POV - Luahn
Today I heard my name being called by the instructor.
Loudly in front of everyone in class.
For the first time in a long time, it wasn't to single me out, it wasn't to remind me what I shouldn't do, nor to remind me who I was in the eyes of others.
It was to include me.
"For the next collection trip to the outskirts, the following will also be joining us: Ardek, Melis, Sena... and Luahn."
Our instructor's words hung in the air like the echo of a soft thunderclap.
There was a brief silence afterward.
No one protested, and no one celebrated.
But in that moment, a part of me felt lighter.
I had been waiting for years for them to let me move forward, to have some confidence in me.
And today... they did.
At least, they tried.
I ran home with a smile I couldn't contain. I didn't even bother to walk like a "calm boy." Not that day.
The door flew open.
"Mom!" I shouted as I dropped my things in the hallway.
Olivia came out of the kitchen, her apron stained with flour and her hands wet.
"Luahn? What's wrong?" she asked, alarmed.
"They picked me! I'm going out of town with the others!"
Her eyes widened, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still.
Then she covered her mouth, came closer, and hugged me tightly.
"I knew it... I knew it... My little boy isn't so little anymore."
I could feel her body shaking a little. It was a mixture of joy... and relief.
As if she had been holding her breath for years.
"I'll do my best, Mom."
"You always do."
"I won't fall behind. I promise."
"You were never behind, Luahn. They just put obstacles in your way... but you kept moving forward. You never stopped."
We stayed like that for a long time.
Just mother and son.
Two hearts beating in unison.
That afternoon, someone knocked on the door.
"Who could it be?" Mom asked as she wiped her hands.
When I opened it, I found Emilia holding a basket with something covered up. Next to her, Leyla smiled with that warmth that made everything seem lighter.
"We're here to celebrate!" Emilia announced.
"Celebrate what?" I pretended not to understand.
"What do you mean, what? Your return to activities, of course!"
"I just rejoined the group..."
"And that's reason enough for cake."
"Cake?"
"Cake," Emilia confirmed.
Mom appeared and greeted Leyla with a big hug.
They both laughed and entered with the familiarity of two women who have shared everything: friendship, children, and dreams.
The room filled with the aroma of apple pie, Emilia's favorite and therefore mine too. Mom's wildflower tea accompanied everything, and for a while... we felt like a little family.
"How do you feel?" Emilia asked as she looked at me intently.
"Weird... but happy."
"Strange why?"
"I don't know... as if everything that happened was still absurd to me."
She smiled.
"You worked hard for it, that's why you earned it."
Leyla looked at me tenderly.
"Emilia talked about you all the time, you know? Even when she couldn't do anything, she believed this moment would come."
"Mom..." Emilia murmured, visibly blushing.
"And you? How did you feel when they said your name?" Olivia asked me.
I thought about it for a moment.
"I felt that... everything that happened before was worth it. That all the difficult days, the defeats, the rejection... it all made sense. Because now they seem to see me for who I am, and not for who they fear I am."
Emilia patted me on the back.
"You're strong, Luahn. Much more than you think."
"And I still have a lot to learn."
"Perfect! That way I'll still be the best of the two of us."
"Don't even dream of it," I replied, feigning a defiant look.
We both laughed.
At the end of the day, when everyone had left and the house returned to its usual silence, I sat on the patio, looking at the stars.
Mom came out a moment later and left me a cup of warm milk.
"Can I ask you something?" I said.
"Sure, son, what is it?"
"Do you think it's okay for me to go out with the others?"
"You don't need to think about that, you just need to be willing, and you always were."
"Even when I doubted myself?"
"Especially then. Because being brave isn't about not being afraid... it's about moving forward despite being afraid."
I fell silent, looking up at the sky where three moons were beginning to rise one after the other.
"Thank you for always being there for me, Mom."
"I'll always be by your side, Luahn. You're my son, my light."
*
When they confirmed that I could join the small expedition, I had to ask my mother to repeat what she said, because for some reason she showed me a bag.
"Are you serious?"
"Yes, son, since it will be a gathering event, I prepared this bag with several things for you.
Right, inside there's a book on medicinal plants, it should be useful to you."
I couldn't help but smile. Timidly at first, but then more strongly.
"Thanks, Mom, I appreciate the thought," I said goodbye to her and headed for the meeting point.
The mission was simple: a collection of common medicinal herbs near the southern forest, in an area free of dangerous creatures.
It was an activity designed specifically for young cadets, between the ages of seven and nine. Only those my age or younger would participate this time.
And, as expected, neither Emil nor his group were assigned.
"Aren't you guys going?" I asked a classmate whom Emil used to give orders to.
"No... Emil said it was a waste of time. That it didn't make sense to 'play at picking leaves.'"
"And what do you think?"
"I'm glad Emil isn't coming. That way we get clean air."
He smiled ironically, and I did the same.
I heard from others that Emil had expressly asked his father to excuse him from the activity, and since his family was influential... the permission was granted without further discussion.
But I didn't care.
Because after a while, I was no longer being left out.
The instructor in charge was Instructor Inaé, our former tutor.
When I saw her in her characteristic dark blue coat and folder in hand, I almost felt nostalgic.
"Luahn, I see you're no longer running to get here late like you did on your first day."
"I've learned a few things."
"Good, I expect a lot from you."
"I won't disappoint you."
We were also accompanied by a veteran guard named Derek, assigned to the north entrance guard post.
He was a man of few words, but with a firm presence. His mere gaze made even the most unruly fall into line; he was similar to Garrok in that regard.
"Everyone in formation!" shouted Instructor Inaé.
We grouped ourselves into groups.
I ended up with some classmates like Ardek and others from lower grades who were a bit shy.
"Let's go, the rest are waiting for us," I said as I watched all the groups approaching the instructor.
"Sure, we shouldn't keep them waiting," added Ardek, and the others nodded in agreement.
"You're right, she can be very strict," added another.
"Really?" added a younger student who seemed to have just entered the academy this year.
As we walked toward the starting point, I noticed how several of my classmates, some of whom I had barely spoken to before, were now saying little phrases to me:
"If you see leaves with irregular edges, don't pick them. They release a sticky substance."
"I saw you training the other day. Your swordwork was great."
"Do you think there are giant squirrels? Because if there are, I'm out."
They weren't big things.
But they were sincere words.
And that... was a lot.
We made our way through the morning, amid soft conversation, a gentle breeze, and leaves crunching under our feet.
There was no urgency or tension. Just the tranquility of a little adventure.
The instructor talked as she walked beside me, telling us about the different types of leaves we could find.
"This one, for example, is the Serene Frond. It's used for relaxing infusions."
"It looks like a common leaf," asked a girl in my group.
"Well, the more you know, the sooner you'll be able to tell them apart. For now, just concentrate on remembering them," she added.
She handed her a twig.
"Keep it. It will help you sleep if you ever find yourself thinking too much."
"Okay," the young girl accepted happily.
Seeing this smiling girl, far from the eyes of the clan, from judgment, from fear... I felt normal.
Just a boy walking through the forest.
Nothing more.
During a break, while we were drinking water, I noticed that some younger cadets approached me.
"Luahn..."
"Yes?"
"Is it true that you can control that special white fire?"
"Well... I'm still practicing."
"Can you show us?"
"Not now. But maybe later."
There was no teasing, just curious eyes.
That moment... gave me hope.
Instructor Inaé paused briefly to walk beside me.
"I've heard good things about you lately."
"I've done what I can."
"No. You've done more than many in your position could do. Don't forget that."
I remained silent.
But her voice resonated as something I needed to hear.
Halfway there, we stopped in a small open grove, where sunlight filtered through in irregular beams.
"All right!" said Inaé, turning to us.
