“Wensworth, where are we going? Ever since you came back with Nerya, you’ve been vague. I would like an explanation now,” Eldran snapped.

  But Wensworth did not answer him, turning onto a narrow path before stopping the cart in a secluded corner between the trees.

  “Step down, if you please. It truly wounds me, the little trust you have in me after all this time, Eldran, after all we have been through,” he finally replied.

  “Do not twist this. We are speaking of our daughter. You return from who knows where with her, you tell us nothing, and you ask that I trust you,” Eldran retorted sharply.

  But Wensworth ignored Eldran again and moved a short distance from the cart, turning toward Zephyra who held Nerya in her arms.

  “Will you let her come with me? You will understand now,” he asked.

  Zephyra remained perplexed at his request, looking at Nerya who climbed down from her lap and slipped from the carriage to join him.

  Wensworth lowered himself onto one knee to stand at her height.

  “Will you let her come out, so that I may explain,” he murmured to her. “You need only ask her, there is nothing difficult in it.”

  Nerya sighed and closed her eyes, her breathing growing slower as she focused her mind upon the creature she had seen.

  She then felt the same warmth within her chest, as though her energy were leaving her, yet this time in a comforting sensation.

  Eldran and Zephyra stood with parted lips as the small creature took form, their troubled gazes turning toward Wensworth.

  “How… how is this possible? We saw at the church that she rejected the awakening of mana, and the priest said she would never be able to use magic,” Zephyra asked.

  “Tss… incompetents who would not see such beauty, so tightly bound within their codes. Your daughter was never unworthy, as they so love to say. She merely responds otherwise, compared to you,” Wensworth answered curtly.

  Nerya opened her eyes and approached her creature, lifting her hand to rest it upon the top of its head.

  The small creature lowered itself slightly, closing its eyes as though the caress pleased it.

  Why does the grass not burn around her this time? Nerya thought, astonished.

  She rose and walked toward Wensworth, who was speaking with Eldran.

  She tugged at his trousers several times to draw his attention.

  “The grass ain’t burning,” Nerya remarked.

  All turned toward the creature, Eldran and Zephyra not understanding at once.

  “It is normal, you are calm now. I shall explain later, do not trouble yourself,” Wensworth replied in a low voice.

  “Well, what is happening? Can you explain, at last? Why did her awakening fail, and whence comes this creature?” Eldran asked.

  Wensworth let out a long sigh and at last sat down in the grass, his gaze resting upon Nerya’s creature.

  “Have you never wondered whence our ability to wield magic comes? Why you are less capable than your wife? The church awakens nothing at all, it only seeks to bind the people,” Wensworth replied calmly.

  “What do you mean? Everyone passes through it. And why would they seek to bind the people?” Eldran cut in.

  “Listen, Eldran, I shall not teach you how the world turns. Seek the answers yourself and you will understand. But I would have you allow me to teach your daughter the rudiments, that she may know how to master all this,” Wensworth explained in an even tone.

  Meanwhile, Nerya had sat down upon the ground as well, stroking the little creature that had settled upon her knees.

  Its wings were folded along its body, while the flames had nearly died beneath the quiet.

  “You must have a little name, what say you?” she murmured.

  She pondered several names, watching it doze against her while she continued to stroke its head.

  “What would you say to Fulrinia? It suits your colors well,” she whispered again.

  Eldran and Zephyra, for their part, were still in discussion with Wensworth, not understanding why he insisted so strongly upon training their daughter.

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  “I would know why you take interest in our daughter now. It is most strange, if you would have my thought,” Eldran said coldly.

  Wensworth placed his hand upon his face and drew it down to his chin, grimacing with annoyance.

  “Look at your daughter and look at her creature. Do you truly require an explanatory scroll? You saw well at the church that she accepted none of that charade, that all this surpasses you,” he replied.

  “And how do you know of the church? You were not there. How can you know?” Eldran went on. “The folk in the street seemed to suspect nothing.”

  “Because I am like your daughter, you stubborn ass. The church never awakened my magic. This grows long, and the talk runs in circles with your questions, Eldran. You are far from knowing all the conditions of magic,” Wensworth snapped.

  “I know that much. You always told us you were unable to use magic. We mocked you enough for it that I remember well. But to say you are like my daughter, when she has at last awakened her mana…” Eldran said, more calmly.

  Wensworth rolled his eyes at those words, letting out a long sigh at the memories Eldran stirred within him.

  He drew a silver coin from his purse and set it upon his folded finger, Eldran and Zephyra watching him in surprise.

  He aimed his hand toward one of the farthest trees he could see, cast a stern glance at the couple, then fixed his gaze back upon the tree.

  With a sharp motion, as though he had not moved a hair, the coin shot forth at great speed.

