Peter looked around at the training field, taking in the se before him: pairs of Church soldiers went at each other with actual, though blunted, swords, axes, and pole-arms with those handling one-handed ons wielding shields as well.Figuring it would be a good idea to limber up before he did any sort of exercise he started to stretch, bending down to touch his toes

  Haven’t been able to do this in an embarrassingly long timeThe thought flit through through his head like a fly through the sky on a hot summer day. ?Good on you for stretg before training, hun? Na’at’s tone was warm, and her ‘voice’ whispered through Peter’s mind, ?And… I’m proud of you for earlier.? Mh? For?It took him a moment to realize what she was talking about and he shook his head on instinbsp; Oh, well. I mean… nothing to be proud of: I was just doing the right thing. ?That’s why I’m proud — You stood up against an abusive authority figure… two of them, actually. Doing what is right isn’t always easy after all.?At her words he flexed the hand that had caught Reva’s thick switch — it did not hurt anything, no sting, no stripe but he could not help but still ‘feel’ it — and sighed. No, it’s not.He agreed, but she could sense he still was not sure it was something to be thanked for. ?What’s wrong?? The ale coaxing in her voice were clear. Why thank me for something I should do — I’m supposed to be a good person, so, of course, I'm going to stand up against an abusive teacher going after a child — Standing up for what’s right is something I should have done more of ba my other life but felt powerless to do. ?Because you didn’t just feel powerless, the powers-that-be made everyday people so tired, so down-trod it was hard, if not impossible to stand up for what was right, as you did here and now. “Don’t make a se”, “just go about your day, don’t involve yourself in a stranger’s business”… all those things lead to you growing up being told ohing, then as an adult finding out the opposite.? She sighed, ?I only imagihe hurt and ahat caused in you, among so many others, and was likely a heavy influence of yo—? Let’s just… move on, please. ?I’m sorry, Peter, holy? Na’at whispered. I’m not upset, I just… I want to put that behind him. ‘New’ soul, new body, new life. You know? ?That’s fair, but know that I am here if you need, or want, to talk about anything.? I know and I appreciate that, Na’at.

  “Um… Champion?” Came the uone of a young voice.Looking up Peter found himself almost eye-to-eye with Ennalyssa since he was, at the moment, half-bent-over from toe-touches.He smiled at her, seeing her insecurity in approag him, “Hi. Ennalyssa, right?” “Mhm” She anding straight, Peter nodded, “Just making sure. I always had trouble remembering names, plus being from a different world altogether…” He shrugged, “Though, please, call me Peter.” “Alright, Peytr.” She nodded. Close enough — Peter thought, “Is there something wrong?”She shifted from foot to foot, Peter had a feeling she was unsure of how to say what she wao say so, gently putting a hand on her shoulder he sat down on the grass, “Take your time to find your words. I’ll listen.” He did his best to sound reassuring. “Will you?” She blurted out, the worry and hope in her voice was heartbreaking to Peter’s ears. “Always.” He affirmed.g her fists, a frown creasing her young fanalyssa looked at him, eyes shining as tears welled, “No…” She swallowed, “No one… has helped me… like you did, with Mistress Reva.” She blurted this out,  “Oh?” “Y-yeah.” She worried her fists against her thighs, “Why? Why did you?” “Because what she was doing was wrong, Ennalyssa.” Peter whispered gently, “A teacher, any adult really, should not be treating a young person that way.” He paused, “People shouldn’t treat each other that way, regardless of age…” He gave a crooked smile and ran a finger over the tip of his own, slightly-pointed, ear, “… or how someone looks. Don’t you think?” “…I…” She pced the fiips of one of her hands to her own slightly-pointed ear, “… I do… think that.” She whispered. “So, that’s what I try to do. Treat other people how I wish to be treated myself.” He shrugged, “Sometimes that works, sometimes that doesn’t, and you have to be a bit more firm in your as and words.” “Like with Mistress Reva?”Peter nodded, “She was going to hurt you, swinging that rod of hers like that — I would have tried talking before but… There was no time.” He frowned a little bit, thinking, Pretty sure talking would have done jack-all, though… “Shepherd Vaunn… he said the other day that you were summoned here to be my guardian aor? Not to repce me as the Chosen Hero?” “Right.” He assured, “I’m