A Trust Rekindled Still Lights a Flame

“I’m so glad everyone’s here!” Pegasus welcomed them, her wings having disappeared back into her soul. She still looked as happy and welcoming as she had earlier, and Asaya briefly wondered if the woman would always be this upbeat, or if it was just a facade for the first day. Although, she really hoped this high energy would stay, because all of the uplifting speeches and gregarious personality felt really motivating, and that feeling didn’t fade as Pegasus gestured to the three of them that stood in front of the class, wide smile on her face as she did so.

“These three all did exceptionally well on their first day of this academy, and now it’s time for them to introduce themselves! I hope you can all be kind to each other, and that if you have any disputes, you’ll handle them fairly. Everyone who has been my student for at least the past year should know I value harmony amongst allies, so I want you to take that as a guiding light to help these three settle in as best as possible. I’m sure we’re all capable of being good human and elvan beings, yes?” she questioned her class, which responded with nods and quick agreements to get on with things. And Pegasus only smiled at them, before she finally stepped to the side and let the three of them have their spotlight, which Spike was the first to grab.

“Uh, hey. My name’s Spike, and my powers are… spikes. Which if you couldn’t figure that out yourself, I don’t know what to tell you,” he grumbled, as if he was embarrassed by the redundancy. “I’m only eighteen years old, but I have a decent amount of experience in lower to mid ranking dungeons that scatter around my hometown. But, clearly, I have a long way to go before I’m at any of your levels, so I look forward to trying to beat you all. And that’s it.”

“Wow, you’re so friendly. I bet you’re going to make so many friends,” Asaya teased, ignoring the weird stares she got from her new classmates as Spike turned on her, face layered with a glare.

“Oh shut it, Asaya! I predict that you’ll make zero friends!” he insulted, but she didn’t give him much of a stance as she merely smiled, waving away his intensity like it was nothing but dust in the breeze.

“Silly you, Spike, I’ve already made one,” she grinned, purposely keeping that vague as she turned away towards the person she'd been subtly referencing. “But anyways, Willow, would you like to go next? I’m curious to learn more about that power you displayed.”

“Huh? O, oh, yeah…” Willow mumbled, jumping slightly at the fact they were being addressed, before they turned to stare anxious eyes to the floor while fumbling with their hands, voice low and deep in a way that sounded almost creepy, like how you’d try to sound when telling a horror story. “My name is Willow, and I’m twenty… I was recruited by Valentine when she visited me at my house, and gave me this… this wonderful opportunity…” they mumbled, their voice just barely loud enough for everyone to hear them.

“She, she recruited me because… my power is quite dangerous, and I don’t really like it, but… I can, I can create hallucinations. I can warp the way you see, hear, smell, taste, and feel. Like, like with Lumis, in… our fight… I gave him the perception that he was being attacked by an army of the undead, and made him feel like his arm had been, um… cut off… sorry…” they wavered, as if they were truly, deeply terrified by their own abilities.

“But I want to learn to… better control it… because right now, I can’t control what visions I give people… and that’s not good… so I hope I learn… a lot…” they finally finished, sweat building underneath their grimy hair as Asaya stared at them, observing.

So they didn’t have that much control over their power? And to top it all off, they didn’t even like it? That was a rare scenario. In most cases, powers are formed based on something important in your childhood, like a special interest or your favorite hobby, or even your most dominant personality trait.

But sometimes, very rarely, power could be developed because of a significant traumatic event that happened in someone’s childhood. The power would develop like that because the trauma had affected the person’s soul so deeply, to the point it was engraved… and powers like that were usually twisted in some way. Asaya wondered if that was what happened to Willow, as it did seem likely, since their power didn’t seem to be something that represented them in any other way.

Although, she supposed that didn’t really matter now, and merely gave a light tap to the anxious person’s shoulder, smiling at them kindly as they gave some encouraging words. “That’s good, then. This school is designed to teach, so I’m sure you’ll learn whatever you need to. And I guess that makes it my turn, right?” she smiled, Willow staring up at her in awe.

“Ah, yeah… you’re right…”

“Mhm,” she agreed lightly, before she situated herself in front of the class, ready to give them their first test. “Alright, then. My name is Asaya, and it’s nice to meet all of you. I’m twenty-one years old, so I got in here through a special recommendation, thanks to Valentine. And I had a discussion with her, since I was told I could get extra perks, and I wanted one of those to be something simple…” she started, ignoring the way some of her classmates' faces already began to darken.

