia turned to Mariel. “Are you injured?”

  Cecilia wasn’t sincere but asked as a formality.

  Then she turned to me. “Kid, you aren’t dead are you?”

  Turns out I had been laying down on the ground damn near lifeless that whole time. That much happening at once I had no way of forming a clear thought or plan so I took the full impact of my body hitting a wall.

  I began to stand taking debris off me from a bookshelf I apparently hit. “No, I’m still alive.”

  She put her hand on the top of my head. “Good, don’t die on me yet. I still need you.”

  I nodded.

  “Now.” Cecilia began. I could tell she was swirling mana in her body. “Let’s let the adults have a little chat now kiddo’s.”

  Mariel turned to me and nodded and we began to leave.

  We heard some distorted yelling as we left the room but even if Cecilia helped us, this felt far from being over.

  We walked slowly back to the crowd, but the world around us slowed with every step.

  I was still drowning in a cacophony of my own despair.

  Mariel reeled me back. “Cade. We don’t have to go back to the formal.”

  My slow steps turned to a halt. “Are you sure?”

  She gave a soft smile and a nod. “Mhm, I’d rather spend alone time with you. Last time we were there Veran made a scene. It makes sense if we just go. I have an idea on where we can go.”

  I shrugged and nodded. “Fair point.” I let out a soft chuckle. “Let’s do it.”

  She walked even closer and had a tear in her eye. “I’m sorry.” Then gave me a hug.

  I was puzzled. “What for?”

  Mariel didn’t pull away. “I pushed you so hard and I hurt you.”

  My head jerked. “No, not at all. You saved me. I’m strong and I can take a hit.”

  She pulled away and looked at me. Her face was red.

  “Let’s head over.” I started. “Let me make you happy.”

  She nodded and gave a peck on my lips.

  It was our first kiss.

  I smiled, I could feel my face turning red too.

  Mariel repositioned herself at my side.

  Suddenly my head was clearer than the past few weeks had allowed.

  We began walking out of the academy. The formal was taking place on the other side so no one even noticed our absence.

  When we arrived at the building she meant it was the guild. There was a secret way to get on top of the building where you could see over most of the houses, but not quite over tall buildings.

  The buildings acted as cover, and we were looking out at the communities, the people, the moon, everything that could be seen we laid our eyes on it. It was amazing.

  After a while I saw her yawn and I knew it was getting late.

  I had leaned against a barrel. “Ready for me to take you back home?”

  She shook her head. “No, I want to first investigate with you to see what the truth is with you and your parents.”

  I nodded. “I understand. While we’re there I can show you what Fenrick dropped off before the dance.”

  She looked at me with excitement. “It’s done?”

  I smiled. “Yes.”

  Her face filled with joy.

  We made our way down from the guild’s roof and began heading home. When I arrived I opened the door and everything was black. No candles lit. Nobody in sight, nothing.

  Did they leave for the evening?

  We heard a noise from the back of the house. I ran through the house to grab my wrapped weapon, immediately feeling the connection to the blade when I picked it up.

  When we made our way to the back of the house we were shocked.

  Fenrick and my parents were beating each other up.

  Why?

  “HEY.” I shouted at them.

  All three stopped and put the same smile they had on earlier in the night.

  “Oh!” My mom started. “How time flies!”

  They stood straight and brushed themselves off.

  I was dumbfounded. “What’s happening here?”