Ashes and Shadows

It was a clear, slightly cool morning, but not truly cold.

We had camped by a river on our way to a larger city, and I set about cooking the breakfast I had just caught.

For a moment I thought I’d have to sneak back to Myrthalas for a fishing rod or something like it, but I hadn’t accounted for how fast I can move when I put my mind to it.

In the end I did the fishing with a makeshift spear fashioned from a sturdy branch, and it was as if the poor fish were frozen in place… they never stood a chance.

"Zendal, are these the right size?"

Isara came up to me with her arms full of small twigs meant for starting the campfire.

"They’re perfect, put them inside the circle of stones."

"Okay!"

I told her not to worry, but she still insisted on helping.

She reminded me a little of myself when I camped with the girls on our first visit to Orb and they wouldn’t let me do anything, so, knowing how that feels, I let her handle a few things.

Of course, I also think it’s good for her education. I’m not sure what schools teach in this world, but learning to take on responsibilities can only help. Isara is already quite self-sufficient for her age, maybe too much…

After lighting the fire with a basic spell, I slipped my hand into my shadow and pulled out a pan, salt, and a jar of oil made in Myrthalas. I could have cooked the fish on a stick, but we’d already eaten roasted meat the day before.

The act of retrieving things from the shadow was always met with Isara’s applause. She found it far more fascinating than any spell I had shown her. Then again, I hadn’t shown her much yet.

"We could sell the fish heads for fertilizer," Isara said before sinking her small teeth into the piece of fish I had just handed her.

"To be honest, I’m not sure I want to travel with fish heads in my shadow," I said as I bit into my own piece.

Shadow Vault was a spell bound to the artifact ring Atra. Although, truth be told, I wasn’t exactly sure where the items were actually stored.

"You’re always thinking of some way to make money," I said with a smile. "Your ambition reminds me of another of my travel companions. But you don’t have to worry, if you need something I can get it for you."

"I don’t want to be a bother," Isara replied, lowering her head.

"A child’s job is to be a bother," I said after swallowing a bite of fish. "In that sense, you’re doing a terrible job, because you’re not a bother at all."

Isara let out a little laugh and kept attacking her fish.

Honestly, the fish was pretty good. I need to find out its name in case Isara wants seconds later.

***

It had been a long walk before we reached a quiet valley crossed by a stream, and it seemed like the perfect place to set up camp for the day.

There was still time before nightfall, so with the excuse of scouting the area I headed into the forest on my own, though my real intention was something else.

"Zendal?"

Isara called out, puzzled to see me return from my little expedition with company. Walking behind me was Coletto, carrying two long sticks.

"It’s a pleasure, my name is Coletto," she introduced herself with a smile. "This isn’t the first time we’ve met, but on that occasion you were asleep."

"The water you shouldn’t trust!" Isara said, covering her mouth with both hands.

"My mast… Zendal asked me to teach you how to use a spear for self-defense, but it seems we first need to discuss why fire is what you really shouldn’t trust," Coletto said with the same smile as before, though behind it I felt as if the water had turned into ice.

"Isara, maybe one day you’ll understand the spear that lies within you, and most likely you’ll be able to summon it at will," I said, stepping closer to her. "I think it would be good for you to learn what spears are and how to handle them before that happens. What do you think?"

"Of course! Thank you, Zendal! And thank you… Coletto."

"I don’t know what Merite told you, but you can trust Coletto without any problem," I said, trying not to laugh, though it was hard after seeing Coletto’s expression. "And even if it doesn’t seem like it, the two of them are good friends, they just enjoy teasing each other."

"First we’ll practice with sticks so you learn how not to hurt yourself," Coletto explained after letting out a tired sigh.

The real lessons would have to wait until Isara grew a little more. What mattered to me now was that she wouldn’t injure herself if she accidentally summoned her spear.

It was hard to convince Coletto to let me pitch the tent by myself while she and Isara practiced, but in the end they spent the whole afternoon in something that was half training, half play.

Their relationship started a little tense, but just like what happened with Merite, by the time they said goodbye they had already become good friends.

Of course, this was only the first lesson of many to come.

I don’t know if the schools in Ameritia teach physical education, but even if they don’t, this was a good substitute.

It wasn’t until some time later, when I visited one of the academies of the Republic of the Free Cities, that I finally felt reassured about the kind of education this world could offer Isara.

***

It was well into the night, and only a few ashes remained in the campfire at the new campsite.

Isara couldn’t fight nature’s call, so she bundled up against the nighttime chill outside the tent she usually shared with Zendal.

Only usually, not always, since Zendal liked to sleep under the starlight and often stayed by the fire until dawn. This was one of those nights.

As she stepped out of the tent, the first thing she saw was her mysterious traveling companion, who always seemed wrapped in a fairy-tale air. He was asleep, leaning against a fallen log near the fire pit...

!!

But to Isara’s surprise, he wasn’t alone.

Sitting on the log beside Zendal, watching him with gentle warmth, was the transparent, softly luminous figure of a beautiful woman with violet hair and emerald eyes.

She wore an elegant burgundy outfit adorned with silver embroidery, though the most striking thing about it was the pointed hat.

Isara, thinking she was seeing a ghost, almost froze from fear rather than from cold. But when the transparent woman noticed the girl, she smiled and gave her a quick wink, before fading into the night air.

In her surprise, Isara didn’t notice Zendal’s ring glow for a few seconds before dimming again.