"Time to get started. Each group must collect at least five different varieties. You'll recognize them from what we saw in class... and if not, Derek will carry you on his back for being useless."
Derek grunted in approval.
"The ones we're looking for grow in moist soil, in partial shade. Remember the following:"
List of medicinal plants to collect:
Yerbaenl: Spiral-shaped leaves, used in infusions to treat insomnia or nervousness. Must be extracted with the root, but emits an acidic odor upon contact.
Néuma flower: Bright blue flower with five petals. Relieves high fevers and reduces inflammation in wounds. Only blooms at dawn.
Sombrablanca moss: Pale gray moss that grows on old bark. Used as a base for magical bandages, as it stops minor bleeding.
Ethros Thorn: Low shrub with hollow thorns. Its sap is mixed with other herbs to create ointments. Handle with care.
Sylph Tears: Crystalline drops that spring from certain large leaves upon contact. They are used for energy potions. Their name comes from their appearance.
Uméa Root: Difficult to find, but valuable. Its infusion accelerates the mana healing process. It must be identified by its bright blue stem.
I took out the book my mother gave me to find more information about these plants, while listening to what the others were saying.
"The group that finds Uméa Root will get extra points. And a treat when they return."
"What kind of treat?" someone asked.
"One that I won't give you if you interrupt me again."
"Noted."
We all laughed.
We scattered around the clearing, but always within sight of the teacher and Derek.
Our group went into a small nook where the ground was more moist.
"We'll definitely find Yerbaenl here," said the girl who had asked the teacher a few moments ago. Her name was Lecia.
"Are you going to pull it up, or should I?" she asked her friend Noeli.
"You. I did it last time... and I got my tunic dirty."
"I bet that's not why."
"Shhh."
She knelt down and dug carefully. The roots of the Yerbaenl were fragile.
She couldn't pull them out with a sudden jerk.
She had to listen to the ground, feel its resistance...
Like when I controlled the ice.
"You know?" she said as she pulled out the root.
"This is a lot like training."
"Digging up dirt?" Lecia asked.
"No, being patient."
"That would explain why it took you so long to control it the first day."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I'll leave that up to your interpretation."
Everyone in the group laughed.
It was a soft laugh, even somewhat knowing.
And for a few minutes, we were just kids looking for roots under a sky filtered with green.
"Neuma flower, three steps!" shouted another group in the distance.
The instructor came over to check.
"Good eye. At least someone in this class has functional eyes."
She handed her a small bag to store it in.
Derek wrote down every relevant finding on his magic tablet.
Our group kept moving forward, slowly building up our haul.
"Look," I said, showing her a damp leaf where small drops glistened like pearls.
"Sylph tears. Do you want to try collecting them?" Ardek asked enthusiastically.
"Yes."
He spread out a clean sheet of parchment and, very carefully, began to run it over the surface.
The drops rolled onto the sheet as if obeying his intention.
"I could stay here doing this all day."
"Because of the magic?"
"No. Because of the calm."
"Hmm." Everyone in the group made a sound of agreement.
I felt that way too.
*
We had already finished collecting the plants. The air in the forest felt less heavy and more comfortable than when we arrived. Perhaps it was because we were relaxed, or because a job well done always lightened the mood.
The teacher checked each cadet's bags, while some ate cookies or sat down to rest on the wide roots of the trees. I was off to the side, carefully cleaning a Neuma Flower that relieves high fevers and reduces inflammation in wounds. Although my hands were still a little clumsy at recognizing new plants, my memory for shapes was good.
That's when something unexpected happened.
"You're Luahn, aren't you?"
I turned around. Three second-year students were looking at me from a few steps away. One of them, with curly hair and a poorly tied scarf, stepped forward.
"Yes, that's me..." I replied.
"I saw you fight Emil. You were amazing."
"Yeah. It was like shaaa! and crack! with the ice," said another, gesturing with his arms.
"It was just training," I said, somewhat pressured by their enthusiasm.
"But you won."
