When I inherited our small fortune, I wanted them to burn the money at first. I was disgusted at having so much wealth when I considered how I destroyed everything between Father and I. Then I attempted once to use it for the betterment of the man I loved. He refused me; afterward, I decided to box away the money and never use it, living off of my wages from my job at Arxia Academy.

"""

The next day, Micah entered the kitchen, where Light Spinner was cooking some little bread-like things over the stove. "What are these?" he asked, pointing to the pans. His eyes went to a carton of red fruit. "And these?" A bottle. "And - "

Light Spinner had the funniest try-not-to-laugh face Micah had ever seen. "Crêpes in the pan. Strawberries in the carton. Whipped cream in the bottle."

"Oh." He'd never seen any of those things, but he'd heard of them. "You didn't seem like...a whipped-cream sort of person to me."

"And what makes a whipped-cream sort of person?" Light Spinner said, taking out the crêpes and crowning them with strawberries.

Micah thought for a moment. "Maybe someone who likes going to the beach and doesn't care if they get sand between their toes?"

She eyed him with amusement. "I've never been to the beach before."

"What?" he exclaimed as she poured more batter into the pan for another round of crêpes. "That's horrible!"

"Equally horrible you don't know what whipped cream is," Light Spinner teased. "Tell me about the beach. What do you do there?"

Micah grinned back. "Well...can you swim?"

She shook her head with a sad smile, and his mouth dropped open. "Swimming's fun. But not in the winter, because it's too cold - we live in the northern area of Tropicilas. But in the summer, when it's broiling outside, it's a great way to cool down. Do you know what seashells are?"

"I've read about them," Light Spinner said. "Norwyn gave me an encyclopedia of them when I came to Mystacor. It's probably still in my library..."

Her voice trailed off as Micah dashed to her office and looked for it. It was a heavy book thick as his first three fingers, and he grabbed it, hurrying back to the kitchen and opening it up. Disappointingly, the book was written in Meyan.

Light Spinner gave him a gentle look. "What are you trying to search for? If you say it in Standard, I can find it in the book."

"I'm looking for the Concha."

Light Spinner panned the crêpes off, then flipped the page, pointing at the one marked Closca de conx. "Is this it?"

Micah nodded. "I'd pick up dozens of these on the shore - they sell for almost five crescents apiece, and that was how my family earned money. We also have a wreath of seashells on the door back at home."

Light Spinner smiled, dishing up her own plate. "Tell me, Micah, how does it feel to swim in the ocean?"

"Cold," he said as Light Spinner put her fork beneath her veil. "But it's freeing to know you're just a part of the Eastern Ocean and you don't have to control it." At her gaze, he stopped himself. "Is that weird?"

"No," she said. "Keep talking. I hear the ocean is salty. We have the mist beaches here, but they're not the same. What's it like when you get a mouthful of salt water?"

Micah chewed for a moment. "Scary. You swallow the ocean, but it feels like it's swallowing you. I remember when I was little, I was doused and I thought I would drown. The waves are so strong."

Light Spinner ate in silence for a long moment, thinking, then spoke again. "We're going to the doctor before class. They will help your arm and bind it in a more proper cast."

"C'mon, don't you trust the healers?"

"Mystacor has better medicine," Light Spinner said, clearing her plate. "Go brush your teeth so we can go."

He sighed, getting up from the table. "Yes, Light Spinner."

As he passed, she put one of her warm hands on his shoulder-pads. "Micah?"

"Yes?"

She spoke quietly. "Thank you for telling me about the ocean."

A long pause. "You're welcome," he said, though it was almost in a whisper.

They walked along the road to the neighborhood clinic and into the office. Light Spinner spoke to the receptionist. "I'm here to inspect a sprained wrist."

The Del receptionist studied her; unlike Light Spinner, she did not wear a veil, meaning she'd probably been born here. "Yours, or his?"

"His."

The woman pushed her glasses up on her nose. "Sit here. We'll be right with you."

"Thank you."

