"Alright, so first thing's first," Princess says. "We gotta help you cast your first skill. That will basically be the key to everything. Four fighters, casting skills in tandem. We love to see it!"

"Princess, please calm down." Avery adjusts her collar and points in the direction of the hunting grounds. "We'll only go there if Hope wants to."

I steal a glance at Juno, who lends me a little smile. Bravery tugs at my chest. "Let's go. It's time that I learn how to fight."

Kara's glimmering magic still sticks to me. Mages carrying staves, various citizens holding their canvas shopping bags, and kids running around with sticks, pretending to be mages. I inhale the scent of fresh salads and meats roasting on sticks, as the hugeness of it all shocks me to the core.

"Where are you from?" Juno asks me as we walk. Princess and Avery lead the way, in deep discussion about the very first boss they'd like to fight.

"I'm from..." I pause, debating how much to share. "A village."

"So I'm guessing you've never seen a city just like this one, huh?" Juno grins, one hand on his dagger. For a second, I have the picture of him stabbing me. He will dig into my stomach and tear me apart. Like my nightmare about Maroon Wolves, my blood will spill on the grass. I will never become a mage that can defend himself, that can call upon his mana like second nature.

It disconcerts me so much, that I forget to ask him where he is from. Although I know that he must be from the Golden City—or at least his ancestors were.

"It's new, isn't it?" Juno says. "For the longest time, I've always wanted to be part of a party. I never imagined it happening. Today, well—it's just us."

It's just us. Another image comes over me, of me and Juno fighting side by side. I tuck this image away, focusing on Avery and Princess, the way they turn animated when discussing fighting techniques.

We leave the shimmering protective mist of Kara. Soon enough, we come across a green Jelly. I regard its jiggling body, remembering the time it almost suffocated me. Not today. I admire the expanse of Kara's surrounding forest, massive trees sprouting from the ground and breaking up the sky. In a place so beautiful and brilliant, there's no way I can fail. I have to cast my first skill.

"Alright," Princess says. "What always helps me is visualizing the skill in my mind. Almost like meditation. It has to take all your focus. I assume you're wanting to do the Wave skill, so I can assure you that since you now have the power, it will come. I believe in you, Hope!"

A bit overwhelmed, I nod and try to put Princess' suggestions into practice. I watch the Jelly, meditating on the word "Wave." The sunlight filters in through the gigantic boughs, skimming my face. I try to ignore the feeling of Juno watching me—and Avery and Princess, for that matter.

"It's fine if you don't get it at first," Avery says. "It took a lot of time. For all of us."

Juno hums in agreement. "That's right. No pressure, Hope."

For all of my life, I've been weak. I've listened to my parents about everything, and I never disobeyed. I may not have been a devout member of the Following, but I always stayed within the bounds. Power hovered well above my reach. Instead of acting on my own accord, I needed to rely on my parents and to do their will, almost as if they were the gods in my life.

When I heard about the fighters of Blossom World, I thought of what my parents would say if I ever brought up the idea. Of my leaving. Instead, I harbored the idea as a deep secret, knowing the moment would come when I'm finally old enough to cross the lines of safety on my own.

Late at night, when I secretly studied the wars between Nin and Miria, each of the eight cities vying for control, I imagined myself as a part of it. I knew I shouldn't wish for bloodshed, but the thought excited me—fighting for something beyond staying alive in the household that threatened to choke me. Every day.

One war that I studied, between Nin and Miria themselves, happened about two centuries ago. Four cities against four cities. At least ten thousand lives were lost, for control of the majority of resources mined in Halo Island. I imagined the ships crossing the oceans, the battles on monsters' territories, until an agreement was reached to let the guilds control the resources. Even though we live in a time of peace now, I secretly wanted a war to erupt. Maybe that would've changed my parents' minds, allowing me to leave.

And so now, on the outskirts of Kara, I remember my quest. I remember that I have my own life now, and I'm no longer controlled by my mother and father.