"And without a tail. That was weird."
"Don't you have one because it hasn't grown yet?"
"My sister says that when half-breeds mature, it grows all at once."
"Is that true?"
I took a deep breath and sat down under a tree. The children gathered around me as if I were about to tell them a story. Apparently, out of curiosity, more groups joined in to listen to me. They were very curious children.
My group also gathered around. Lecia even sat on my lap, expectantly.
"I don't have a wolf tail," I finally said. "And it's not hidden... I just wasn't born with one."
"But you have mana. We saw it."
"And you're strong."
"Does that mean you could become even stronger?"
"...I don't know. Maybe. But being strong isn't just about having abilities. It's also about knowing when to use them."
They fell silent. One of them played with a twig. Another took notes in a small notebook.
"Hey..." murmured the first one with the loose scarf. "Don't you... feel bad about not having them?"
I didn't know how to respond right away. I looked up at the forest canopy, filtering the sun's rays.
"Sometimes. But there are things I do have. A mother who cares for me, friends who accept me, and a sword that accompanies me. So I'm not incomplete."
"That's what a protagonist would say," someone added.
"Yes! Like in the stories of the heroes in the Collapse."
"Collapse?"
"The one with the beasts from the east! Didn't you pay attention in history class?"
"You were the one who slept through it!"
I laughed softly. The teacher watched us from a few feet away with a neutral expression, but she didn't interrupt us.
Maybe... because she noticed the same thing I did:
That something was changing.
Some first-year girls joined us. Curious, shy at first, but unfiltered once they felt comfortable.
"And you don't have ears on top because you're special?"
"Maybe. Or maybe because I was born different."
"My mom says that different things are gifts from the gods."
"So you're a gift?"
I blushed, not knowing how to respond.
"Hey, don't make him uncomfortable!" said Lecia on my lap.
"It was a serious question!"
They laughed, and suddenly, someone shouted:
"Regroup!"
It was the instructor's firm voice.
"Cadets, it's time to go back. We've accomplished today's goal."
"But I haven't finished my drawing of the plant yet!"
"Then finish it in the city. In formation."
We all got up. Some energetically, others grumbling, but no one really complained.
The return trip felt lighter, calmer.
And as we walked back along the path, the little ones joked around with sticks as swords.
And some... walked beside me.
Not as if they feared me.
Not as if they doubted me.
But as if I were part of their world.
*
It was strange, that was the feeling I had shortly after we started our journey home.
The rustling of the trees had completely stopped. There was no sound of birds or insects, and the wind, which had been gently combing through the leaves, now seemed to have hidden itself in some crack in the world.
My feet stopped without me telling them to.
"This isn't right..." I muttered, barely audibly.
A few meters away, the teacher had also stopped. Her silhouette, serene and upright, tensed her jaw. The escort, a man with a weathered face and a restless gaze, turned his head like an animal that senses danger before it manifests itself.
"Teacher..." I called, in a whisper.
She didn't respond immediately, but her back seemed to shrink slightly, as if my words confirmed a fear that had been haunting her for minutes.
"You feel it too, don't you?" she finally said, without turning around.
I nodded. My throat was dry.
It wasn't fear, not yet. It was that feeling that runs down my spine when thunder is about to strike.
And then it happened.
First, a dark silhouette leaped from the treetops with the speed of a panther. There was no warning, no roar, no footsteps.
Just steel whistling through the air.
The escort barely had time to raise his spear and block the attack, reeling back as the impact sent sparks flying from the weapon.
"ENEMIES!!!" He roared with all the power of his lungs.
After the cry, several more of those figures appeared from behind the trees, surrounding us, wearing hooded cloaks that prevented us from seeing who they were.
But one thing was very clear: they were human, displaying the characteristic yin energy, which baffled us even more.
"Everyone who can fight, to the front! The little ones, to the center, now!"
Chaos erupted like a whip crack.
"What's going on? Is this a test?" shouted one of the youngest, clutching his bag.