  Only a red streak lingered for a brief instant, before a tremendous crash rang through the forest.

  The trunk of the tree burst into thousands of splinters, collapsing in a roar that sent the birds fleeing.

  “If you continue to treat all this as a jest, Eldran, you will not protect your daughter for long. She will be naught but a weapon in the eyes of others, a means to reach their ends. Do you think I hid this for pleasure? That lying to my friends was easy? Bearing all this alone is a true plague. I only wish to prepare your daughter for what awaits her,” he finally explained.

  He stepped back slightly and closed his eyes, focusing as his breathing grew slower.

  “Elzryne, show yourself,” he said in a low voice.

  The same glow escaped from Wensworth, shaping his creature, which little by little took the form of a miniature dragon.

  Its skin formed beneath a crystalline layer, reflecting the light like a jewel.

  It came to rest upon Wensworth’s shoulder, its long tail curling lightly about his neck.

  Wensworth laid his hand upon Elzryne’s body, who relaxed with closed eyes, its form rippling slowly beneath his touch.

  “Since when? Why did you never tell me? You claim we are friends, yet you never spoke of any of this. And the worst of it is that you ask me to entrust you with our daughter when you did not even trust me?” Eldran protested, his voice firm.

  “Do you know how many years I spent calling myself worthless after the church branded me unworthy? That is what happened to Nerya, am I wrong? Do you think they will see her as a child after what took place?” Wensworth replied.

  Eldran stepped toward him, but Zephyra seized his arm and pulled him back.

  “My dear, that is enough. He is not wrong, and you know it well. That fool felt the same surge as we all did, and yet he treated our daughter with contempt. You turn your anger toward the wrong person, do you not?” she said calmly.

  “That is not the matter, Zephyra. We speak of leaving our daughter with someone who does not even trust us. Who knows what else he hides. What tells us he is not something else now?” Eldran retorted, turning toward her.

  Wensworth let out a long sigh, seeing that the discussion led nowhere.

  But Nerya, who had risen, walked toward them and stood at his side.

  “Papa, I want to train with the mister. Please,” she said in a honeyed tone.

  Wensworth looked at her, giving her a discreet wink before turning back to Zephyra and Eldran.

  “I understand you, Eldran, and I have always trusted you. But you must understand that this secret places my life in danger. Were you in my stead, would you tell all to your friends, knowing they might let the word slip after a few cups too many?” he asked calmly.

  Eldran opened his mouth, yet no word came forth.

  He looked from his daughter to Wensworth in turn, then at last exhaled, lifting his eyes to the sky.

  “Very well, I understand. I see that whatever I may say, you have already made your choice. Even my wife and my own daughter take your side. I feel greatly supported by you both,” he said at last.

  Zephyra then approached Nerya’s creature, which sat waiting to be tended.

  She knelt and stretched out her hand with hesitation, at last touching it without feeling the slightest warmth.

  “It is truly impressive. I have never seen one of this kind. She is so fair, yet seems so… menacing at once,” she said in wonder.

  “You see? Fulrinia, she is all soft, eh mama?” Nerya said brightly.

  “Fu… Fulrinia? Is that what you named her, my dear?” Zephyra asked in surprise. “And you as well, you named your mana creature, Wensworth?”

  “Since near the beginning, yes. I was not about to call her ‘the thing’ or ‘the creature’ without end. And she has long been my only company, in battle as in hard times,” he replied.

  Zephyra rose, placing a hand upon her chin, thoughtful, brushing her lips lightly.

  “I had never thought of it. We were ever told they were but a manifestation of our magic. I never considered they might serve as companions. And you, Eldran?” she asked.

  “No. And I confess it is rather strange. Now that we speak of it, I even wonder why our mana takes form. Through all these years, I never saw it as a companion, and I never brought it forth,” he answered, thoughtful in turn.

  “I would not seem burdensome, yet shall I bring you home? We shall speak better of it over a little drink, do you not think?” Wensworth cut in.

  He closed his eyes and Elzryne dissolved into particles, returning to Wensworth’s body.

  Nerya did the same at once, then smiled at them brightly.

  They climbed back into the carriage, the crack of the reins echoing through the forest as they took the road once more.

  Nerya sat between her parents, embraced them each in turn, and apologized for fleeing the church so.

  “It is not your fault, my dear, and you have never disappointed us. What saddened us was thinking you would not partake in magic, nothing more. But you must never run off so again, do you understand? Imagine had you fallen upon dangerous folk,” Zephyra explained.

  Eldran remained silent, nodding at his wife’s words.

  Silence settled for the rest of the journey, Nerya curling upon her father’s knees before at last falling asleep, worn by all these revelations.