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“I rather liked my solo run,” she told her teacher. “It’s a slice of calm before the day’s chaotic nature.”

Mistress Rhodes regarded her like a foreign creature.

“How very poetic. I will permit you to complete your runs early. You’ve missed quite a few lessons.

What did you learn during your time away?

” Lilith didn’t know how much she could divulge, but her face changed as she smiled at Mistress Rhodes with that unsettling smile she had used once before.

“I learned that if backed into a corner, I can become quite dangerous. I saw a side of myself that both terrified and excited me. It felt as though a mask I had been wearing dropped and I became something new entirely.” Lilith didn’t know what her teacher saw when she looked at her in this state, but the look on her teacher’s face was one of distress. Mistress Rhodes backed away from her.

“I, uh, won’t ask for details, but I hope you don’t forget the person you once were.

The person that you still are. We all have parts of ourselves that challenge the way we look at things.

I hope you don’t lose your perspective.” She looked off at the mountains.

“This is a time of great turmoil. Many of us will have to question our own morality.” They stood silently watching the sun rise.

Mistress Rhodes turned to Lilith, “I think we will try something new. I would like you to learn a summoning charm.” Mistress Rhodes spoke an ancient chant and called forth her flames, the compressed snow melted revealing a circular emblem of runes scorched the ground.

The design glowed and then created a pool of shadows.

“Come through, Titus.” A large hairy creature strolled through on all fours.

He looked like he had seen many days and was bored.

Lilith found him rather charming. “What is it?” She slowly approached the four legged beast. He gave a low growl and flared his long brown, wired hair on his shoulders.

“He’s a Barghest. A beast from a western realm. I saved him from poachers when he was young and he freely roams the wood close to where my village is. See around his neck, he wears a rune tied on a ribbon, so I can summon him if I need.”

Reaching her hand out, Titus warily sniffed Lilith. Deeming her harmless, he relaxed and laid down, resting his short snout on his paws. She spied the charm hanging from a ribbon. “Does this summoning charm only work for one creature who bears this rune?”

“Unfortunately, yes. This specific design can only summon something that is near or is wearing its corresponding rune. You can change the rune in the design and designate another corresponding pair.”

“So the creature does not need to wear the rune, but be relatively close to it.”

Mistress Rhodes’ brows scrunched closer together as she responded, “Yes, this will create a portal to wherever its pair is. There are more advanced summoning designs that could let more than one user through the portal.”

Lilith looked carefully at the design in the ground. In its centre was a singular rune that matched what Titus wore.

“Since you have knowledge of runes, this will be easier for you. Think of a rune. It will serve as the bridge for the summoning charm. I want you to go across the courtyard and draw the rune on the ground and put something on top, then come back.” Mistress Rhodes squatted down to pay attention to Titus.

Lilith ran across the courtyard and stared at the dirty snow.

She called her mana and concentrated. The snow melted under her hand as she marked the ground with a little rune.

She found a large rock and sat it on top.

Mistress Rhodes sent Titus back through her own summoning portal by the time Lilith arrived.

“Now with that rune in mind, I want you to repeat the summoning chant and form your own design with your rune in its centre."

Lilith held her hand over a clear spot of snow and chanted the ancient chant. The circle blazed through the snow, but nothing happened.

“Focus your energy through its centre.” Mistress Rhodes stood next to her and stared at the design. It flared to life, beaming underneath Lilith’s hand. A good distance away, the singular rune glowed. The centre of the design melted into shadow, revealing a large rock.

“Are there any limits to the size of what you can bring through the portal?”

“Pulling larger items through will drain your mana quicker. You are limited by your reserves. ”

“Would one be able to move through the portal themselves?”

Mistress Rhodes nodded and grinned, “I think I may come to regret teaching you this.”

“Why are you teaching me this? Instead of sharing with the whole class?”

“You already have the foundational knowledge of runes. Andishmand has told me that you’ve read many books to try and understand the language of runes.

It is something that not many find interesting, and we don’t teach runes until your last year.

" Mistress Rhodes walked to the practice swords. “Work on the summoning charm on your own time. Here.” She tossed Lilith a practice sword. “Let’s spar.”