“I want the details of my power to be kept a secret. So I’m not going to tell you what it is. I won’t describe it, I won’t tell you how it works, or anything like that. You can watch me use it, and you can try to guess what it is, but I am under no obligation to tell you. And I know that’s not usually how it works around here, as I’ve heard it’s an unspoken agreement that we’re all honest about our powers like it’s some unwritten rule, but… I’m afraid I just don’t agree with that,” she shrugged, noticing the way several stares began to turn hostile. But Asaya had been expecting that, so it didn’t bother her too much, and merely continued on with what she wanted to say. “If you don’t like that I got permission to do this, you can take it up with Valentine, who explicitly gave me the all clear. And I think that’s about all I wanted to say. I look forward to working with all of you for the foreseeable future, yeah?”

Yet, things could rarely go so smoothly. In all honesty, Asaya knew people would get upset, but she still didn’t really think she was doing anything wrong. Was withholding the details of your magic really such a bad thing to do? Apparently, several people thought it was, but the first to speak up about it was none other than Halla, master of the ghoul.

She was a human albino with pale white skin and hair that was stick-straight down her back, with bright red eyes that seemed to glow on her body. She stood from her seat to make a clear objection, sharp facial features turned into a scowl as she fiercely declared, “I find what you say hard to believe. It’s tradition here that all the top students be honest about their abilities, to make it easier for the weaker students to look up to us. Valentine used to be a teacher here before she moved to recruitment, so she knows this. And you’re saying she agreed? I don’t think she would do something like—”

“She’s telling the truth, Halla,” objected another voice, the voice of an elf girl with pale skin and clear glassy white eyes, with short black hair that was cut near the roots to shape her small, round face. This woman was Clementine, who ranked fourth place in the gifted program, just under the top three that had already been introduced. It was said she worked as a living lie detector, and as long as you were in her presence, her magic allowed her to tell if you were lying… or telling the truth. “She really must have gotten permission from Valentine to do so.”

Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

“But that’s preposterous,” Halla protested, turning to glare back at Asaya, who merely remained silent while they talked amongst themselves.

“I don’t see what the big deal is,” Ova spoke up, a young man with hot pink hair tied up in a high ponytail, with it being so long and silky it touched the floor from where he was sitting in his chair. He seemed lean and skinny, and his clear, handsome face was encased in his hands as he stared at Asaya from across the room with big, soft blue eyes. “So she wants to keep her power a secret, so what? Shouldn’t it be obvious what it is once we see her start using it? I mean, she did say she’s still going to use it in front of us, so it’s not like it’ll remain a secret for long.”

“Hmm, you have a point, but I don’t think you’re looking at this from the right angle,” Viper spoke up, reptilian eyes blinking unevenly as he took in Asaya’s posture. “We already saw her use her magic, didn’t we? When she fought in the preliminaries, and when she fought Nemara. And now, what exactly did that look like to all of you?”

“It looked like she summoned some elf dude to fight for her,” Druyn spoke up from where he was leaning back in his chair, legs propped up on the desk as he rocked himself dangerously back and forth. He had long, thin red hair that splayed out into spiky ends, his hair pulled back by a black bandana that was tucked behind long, flat ears, with turquois blue eyes gazing onwards. His skin was a light olive color, with a special beauty mark right underneath his right eye on the top of his cheek, and he was biting at what seemed to be a smooth pin stuck in his mouth.

But he’d said all he needed to for Viper to nod along, quick to add more to his words from earlier as Asaya continued to let them all talk amongst themselves. “Precisely. And everyone knows that summoning magic is incompatible with real humans or elves, because souls cannot summon other souls. So based on what we’ve seen, do we really know what she did at all?”

“But it must’ve been some form of summoning,” Clementine spoke up, messing with one of her long, pale ears as she tried to add her own two cents. “We clearly saw that when Nemara defeated him, she backed off without trying anything herself.”

“Well, that’s the game here,” Viper grinned, snakes moving ecstatically in his hair as he turned reptilian eyes back towards Asaya. “She’s challenging us to figure it out. It should be fun.”

“What, fun? No, this isn’t some game—” Halla went to refute, but was promptly interrupted once again as Asaya turned to Pegasus, having figured this conversation had been going on for long enough.

“Anyway, now that I’ve gotten my introduction out of the way, I wanted to make use of one of those other privileges Valentine gave me,” Asaya smiled, Halla turning to stare dumbly at her, having not expected anything more. “She said I could enter dungeons whenever I wanted so long as I notified an official, so that’s exactly what I’ll be doing. I’m going to enter the southeast dungeon today, and I’m going to clear as far as I can solo. Is that alright, Pegasus?”