not here to repce you. Just guide you, help you.” A small sigh escaped his lips, “After today, earlier, I dare-say you won’t be seeing Reva again. Not as your teacher, that is.” “R-Really?” She asked, eyes wide in a sad mix of surprise and hope “I told both Shepherd Vaunn and Shepherd d’Zaire that I would be ment you, teag you, myself from now on since your st one was… wanting.” “What did she want?” She tilted her head to one side curiously.Peter chuckled, “I just mean she was g, in several areas. Like ‘how to treat other people’, for example.” “Ooh.”Peter looked at her and tilted his head to the side a little, “Are there other adults… other people… who treat you like she treated you?” “…” She looked away from him, digging the toe of one of her boots into the grass beh it. “It’s okay, remember; I said I’d always listen to you.” He reassured gently.There was a trembling sigh, aer saw a small tear finally escape, sliding down her cheek. She nodded, “Not… as bad as Mistress Reva.” She whispered, “But… not very many people like me.” Her fingers, both hands now, ran over her ear-tips self-sciously. “That one soldier seems to…”She flicked her eyes up, “You mean B-Broseff?” “The one orried about you beio practice yesterday, I think that’s his name.”Ennalyssa nodded, “He’s one of the ones who are o me. He’s like a big brother.” She admitted, “Some people don’t like him either.” “Oh dear.” Peter frowned, lettialk as he had the feeling this was likely one of the few times she ever got to express her feelings outwardly.She nodded in agreement, “He’s not even a oner. He’s like me.” “What do you mean by that?” Peter asked, rubbing his pointed ear-tips again, “Is he—” “No, he’s fully human.” She expined, “But… he’s an orphan, like me.” “I see, I see.” Peter mused, “So people are mean to you because you’re not fully human, and because you’re an orphan?” “They don’t think I should be the Goddess’ Chosen.” She whispered, “But Shepherd d’Zaier says I have to be.” She gave a quiet sniffle, “I’m trying my hardest… I swear—” “Hey, it’s okay,” He whispered, holding up his hands towards her, palms up, in an invitation to hold his hands, if she wao, for some grounding and fort, “I uand, Ennal—” He did not expect to take his invitation as oo tto him; dropping onto his folded knees and ing her arms around his ned burying her face against his neck — she began to hiccup as her emotions bubbled up, finally breaking through, while she tried to bury them in an attempt to ‘be strong’ or ‘save face’ or something she was likely told to get her to stop beiional. The surprise sted for only a moment before he ed his arms around her protectively, one haing on her back just under her shoulders while the other tenderly cupped the back of her head, “It’s okay, let it out Ennalyssa.” Another hiccup, muffled against his neck, aer could feel a hot wetrailing down to his shoulder. “I’m the Chosen of the Goddess of Light…” Came the strangled words, “I… I’m supposed to be strong.” “You are.” Peter whispered. “I’m not supposed to be weak.” She whimpered, “g…” “Is not weakness.” “I…I try… I’m trying to be strong… stronger.” Ennalyssa hiccuped again, “To fight…” “Anyone in your position would be struggling with the position they’ve been put in… and if aells you otherwise they’re lying.” “But—” “It’s okay.” He repeated, his voice a gentle whisper in her ear, “I uand that you’re trying your hardest. I uand that people are beio you for reasons you ’t help.” He pulled her a little tighter against him and, positively, she gripped her arms around his neck a little more tightly as well. His other haly stroked her head to calm her, “I told you: I will always listen to you, Ennalyssa.” “You don’t know me!” She replied angrily, fingers attempting to cw at his back — but not in anger, not to hurt. It felt, at least to Peter, that she was trying to grip harder so she would not lose him. “You’re right, I don’t. We just met yesterday.” He agreed. “S-So why…” She hiccuped. “I made a promise that I would proted guide you to… someone important. And I’m making you that same promise now — I will be here, for you, to protect you, guide you… to help you.” “You… made a promise… t-to someone i-i-important… about me?” She asked. “I did.” He said gently, moving her back just a little bit so he could look her in the eyes, he wanted her to uand how serious, and more importantly, ho, he was being, “I made a promise to a goddess to protect you.” He smiled, “It’s a promise I intend on keeping.” “… Peytr… help me.” She squeaked, eyes log to his as the tears ran freely “Please…” “Of course I will.” He rest his hand oop of her head, smiling at her.