I can't let my party down. Can't go back to my little hovel in the tree and wait for the next day to try to impress my three party mates.

"Wave," I say.

As the word leaves my mouth, I find an electricity that travels all the way through my arms and into my staff. It takes over me, like someone grabbing my soul. And I realize it—I got it, the control over my first skill. It will be the first of many. Thousands, maybe even million more will follow. This will mark the foray into my identity as a mage.

I ground my feet. The sunlight snaps across my eyes, and I hear myself gasp. The euphoria that rushes through me heats me up from the inside. Everything around me stills. And here. I read about it in books. The diagrams and annotations could never have prepared me. I expect the usual sight—a colorless energy that will knock out the Jelly.

Instead, a pink wave travels out from my staff, rushing in toward the monster like a reflection of a cherry blossom in water—coloring the air with a pastel tone. The vibrancy of it stands out against the forest like oil painting on a canvas.

The Jelly bounces and falls back. It turns to dust. A core drops, a little amulet in the shape of the Jelly. I know I can sell it for a bit of coin.

"I've... never seen a Wave like that," Princess says. "Wow, that was pretty awesome."

"Congratulations on earning your first skill," Avery says. "I'm with Princess on this one. Maybe we can study why your Wave looks different from everyone else's?"

Every class has a signature look to their mana. For example, an archer's Firearrow will always be red. For mages, the Wave is colorless or sometimes hinted with blue. But pink? I never thought I would spark up a mystery within my party. Could this be something that will hold us back?

Juno stares at me, then transfers his gaze to my weapon. I still feel him looking even as I try to study the various shapes of nature.

We decide to walk back to the city, calling it a day over my "quick win." We theorize about what the pink color could mean, whether this could relate to how my body reacted to the goddess' energy. Princess sounds excited overall, while Avery says that we should look at things practically—as long as my power works, will the aesthetics of it really matter?

I can't shake Juno's eyes on me. Almost like he dissects me, reading into every crevice, almost like he knows something I don't.

I stay up late that night, reading the pages of the mage manual. Manuals like these are commonplace, but they were definitely banned in my household. I learn about not just the Wave, but about a dozen other skills that mages can master. Usually, that will take using Wave thousands of times, just to get the hang of the flow of magic. I don't find anything about variations of colors, but maybe that would belong in a more advanced book. Maybe I will try to make an appointment with Nathaniel to ask?

I read until my eyes go blurry. My room begins to spin, the small dismal space that kind of reminds me of my room back in the village. At least I don't have to worry about running into my parents... not if they stay put, committed to their faith.

The little sketches in the book confuse me, so I put the book down and focus on going to sleep. The events that erupted since I arrived in Kara keep me up. I twist and turn. I nurse a cold sweat. Until I finally succumb to exhaustion.

In the morning, I remember Princess' words. Meet at the Party Association first thing! Preferably before lunch, but we can take our time since we're in our first days.

I head to the communal bathroom to take a shower, still scared out of my mind about falling from the enchanted lift. Although most of the stalls are taken, I find one in the corner and wonder about how the pipes run all the way up the trees. Probably, enchanted with the help of the mages as well. I almost drop my towel on the floor, barely managing to get dressed in the cramped space. I wonder about where Juno, Avery, and Princess are staying. Perhaps in one of the giant trees that have private bathrooms? I don't exactly want to discuss my lack of gold with them, or how desperately I need to take on an odd job to pay my next month's rent.

With damp hair, I head down the lift, and jump tentatively onto the Kara forest floor. I take in the busyness, still foreign to me, and try to look the part of a mage while navigating through the paths that weave through the giant tree roots.

"You look great!" Princess runs up to meet me as I round the corner to the association. "But where's your armor?"

"Armor?" Right, each class has a special type of clothing they wear to defend from enemy attacks, becoming more sophisticated and hardy as skill increases. "I— um."