Micah shifted in his seat with a frown; the doctor's office was obviously uncomfortable. I feel the same way. Against her will, she recalled when someone she long ago knew used to work here. He had been so excited that being a medical intern had been his first job, thanked her profusely for helping him study.

She gazed down; her fists were clenched. Get out of your daydreams. You'll never see him again. Micah sighed, and she shifted her gaze to his. "What is it?"

Micah frowned. "I've never been in a doctor's office before. It smells too clean. Like medicine."

By the three moons, detective, I wonder why. "We won't be long. The doctor will just examine your arm. It won't hurt; I don't think so, at least."

"If you say it doesn't hurt, it will."

"Perhaps."

The doctor exited his office. Light Spinner stood to go in with Micah to the room, but the older man stopped her. "You're not allowed back here." Her ears burned. Not this again. "I know about your tricks, and so do all my patients. I won't have you scaring them with your..." he leaned close, and she smelled cigars. "Dark magic."

Nell was never like this. Even after everything that happened. Light Spinner sighed, stepping away so she wouldn't cough. A doctor smoking a cigar was one of the smaller ironies in Mystacor. "Micah wants me there."

"Yeah, doc," Micah said. "It'll be fine!"

"I have my rules," the doctor said, placing a finger on Light Spinner's Guild badge. It was a less overt way of saying, I don't give a moon whether you're a queen or not - you're dangerous, and you don't belong back here. "I expect them to be followed."

Light Spinner smacked his hand away, anger rising in her chest. "Just go into the office, Micah," she muttered. "Don't argue about it." Micah opened his mouth to protest, but she glared at him briefly, and he shut it again as they disappeared into the examination room.

Light Spinner gritted her teeth as she sat back down. She herself dreaded the doctor, since Norwyn always had to be there to ensure they would let her in, despite her being almost twenty-nine. This doctor had humiliated her in front of other staff and patients in the past, and it was more people who now believed her to be dangerous.

The minutes crawled by until Micah emerged with a better cast. And when the doctor gave her his bill, Light Spinner handed it to him in crescents rather than moons as she and her apprentice walked outside.

The next day, Light Spinner led Micah into her office to begin their first day of class. The room had a small waterfall on the far wall that gurgled gently and a large desk in the middle that was clear except for a single gemstone. Light Spinner beckoned to it, and of its own accord, it moved up the table to her.

Micah's mouth dropped open. I've never seen someone use that kind of kinesis magic before. "You actually moved it! How?"

"There's magic everywhere," she said gently. "For sorcerers, it is renewed every month, fallen from the skies during the eclipses of the Three Moons of Enchantment. The princesses channel powerful elemental magic through their runestones..." As she continued talking, Micah picked up the gemstone, biting it. How did it move?

"...After many years of serious study and discipline," Light Spinner said sternly, giving him a look. He put the gemstone down quickly, giving a sheepish giggle. Definitely not like that. She sighed. "You're one of the most talented students I've ever seen, Micah - but you lack dedication."

He straightened up. "I'll prove to you that I'm worthy! Here, I'll show you!"

Micah tried to beckon the gemstone to come to him, but Light Spinner's white hand slammed down on his. She spoke, her eyes soft. "Not yet. First, you must promise to do exactly as I say."

He grinned, trying to joke. "I was afraid you'd ask me that."

"Well?"

Micah sighed, giving her a smile. "I promise."

Light Spinner returned it, her veil shifting slightly as she released him. "Good. It is time."

"""

I'm afraid of people finding out I'm a fraud. I've felt like one since I was little, since I could not be like you, Mother. But it got worse after I learned to control my power. I pretend that I am a cool, collected, brilliant scholar who breezed through my magic classes. But in reality, I am held together by fragile seams, and I only know what I force myself to. I am a fool, an emotional fool. Sometimes I genuinely loathe myself for it.

"""

Micah swallowed as he gazed at the textbook Light Spinner hoisted onto the table. "Are we going to be using that?"

"I will be," she said, opening the page. "Micah, tell me what you know about sorcery. Ahelia said you knew much more than most people in your year level, and you seem to be a quick learner when you're not distracted."

Micah fingered the jewel she'd moved across the table. "Well, I know the difference between sorcery and runestone magic."

"Which is?"

"Runestones are like an endless well of magic - if you have one, you can cast as many spells as you want, and they also control the elements. Like the Pearl will give you water powers."

"Exactly," Light Spinner said with a nod. "Sorcery is unique because we can draw upon the magic that is in the air. The magic that falls from the sky each eclipse, the magic woven into the planet. But," she said, pointing a finger, "there are three limitations to sorcery that princesses don't have."

"Well, I know about magic strain, but - "

He trailed off as she shook her head. "Magic strain is the result of these three limitations being ignored." She passed a notebook to him. "Write them down. It'll help you practice your Meyan, too."

Micah bit his lip. "Alright, go ahead. I'm listening."

Light Spinner's voice grew grave. "The first: how much magic is at hand. You can tap all the moondust in your vicinity if you cast too many large spells, and if you go into medicine..." a small pause in her voice. "That can be the difference between life and death for your patient."

Micah tilted his head. "Got it. And that'd be a fun job, being a magic doctor. Why didn't you do that?"

Light Spinner's eyes wandered to the window, toward the creek that ran through Arxia. "I wished to be a teacher instead." She cleared her throat, and her voice returned to its authoritative tone. "The second limitation is your strength at drawing in moondust - how many Auxits of power you can hold before you run out of stamina. That is what breeds the consequence of magic strain, and all sorcerers have to deal with it."

Micah spoke as he wrote. "Why do sorcerers have stamina issues?"

"For a thousand years, no one's figured it out," Light Spinner murmured, resting her chin in a hand. "We've discovered that there's something pulling against sorcerers whenever they draw in magic. It's two opposing forces, like placing a nail between magnets. The strong sorcerer is the one who resists this pull for the longest time. That would be you - I have never seen someone your age who taught themselves how to do a light illusion with no instruction."

Micah blushed. "What's the final limitation?"

"Instinct," Light Spinner said. "Some sorcerers, like myself, are weak against the Pull, but we can channel magic as though it is second-nature, without even thinking about it. That is you, Micah. You have less limits on your power than any sorcerer I have ever heard of. Others take a long time to learn how to tap such power."

He wrote it down. I'm powerful. But how do I use my magic? What will I do with it? "What are some things magic does? Like, jobs I could have?"

Light Spinner shrugged. "Some use it for their personal lives, to make their commutes easier. Others become doctors, magic teachers, historians who have charmed libraries. And...warriors."

"Do any of them use it for evil?"

"At times. Dark magic - when one uses their power for folly and wickedness. Seraphite scholars will tell you they are 'of Fulmination' if they do such things. And in Arxian history, there was a great civil war amidst my people over the use of such methods." She shivered.

"What was it?" Micah whispered.

Light Spinner swallowed, shutting the blinds and the door. The faint glow that surrounded her was the only light in the room. "Sometimes, when sorcerers are exhausted or ill, they see glimpses of possible futures. One such Emeth, Auctor, had a vision of sorcerers one day being as powerful as princesses, without the Pull or magic being burned away. He came up with a spell which he thought could achieve that," she said, drawing a crude star emblem in the air with her gold magic. "The Spell of Obtainment, capable of siphoning and storing magic automatically, like a runestone. It failed when it was tested, and his subjects all perished."

"Why didn't it work?"

"It's very risky and difficult," Light Spinner said, her voice a whisper. "If you fail to cast it properly, as everyone has thus far, you will become a parasite, unable to live without constantly siphoning magic to feed the Spell."

"And that would kill you from magic strain," Micah murmured. He clenched his fists, coldness creeping over his back.

Her voice was kind. "I shouldn't be talking about this," she said. "The Guild forbids that anyone in Mystacor learn about such things until their graduation. But I am from Delvala, and there they do not hide things from their people."

That's strange. He frowned. "Why are you breaking the rules?"

