It took two more days before Seiren felt back to functional again. During that period, she and Rowan had few interactions. He checked in on her every few hours, but he said very little. Tylene brought her meals and assisted her with washing and dressing until her muscles ached less -- and assured her that Rowan hadn't seen her naked. Neither Tylene nor Rowan mentioned Loren's name.

"How is your skin so nice?" said Tylene. Seiren jumped and swivelled her head round to stare at her. Tylene continued to nonchalantly dry Seiren's back. It was an odd comment to come from a woman who was at least thirty years old.

"I... wash it?"

"Oh, thank you. Nice to know there is basic hygiene involved."

"There is no secret." Seiren felt the sharp edge of irritation creeping into her voice and she pulled back. Rowan wasn't the only one who was used to punching first and regretting later. "Genes?"

Tylene hmmed and helped her fasten her dress button at the back. Seiren's shoulders ached too much to bend to that angle. The tapping noise of a bird's beak caught Seiren's attention. A familiar-looking fat pigeon perched outside the high window, staring at her with haughty red eyes. Seiren climbed onto her bed and tugged the window open. The bird flapped in and cooed, offering its leg. Another scroll.

Calling nearby mages Iwade and northwards: winter support for Acrise required as decreed by King Pollin, to start in one week.

Seiren sighed with relief that the scroll wasn't related to another attack, but then tensed again. She and Rowan would have to attend this summons.

Ever since Acrise got reclaimed two years ago, it's struggled to stay viable during the winter months. It's a mage's obligation to help out civilians in need.

Thanks, Madeleine. I did pay attention in the Ethics lectures, you know.

I would never have guessed.

"What's going to happen to Felora and Peron now that... that..."

"They'll probably be reassigned to a new mage, probably one that has recently qualified and not yet had aides yet."

"Someone like me."

"Maybe." Tylene brightened up. "But after what happened to Lo-- what happened, I think they'll end up spending a lot of time with Judiciary and the king's mages before they'll be released on another attachment."

There were the words again. King's mages. The name evoked reverence and power beyond imagination. They took over all the cases of the mages' attacks so far and but had never condemned the attacks by the rogues. Joining them would give her access to the most advanced and hidden information about human magic. But they also sent Seiren after Halen Ashworth.

Knowing you haven't a hope in hell in surviving another attack, let alone capturing her.

I managed it.

You almost killed yourself with whatever you did. Hey. What did you do to her?

Seiren bit her lip. Madeleine nosed about her memory of that day and Seiren locked it down even further. Madeleine had told her it was the devil's magic. Madeleine would kill her if she knew Seiren used the same rune on Ashworth as the attackers on Loren.

There were two light taps on the door before it eased open. Rowan marched in, shoulders rounded and black hair flat, lacking life. Felora excused herself. In Rowan's hand he clutched the same piece of paper Seiren had received.

"Had enough rest?" she said in an attempt to be nonchalant. The paper in Rowan's hands crunched.

"I don't sleep." His voice was hoarse. He cleared it, not meeting her eyes. "My mind has a tendency to be... overly active at the best of times."

Seiren studied the pinched face and pale lips. The dark half-moons beneath his normally electric blue-green eyes emphasised their size.

"You're scared of your own dreams?"

"You would be, too, if you'd seen what I'd seen."

Seiren's lips pressed to a thin line.

"I can say the same."

They fell silent. The air weighed heavy on Seiren's shoulders. She fidgeted. Neither of them wanted to be the first to break the silence.

Well, aren't you a right merry pair.

"I guess we're setting off for Acrise next week, then."

"I don't think it's appropriate for you to go, given what you've been through."

A familiar heat crept up Seiren's neck. She forced out an even breath and met his eyes.

"I don't think mulling around will change anything. I'm ready to go. If you are, too, then we should leave for Acrise on the next available train."

He hesitated, then swallowed what he was going to say. He nodded.

"Very well. Prepare for your burst magic lessons tomorrow." Seiren's eyebrow threatened to jump up. She didn't realise Rowan still had a mind to teach her anything. "Acrise is a stormy and godforsaken iceland. You need to be prepared to summon magic literally at the snap of a finger. When the ice storms come, there won't be time for you to sit down and draw runes."

She bared her teeth in mimic of a grin.

"Rune me."

****

Seiren ran the sensations over in her mind. The summoning of water, fire, earth, and wind each felt very different as burst magic even though it was the same gesture: the emptying of her mind and the expulsion of a great rush of power. Magic that generated flames leapt out of her hands and threatened to buckle out of her control. Wind flowed with more energy and freedom than she could imagine. Water and earth were even harder to grasp -- because she still couldn't generate them properly.

Rowan remained listless and vacant throughout the train journey. Tylene and Dent tried to make casual conversation with him, and then between themselves, to fill the silence. He ignored their offer of lunch. Seiren didn't bother trying to engage, too caught up in the whirlwind of recent events. It must be rogue mages that took Loren's life, they said. Seiren wasn't so sure. She didn't see the killing blow, but the retreat of the two king's mages she had seen seemed more suspicious than anything.

Seiren wasn't sure how she was supposed to feel about Loren's death. It was a great loss to everyone and she didn't deserve to die. But Seiren didn't feel the sadness or tears she associated with grief. It was as if it hadn't happened -- but she just knew it had. She just couldn't feel it. Life went on. It was surreal.

The Council hadn't contacted her for research since she'd withdrawn from the program. They'd taken all her research papers, nevertheless.

I'm glad you saw the light about testing on humans.

Seiren didn't have the heart to tell Madeleine that she only stopped because it was upsetting her. She had considered returning to research with Madeleine switched off, but her sister would never forgive her.

When... when did you make peace with being -- being like this?

Being dead, you mean? Seiren flinched at the term. Oh, after a few years. I was angry, at first. Angry that I couldn't go to King's with you. Angry that you got there and got to live a life and I'm tied to this. Angry that even simple things like taking a bath or sleeping is impossible for me now. And then I got sad about it, but you know what? After a few years of moping, it doesn't change anything. I can stop you from doing stupid things, still, even in this form, so I'll carry on doing this until I can't any more.

You've never told me you were angry or depressed about this.

What good would it do? You'd lost everyone, just like I have. You weren't the most emotionally mature of people then -- well, you still aren't--

Thanks.

--I didn't want to burden you. I was scared you'd lose motivation to do your best if you can't fight for me.

Burden. Madeleine had never been a burden. Every time Seiren got herself into trouble, her sister had been there to get her out or talked her out of bad decisions.

I didn't realise you were so cowardly.

Madeleine snorted at her. Funny. People deal with grief differently. You were an absolute wreck on the inside but an ice queen on the outside to look strong. Professor Fernard kept everyone out to protect himself. