Livia breathed heavy as she held the blade in her hand. Pavan stood opposite her, calm and collected.

  “I am happy to see that you did not forget any of the training you had undergone while you were away at sea,” Pavan said with a wide grin.

  He held his sparring blade with one hand. Livia had to focus with all her energy on not dropping the blade she held.

  “Are you going to talk all day or are you going to teach me how to fight?” Livia asked Pavan.

  “Who? Me?” Pavan replied with a smile. “I’m waiting on you!”

  Livia tried lunging at Pavan, but even before she could reach him, she stumbled over her own feet.

  “I can’t believe…” Livia said as she struggled to breathe, “why am I so… out of breath?”

  “You spent a lot of time underwater, mostly hiding from a Leviathan,” Pavan said as he extended his hand out to her.

  Livia grabbed his hand and he helped her up.

  “It’s normal for you to be a bit slower after everything you’ve gone through.” Pavan said.

  “But I’ve been back now for several days.” She argued.

  “It’s only been five days Livia.” Pavan replied.

  “So?”

  “It will take longer for you to get back to the same fighting shape.” He replied. “But I can see your progress with the sword. I can see that you are remembering the cues better. To no one’s surprise but you are an exceptionally fast learner.”

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

  “You don’t have to flatter me,” Livia replied.

  “Hahaha!” Pavan laughed in response. “Of course you would think I aim to only flatter you. I am being honest, Livia.

  Livia looked at Pavan who had a wide grin on his face.

  “Fine, I’ll believe you,” she finally admitted. “But don’t tell others I fall for your flattery. They don’t have the same silver tongue you possess.”

  “Oh of course,” Pavan smiled as he replied. “It will be our little secret.”

  Livia could not help but smile. She looked at the window and saw the setting sun. She looked out to the mountains in the distance. Her mind wandered to other thoughts.

  “That’s where that siren went to, isn’t it?” Pavan asked.

  “That is correct.”

  Livia had not heard from Giocco for close to four days now. He had left shortly after their arrival in search of obsidian.

  “I find it hard to believe he wanted to go by himself,” Pavan mentioned.

  “Have you ever meet Giocco?” Livia asked him.

  “No.” He replied. “As an Onsiel he and I barely interacted.”

  “Then that’s why you are surprised,” Livia said. “If you knew him, you would know that is the type of situation he would rather be in.”

  “But why let him go by himself?” Pavan followed up.

  “Giocco mentioned that the process he would undertake, an enchantment, could be dangerous. He didn’t want to try it around other furtives in case there was any unexpected side effects.”

  “That sounds like even more of a reason to send someone with him.” Pavan replied.

  “Trust me, if you knew Giocco you would know this was the best and only choice,” Livia replied. “He might be odd, but he is very trustworthy.”

  “So you think he will succeed?” Pavan asked.

  “I’m sure of it.” Livia said.

  After that Livia left, making her way back to the archive. Despite winter being officially over the fortress was still as cold as ever, the wind did not die as she walked backed. She was covered head to toe in warm clothing and she did her best to move as fast as she could. It was only when she finally arrived at the archive that she paused for a moment. The first thing she did was look around.

  “Giocco, has, has, has not arrived yet.”

  Livia, although not surprised, felt disappointed.

  “Thanks Jaco.”

  “I wi-, wi-, will let you know as soon as I hear from Gi-, Giocco!”

  Livia left the archive and braved the cold once more. This time would be the last time she waded through the cold for the day, and this time she was focused on going back to her own space. She went directly to her room, covered head to toe once more. As soon as she opened her door and closed the door behind her, she did not have to worry about her appearance anymore. In here she tossed her heavy clothes aside and put on a more relaxing outfit. A short dress, the kind she would wear when she was on Trinixo, where ice and snow where foreign concepts to the furtives there.

  Comfortable she paced about her room, deep in thought as she visualized the contents of Ajan’s tablet within her mind. She had studied it so many times that she could visualize it perfectly in her mind. As she thought of it she felt the air in the room cool a bit.

  She looked towards the window, with her mind still focused on the tablet, she instinctively attempted to shut it. She fidgeted with the window with no resulting effect, it was shut close.

  Now there is a draft in the room. Great.

  She did not give it any further thought as she turned around to continue pacing, but something caught her attention from the corner of her eye. At first she ignored it, and went back to her thoughts, but Livia quickly turned her head and stopped dead in her tracks.

  “My Goddess!” She exclaimed, quickly knelt and bowed.