"Why do you the idea so terrible?" Seeing her issues through Solus’s eyes made her worries seem so small that Tista was almost ashad of herself.
"I’m not a thing, okay?" Solus lashed out in frustration, it was the first ti she had ever laid her worst fears bare in front of soone that wasn’t Lith.
"I have feelings, mories. I learn new things every day. What would you do if you lost the person you have spent your whole life with? Soone who shared every one of your feelings, dreams, even thoughts. You can’t simply replace such a person with a random stranger and move on."
"I’m sorry. I didn’t an to offend you." Tista had never considered Solus like an object, she simply didn’t expect her to be so fond of her brother.
"What kind of relationship do the two of you have?"
"I don’t know either." Solus’s voice sounded depressed.
Solus shared with Tista how her lack of a body made her feel incomplete. How she hated being just a voice in his head. To be always powerless whenever soone needed her help.
After hearing about all the things they had gone through together, Tista believed to have a proper answer to her own question.
"If after sharing so much for so many years you two don’t hate each other’s guts you must be soulmates!"
"Thanks, your words an the world to , but you are too kind and na??ve. It’s only because of our bond that we share so many things. I forced it on him years ago, otherwise I doubt Lith would have opened to . I think he likes , but more like a friend. Phloria instead..."
"What about Phloria?" Tista hoped for so juicy gossip. Neither the Verhen or the Ernas had any idea how close the two actually got during the academy.
"Sorry, but it’s not up to
to tell. Let’s go back to the tower."
***
During the weekend, Lith taught Tista about fusion and spirit magic. Whenever she had free ti, he would pass on her all of his knowledge about true magic, all the tips and tricks he had learned over the years to disguise it as fake magic or make use of it during the exams.
He also introduced her to Phillard, Reaper, and Lifebringer. Tista had never spoken with a magical beast, let alone with an Evolved Monster. In her eyes, they were all big and scary. Phillard with his serpentine body and two clawed arms was apparently the most nacing of the three.
At least until she noticed they were as scared of her brother as she was of them. Reaper the Manticore had the body and the head of a lion with quills like those of a porcupine protruding from most of his body. He was big enough to look Tista in the eyes.
He also had black feathered wings on his back, horns like an ibex on his head, and the tip of his tail was a mass of quills. Each one was infused with a different elent and ready to be thrown.
Lifebringer the Kirin had grown even bigger, developing a new horn in the center of his head and what looked like a long beard made out of erald flas covered his chin. The four of them would practice and spar together to get used to their new abilities.
"Why are you still here?" Lith asked Phillard.
"I’m not going anywhere until you deliver
my axes." The Lindwurm snorted. "Also, I still suck at magic. I’m even worse than the pipsqueak here." He pointed at Tista.
"How’s her sll?"
"Delicious... I an, she is definitely human." Phillard’s ribs still ached at the mory of how Lith appreciated his jokes.
Lith made for each one of them a dinsional and a communication amulet so that they could ask for help if necessary. He also realized for Phillard a couple of twin axes on the cheap.
The Lindwurm couldn’t provide him materials or magic crystals, so Lith infused the weapons with what by Forgemastering standards was considered to be the bare minimum, making them sharper, lighter, sturdier, and capable of self repairing if infused with mana.
Their only special property was they were able to shrink enough so that if Phillard ever learned how to assu human form he could still use them. The Lindwurm had never owned an enchanted weapon, so he considered them masterpieces and gloated for days thinking of having scamd Lith for good.
Lith and Tista’s last year of the academy was uneventful. Lith’s only worry was to dodge all the noble das and mages of marrying age that pestered him on a regular basis. Most of his female students couldn’t wait for the third exam to co since their hot teacher was of their sa age and still single.
Lith disappointed them all by disappearing the very next day after the exam. He and Tista could finally rush back at Lutia. Attending the academy after the third exam was a re formality.
Both of them wanted to pay their respect to their old ntor before it was too late. Without Tista helping her, Nana’s health deteriorated over ti, no matter how much effort Lith put into treating her condition.
Death and old age were two enemies that even he couldn’t defeat. Many people were assembled outside her house to pay her a last visit. Nana hadn’t beco nicer just because of her impending death.
She refused any visitor aside from Count Lark and the Verhen Household.
"Damn hypocrites." Nana’s voice was weak but still full of anger.
"Even on my deathbed they still try to suck up on . Never trust shaless people, kids." She said to both her apprentices.
"Isn’t there sothing we can do?" Tista asked Lith for the umpteenth ti in the last months.
"No. We aren’t gods." Lith shook his head. He had already tried every spell in his book.
"Master, you never told
who betrayed you. I could take care of them for you if you wish."
"Bah! Hear
well, King of the spirits. What kind of ntor would I be if I added my grudge to your already enormous baggage? Do you think I’m stupid? I always knew there is a darkness inside of you and I’m proud you never beca its slave."
Nana wheezed for several seconds to catch her breath. She had little ti left and still a few things to say.
"Thank you, Lark. Despite my stigma, you never stopped being my friend. A good, honest friend I never deserve. If there are gods on the other side I’ll make sure they compensate you properly, or they’ll taste my wrath.
Don’t search for my enemies, Lith. It’s only thanks to them that I had the opportunity to et you and your sister. I rejoiced for your achievents like they were mine.
I know it’s hypocritical to say from soone that never wanted a family, but I’m glad a part of
will always live inside your magic. Thanks to
a new magical bloodline was born. My enemies will probably follow
in death out of desperation."
She half laughed half coughed the last sentence.
"My only regret is that I failed you both. I never managed to teach you what you truly lack. Lith, the King of the spirits must be strong, wise, but also loving. Otherwise he is just a monster.
"Tista, my fairy Queen, if you don’t learn how to close your heart to others, they will rip it out your chest. Whenever soone bothers you, don’t give them a second chance. Do like I would and fry they their a*s."
After making sure her disciples understood her last wish, Nana fell asleep. Everyone remained to her side until her heart stopped.
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