"This is not a test!" replied the teacher, immediately summoning a ring of spinning water around her. "Immediate tactical retreat! Type five defensive formation!"
"Luahn! Your ice, now!" she shouted when she saw me moving toward the youngest ones.
"Understood!" I replied, running.
I didn't think about it anymore, I just felt it, the danger, the fear.
I spread my arms, channeling my energy with more urgency than precision.
"Ice wall!" I shouted, my heart pounding in my ears.
Frost sprouted from the ground like an inverted wave, surrounding the younger cadets in a protective circle. The girls next to me clung to my clothes. One of them was crying silently, her lips trembling.
"Don't worry... I won't let anything happen to you," I whispered, feeling the cold spread through my arms.
But then came the second blow.
Not physical, not even visible.
It came in the form of a smell.
It was faint, but I recognized it immediately. Metallic, dense, like sweet powder mixed with blood.
Something entered my nose, slowly burning the inside of my throat.
"What... what is that smell?" someone asked, already staggering.
"Gas!" shouted the escort.
"It's toxic or narcotic! Cover your mouths!" I exclaimed.
But it was too late.
The youngest began to fall like withered leaves. Their eyes closed without a struggle, as if sleep were too heavy. Even the older ones who couldn't cover themselves in time began to falter. I felt my legs getting clumsier. My breath was becoming rough.
The teacher was panting, her water sphere crackling as it destabilized.
"We have to evacuate... someone has to warn the city," she said, her voice grave.
"What do we do?" I asked, panting.
"Who...?"
The teacher didn't hesitate.
She took the little first-year girl, Lecia, who was next to me, and lifted her carefully.
"You, little one... listen to me carefully," she said, holding her by the shoulders.
"You're going to run. You're going to get to the city. And you're going to tell the council, the guards, anyone: that we were attacked by hooded humans. That they were waiting for us. Do you understand?"
The girl swallowed, tears rolling down her cheek.
"Just focus on running," I said as I bent down toward her.
"I'll cover your back, I swear by all that is sacred that I won't let them touch you." I could only bring our foreheads together as I said these words.
She took a step back, looking at me one last time, and disappeared into the undergrowth, running with all the courage a little girl could muster.
"We can't let them follow her," I said.
"Teacher, create a barrier... I'll create a stream of stakes behind it."
"Do it. And may our Goddess and the tree Hypnos protect us," she whispered.
I stretched out my hands.
"Ice storm!" I shouted.
Dozens of ice stakes sprouted from the ground, crossing like half-buried spears, blocking the path. A shield of needles, perfect for preventing them from following.
The teacher ran to the side, pretending she was still carrying the girl. I could only stay behind to protect the children with my ice attacks in the open field; they couldn't approach without caution.
Behind us, the escort continued to fight the hooded figures.
Wounded, bleeding, but still standing. He held his spear as if it were an extension of his soul. He cut, pushed, resisted.
And then...
A shadow appeared behind him.
A hooded figure we hadn't seen before. As if emerging from the ground.
"Damn it!" I tried to shout, but the gas had already completely overcome me.
I saw the black spear pierce his chest.
The bodyguard didn't even scream. He just... fell.
His body collapsed with a whisper. His eyes, still open, seemed to be looking at something only he could see.
I fell to my knees. Everything was blurring. My arms weighed a ton, I could no longer hold them back with my attacks.
I saw the teacher also faint as she attacked with her water element.
And then I knew.
We had lost.
One by one, our bodies were lifted by the enemies. They carried us like bundles. I heard their footsteps, the crackling of branches. There were at least a dozen of them, maybe more.
And as my consciousness faded...
...I saw the bodyguard.
I saw him lying in a large pool of blood, something that for some reason was familiar to me, even though it was supposed to be the first time I had seen death with my own eyes.
He was lying there motionless.
He was dead.
A part of me screamed.
But I didn't have the strength for anyone to hear me.
Everything went dark.