Light Spinner's eyes were earnest. "Because I don't want you to be robbed of the opportunity to be the best person you can be, Micah. You don't need it to be powerful, to help others and be a great sorcerer." She snapped, and the light came on. "Well, I suppose that sums up the lesson. Do not tell anyone what we discussed. It is not for them to know."

The next day, Light Spinner and Micah cast a transportation spell to go to the Great Hall and pick up a few data crystals. He grinned when they entered the building. "That was awesome! Will I learn to do that on my own this year?"

A smile touched her lips. So enthusiastic. "Yes, if you are dedicated. And quiet. We're going to take a quick trip to the Lunarium."

"Sounds good to me. What's in there?"

"Books," she said wistfully. "We need a few data crystals for today's assignment. Come with me."

They walked into the Lunarium, where a lady wearing a gray crop-top and orange skirt was rearranging the crystals. Light Spinner cleared her throat. "Marilia?"

A small, joking groan. "I thought you finished your Emeth already."

Light Spinner's face fell, as memories of this woman constantly giving her those pitying glances came to mind. I outrank her now. Where has that pity gotten her? I certainly don't need it. "I have an apprentice."

Marilia sighed, pulling a few flat pink diamonds off the wall and handing them to Light Spinner. "You really never take your time to rest, do you?"

Ignoring the keeper, she whipped her head around. "Micah?"

Micah cast a spell that Light Spinner had not taught him around his feet, and he levitated upward to the second floor of the Lunarium, which was packed with shelves upon shelves of magic-related books. Light Spinner bit down a snap. "Micah, we haven't learned levitation yet. Come down here. Who taught you that?"

Marilia chuckled, her curly brown hair swishing slightly. "Looks like your student is passing you up a notch. Are you sure he even needs these to learn?"

Light Spinner snatched the crystals. "Of course he does. Micah!"

Micah floated back down. "Veritas taught me how to do this," he said. "If you're going to yell at someone, maybe it should be her."

But I didn't yell. Did I? "Micah, you will not levitate again until I have taught you. Do you understand?"

He blew a stray lock of his scruffy black hair out of his face and looked at her with those sweet dark eyes. She sighed. "Thank you, Marilia."

The lady nodded. "Micah, you will do so well this year. You might even complete your Emeth quicker than she did - you definitely have the talent."

Light Spinner gritted her teeth until they hurt.

Back at home, they drew the spell needed to enchant a mirror. An angry dullness rested in Light Spinner's electric-green eyes, but he ignored it and touched her finger. "Your point is crooked."

Her ears drooped, and she scrunched up her nose. "I know, Micah," she snapped, straightening it.

Micah frowned. "I'm sorry for levitating. I hope you don't stay mad at me about that."

Light Spinner's expression shifted to embarrassment. "I'm not mad at you for breaking the rules."

"Then why are you mad at me?"

She sighed. "I'm not - drop the matter."

Micah took her hands. "Tell me what's going on. You won't hurt my feelings. If we're going to be friends, you can tell me anything. And I'll do the same. Okay?"

Light Spinner didn't respond for so long that he went back to practicing. After a long time, her voice came to him in a rush. "The only reason anyone thinks I'm worth anything is that I became good at magic and have taught Guild members new things. Otherwise, I'm just the evocation sorceress, and there's not a soul in the world who will let me forget it."

Micah looked over, concerned. "Okay. So what does this have to do with me?"

She rubbed her shoulder. "I...I'm jealous, I suppose. It took me years to become good at magic. You don't have to pretend to be naturally talented like I do - you aren't a fraud who has to hide who you are to be wanted."

"Thanks for telling me," Micah said, and her gaze softened. "That makes sense. I don't like pretending either - that's why we're here, not at school. You don't have to pretend either, and you're not a fraud."

She knit her brows together. "You don't think so, do you?"

He gazed up at her gently, shaking his head. I'm so glad I didn't give up on her. "Think of it like this - you weren't born good at magic, but you worked hard enough to become good at magic. That's something to be proud of, not something to hide."