She slightly reveled in the way everyone’s eyes widened at the way she so nonchalantly declared she was going to enter a dungeon like that all on her own, a dungeon that despite only being high-tier and nothing particular sinister, was usually completed in groups. But Pegasus herself didn’t seem too bothered by it, and merely gave Asaya another bright smile as she clasped her hands together. “Of course! I’ll mark you down as an entry whenever you decide to go for it.”

“Yay, thanks,” Asaya smiled caually, before she decided to drop a small hint in there for her befuddled classmates. “I need more accomplishments so I can have more summons.”

“Hm. A lie,” Clementine acknowledged, finger hanging on her chin as she processed the reveal. “So she really isn’t summoning anything. What she's doing must have different fundamentals.”

“That just makes things difficult, but whatever,” Druyn sighed, and the class finally seemed to be calming down as both Spike and Willow stared at Asaya in shock, like they hadn’t expected her to do any of what she’d just done. And the fact she’d been given extra perks they weren’t aware of… that probably raised their suspicions.

But that’s exactly what she wanted. She wanted people to know how much potential she had. Asaya, above all else, wanted people to see her. But she wanted people to see her for more than just her magic. She wanted people to get to know her for other things. She wanted to be seen not because she was strong, but because her personality had value. That was the test she was giving them here today.

She wanted people to realize how little her power meant, and to try and get to know her despite it all. Right now, everyone just seemed to be a bit on edge, but Asaya hoped that by the time she came out of the dungeon, things would have properly calmed down. Still, she wasn’t expecting someone else to speak up… someone she’d been purposely avoiding eye contact with. Someone she’d been avoiding thinking about altogether.

She didn’t expect Nemara, of all people, to be the one to stand from her chair with such a distraught look on her face. She didn’t expect Nemara to be the one to object so strongly. “Are you crazy? You’re going to try and solo a dungeon on your first day?” her old friend opposed, looking like she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Asaya, just because you gained an ability does not give you the excuse to be even more reckless! What if you get hurt in there? Who would be there to get help for you?”

And for a moment, Asaya didn’t know what to say. All she knew was that… those words… they sounded utterly hypocritical. As if Nemara hadn’t already proved she’d abandon her at the slightest drop of a hat. Who was she to pretend like she was worried? Asaya couldn’t help but scoff, turning away from the room as she headed for the door, deciding she wasn’t going to take this woman seriously as she declared, “How do you know if I’m being reckless? As far as I’m concerned, you don’t know me, and I don’t know you. So I’m gonna go and farm some achievements on my own, and it doesn't matter what you have to say about it.”

In reality, Asaya really didn’t know how much her words hurt. She was being defensive, and she didn’t really trust anyone in this class. One of the only people she felt willing to open up with was Willow, since they seemed like they needed support more than she did, and that felt somewhat comforting. She felt like they’d better understand her.

Little did she know, someone who understood her better than anyone else in the room was watching, and as she left to go towards the southeast dungeon, he followed. Because as much as she tried to defend herself from all perceived threats, and as much as she tried to hide how scared she was and how much she was hurting, someone always saw… and a trust rekindled still lights a flame, does it not?

That’s what Asaya couldn’t help but think when somehow, Lumis met her at the dungeon first, having miraculously walked up the mountain path faster than she did, despite her setting off first. But with that power of his, the power of perfection, she supposed it was reasonable. And she felt almost sick when he smiled at her, the first time any real person had smiled at her in years, and welcomed her kindly, “Hey, Asaya. I know I didn’t get to say this yet back in the classroom, since it was so chaotic, but I’m glad to have you back. And, if you don’t mind, could we clear some of this dungeon together? I’m sure you could handle it on your own, but… I wanted an excuse to talk to you again. Hopefully that’s alright…?”

His smile was so genuine, despite how awkward it seemed, and Asaya felt completely dumbfounded as she stared at him. For so long, she’d always wondered if he would forgive her, if she even stood a chance. But of course… this was Lumis she was talking to. He saw right through her. Somehow, he already knew everything she’d said back then hadn’t been spoken from her heart, and had moved on far before she had. Just how amazing could one man be…?

Her defenses were immediately down, and that kind smile he gave her made her feel giddy and light as she turned to the cave in front of them… the entrance to the southeast dungeon. “Sure. I wanted an excuse to talk to you again, too, so this works out, doesn’t it?”

“It seems it does,” Lumis agreed, simple and sweet.

Because Nemara and Spike weren’t the only people from her childhood she used to be close with. There had always been Lumis, someone who always made her feel secure and wanted. And if any trust were to be rekindled, it made sense that his was the first one to make a flame.