  “You. Brat!”Ennalyssa squeaked as the familiar voice reached Peter’s ears. Looking up he found himself being glowered down at by the sour face of Swordbearer Havengard, a sneer creasing his lips as his nasally voice broke the silenbsp; “Stop being zy ao your training!” He raised his hand to swipe at her like one would to chase away a fly or other pest.Peter was suddenly on his feet, one arm sweeping the young woman behind him while the ripped at the other man’s wrist. “How da—” He started. “I will tell you what I told your superior, Shepherd d’Zaier.” Peter said simply, “I am doing my job — proteg the Chosen Heroine.” He locked eyes with the shorter man, “She was not being zy. I eaking to her about something important.” “If… let go damn you…” Havengard struggled against Peter’s grip, not hurting him in the least, but invely kept his arm immobile, “If she is not training to fight or learning her lessons then she is wasting time, otherworlder.” He tried to insult Peter. “Speaking of lessons…” Peter let go of the other man’s wrist, “Not that it’s important to tell you—” He gave a verbal jab at Havengard, “—but I will be taking over her lessons.” “And I suppose you’ll be teag her to fight too?” Havengard scoffed. “Unfortunately not. I’m not really a fighter.” He admitted, “So, that’s why I’m here, to learn that myself.” “Mhph. Some bodyguard.” He sneered, “I told Shepherd d’Zaier you were a mistake. Not only are you slow you’re useless.” “I’m not slow.” Peter corrected, “I had just been summoned.” He frowned, “Let’s see how well you do after you’re pulled through a portal and yanked across the void from one world to another without so much as a ‘hold on, please’.” “Hmph.” The Swordbearer scoffed, “I would have been fine, I assure you. My bearing and breeding have ditioned me to be one of the fi in all Aetyros.” “Right.” Peter did his best to keep from rolling his eyes, though his tone held enough disbelief to make Havengard squint at him. “Watch yourself otherworlder.” Havengard poked at Peter’s chest, “Everyone has a pce, and you would do well to remember yours.” “sidering I don’t know…” “You are to do what you are told by your betters.” Havengard snapped, “By me. You are less thahat one.” He poio Ennalyssa, who stood half-behier thanks to Peter’s arm keepihere. “That one has a name.” Peter shot back, “Use it.” “If she earns it.” He sneered, “The supposed Chosen of the Goddess is supposed to put themselves after others, after all.” “To the point of foing their name?!” Peter asked incredulously.Havengard shrugged, turning away, “They are to fight a for others — how they if they selfishly hold on to such things.” He poio a soldier, “You. Get over here. You have a use now.” He turned back to Peter and Ennalyssa, “As for you…” “She was just about to go to Broseff for her training.” Peter interjected, “You interrupted that.” “If you must speak to me, you will do so with the requisite respect I am due.” Havengard sneered, “I am Elbert Havengard. S of the respected and powerful Havengard family. ‘Sire’ is proper.” The sneer deepened, “‘Sir’ or ‘Swordbearer Havengard’ if you must.”It was obvious he sidered those forms of address lesser and, thus, undesirable and uable even though they were proper forms of address for him. “…” Peter looked from him, bad down to Ennalyssa, theurned his gaze to the other man, “Sure, okay.” He nodded, once, shortly.Elbert Havengard’s face torted, lips pursing as if he had just swalloarticurly unripe, sour fruit of some kind.Thankfully, before he could say anything the soldier he called over stepped to his side. “You had need of me, sir?” The man’s voice was a soft baritone, surprisingly gentle. His frame was thick, and tanned from exposure, a good six-and-a-half feet tall, and by the look of his bare chest, Peter figured he was all muscle. Behind him was Broseff. He had followed the other man when Havengard had called out, seeier and Ennalyssa. “You are to deal with him.” Havengard refused to look at Peter, off-handedly pointing at him to direct the new person. He did, however, take note of Broseff and snarled, “And you… I am told you were supposed to be training with that one?” “I generally do, aye, Sir.” Broseff started, “She seems to take to trainier when I—” “I do not care, Shieldbearer.” Havengard snapped, calling Broseff by rank to remind him of his pce, “Keep a better eye. Training is what is important. Nothing else.” He gave a dismissive gnce back to her, “Two extra hours today. I heard how you screwed up in your lessons.”Ennalyssa’s voice hitched as she tried to reply and as Peter was about to say something Havengard cut him off with a wave of his hand. “Save it, otherworlder. I do not care what you think — Oraining field, I am your Lod. What I say is w and you will obey me.”

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