"It's okay, we're only going to be facing Jellies anyway," Princess says. Her leather armor, catching the light with a silverish sheen, reminds me of how much I don't have just yet.

Juno and Avery, closer to the association building, are probably eavesdropping. The latter's in a light, flexible chainmail, while the former has a thick fabric that allows for more agility. Following Princess, I open my mouth to begin to apologize for my tardiness.

"You're not late," Avery says. "In fact, our teacher's not here yet."

Two minutes later, after Princess shares some gossip about monsters turning more vicious these days, our teacher arrives.

She waves her staff as if it's an extension of her body. Dressed in mage robes, she draws her hand back and reveals tattoos that originate from the tropical region of Loll, on the continent of Miria. With muscular limbs and a lean figure, she gives us all a one-over before saying, "I'm Bertha and I'll be your instructor today. Follow me, we'll be heading to the hunting grounds." She sets a brisk pace, almost a jog. I struggle to keep up.

In the village, I learned how to farm, but my talents lied in being a gatherer. I brought back rare berries and herbs for those in the village, and that helped me earn my small place in the community. Here in Kara, there's no use for a gatherer like me. And I have to learn to change my pace, to become faster and stronger.

Bertha takes us to an alternate entrance to the hunting grounds, guarded by two men with spears. She waves them an association badge before being let through. These grounds, more isolated than the ones I had my first encounter with the Jellies, looks like it stretches flat for miles, broken up by small and large trees in the distance.

"First thing's first," Bertha says. "We have to practice formations. Usually, and this means it's best in most cases, the warrior will take the front. Archer, at the very back, with the mage right in front of the archer. The rogue weaves in and out, but mostly stays behind the warrior."

She stares at us with a raised eyebrow. "Go on."

We follow her directions, and I try to ignore the Jellies spawning in the periphery. I can almost smell the odor of its body on my face, like petroleum mixed with bitter herbs.

"You. What do you think you're doing?"

I look up, at Bertha's scowling face. Her tattoos seem to pulse as I say, "Yes?"

"What do you mean, yes?" she says, spitting through her teeth. "You're not even holding your wand right. I figured I should be nice about you forgetting your armor, but this is getting a bit much. To be a fighter in Blossom World, you're going to have to try a lot harder."

I gulp and try not to sweat too hard, even though it forms on my neck and hairline in an instant. Shame sticks to me like a sugary treat, and I find that I've been holding my breath. All in all, I don't want to let my party down. "Yes, I'll do better."

I adjust the grip on my wand. I recall the mage manual—hold your wand three quarters of the way down, slightly pointed forward or in the direction of your enemy. Keep your grip light, yet firm. Never, in any case, point the wand toward yourself.

I realize that must've been exactly what I was doing.

"Now, before we hunt any Jellies, you're all going to practice casting your basic skill in synchrony. I will count to five, then cast. With me?"

"Yes ma'am," Avery says, echoed by Juno, then Princess, and finally, me.

"One, two, three, four, five!"

Her grating voice expels all of my focus. And when I try to use my Wave skill, nothing happens. Juno's dagger crisscrosses the air. Princess shoots an enchanted arrow that looks like a golden sprite. Avery's sword glows a brilliant blue.

Me—nothing.

I can tell you aren't very committed, Hope, my father once told me. That is going to have to change if you really want to earn a place with the goddess in the afterlife. What are you going to tell her when you meet her?

Why are you so resistant? my mother once said. You're not going to captivate the goddess' attention like that. You're slacking, and you need to do better. Act like someone who can actually follow.

"I know a weakling when I see one," Bertha remarks. "I can tell one apart very easily. Party, let me tell you. You won't have it easy thanks to this little mage here."

Hi adventurer! Thank you for joining me for chapter 4! Isn't this Bertha person saying some serious nonsense? If I were Hope, I'd do my best to ignore her. Although that's easier said than done. 

Any predictions about what the strange pink color means? I'm welcoming any theories that you might have.