Light Spinner had a deep look in her eyes as she kept holding his hands.

After class, Light Spinner locked her office and pulled out the shard of the Black Garnet. She encased it in a tiny power prism that hung suspended over her water glass, then pulled out her notes on the properties of the runestone.

The closest spell one could get to runestone connection was the mirror spell. If one spoke Convenit, it would link their consciousness temporarily to the mirror, and the spell was the gateway to it essentially being under their control.

It seemed to Light Spinner that to be connected to a runestone, someone had to become the runestone. She could connect the princess temporarily to the tiny shard, but there was no guarantee the connection would last or be stable while it did. And the Black Garnet held the most dangerous power of the runestones, electricity; it might electrocute Scorpia before it would work for her.

She gathered moondust in her hand and sprinkled it on the desk, drawing the mirror-connection spell. "Convenit," she said, pointing to the shard.

The moondust glowed for a moment, then died down. Light Spinner sighed. There was still one more missing piece. One thing she had yet to uncover - how to make a forged connection permanent.

The next day, Micah teleported around the house, having just learned the mandala for the transportation spell. On his last casting back to Light Spinner's rose garden, she crossed her arms, her eyes soft. "Well done, Micah. You've learned the spell for transportation in record time."

Record time. "Can we take a break now? I want to garden roses with you."

Light Spinner paused, then nodded. "Do exactly as I taught you - only prune the branches that are dead. And watch yourself so you don't cut your hands on the pruning shears."

As they worked together side-by-side, Micah took a breath. "Y'know, I've been wondering something."

"Mhm?"

"Why did you choose to pursue power? I mean - no offense. But you said you're not a quick learner in magic. How did you get your Emeth so fast?"

Light Spinner sighed, tucking a wavy lock of black hair behind her pointed ear. Her brow furrowed with her reply. "I was raised to believe that helping others was my ultimate goal. Mother always taught me that if I learned to control my powers, I could use them for good."

A pause. There was certainly more to her mother's calling than she was letting on, but Micah let it slide. "What happened next?"

"When I came to Mystacor...everyone thought my light was dangerous. And it is, but they didn't understand that I would never try to hurt anyone with it. Even Master Norwyn thinks so - he told me I had to hide my powers. That they were a curse that could be let off if I cried or yelled or felt too much. So I decided I would make myself become good at the other magic schools. If I couldn't use the one thing I was good at..."

Her voice grew troubled. "I would become who I was meant to be to fulfill Mother's calling, but it never felt right. Mother was genuine and never hid who she was. She freely laughed and cried while still being a servant to everyone she met. I am someone whose heart is hidden, but that is the whole reason I want to follow her calling."

"Do you feel sad about it? That you can't use your powers?"

Light Spinner lowered her eyes, her hands shaking. "I don't want to discuss it."

"Why not?"

Her voice held a tiny wobble. "Because I can't cry."

"That's not right. You should be able to cry. Pretending - it's a form of lying. I know you're not someone who likes to lie, Light Spinner."

Light Spinner winced. What else is she hiding? How long has it been since she's been allowed to talk to anyone? Since she's had a real friend? "I have to. I messed up before because I felt too much. I hurt..." she trailed off, clenching her fists. "I'll tell you when you're older. Forget I brought it up."

Micah squeezed her hands. "It's okay. My dad always taught me that feelings were a good thing. It's not bad to feel emotions. If Norwyn told you that, he's wrong. You shouldn't be afraid of being...human. Or Delvalian? I don't know. But I know you don't like pretending, so don't."

Light Spinner looked shocked at what he'd just said. "How is it that you're wiser than me?" A breathy laugh. "I'm a fool, Micah. I don't know why you look up to me."

Micah tilted his head. "Don't call yourself a fool. It's not true - and I'm just a kid."

"And yet you've given me something to ponder that I've never thought of before," she murmured, laying down on the ground, her black hair spilling out on the snow. Micah smiled and joined her, longing to stay and bring out the child in his new friend.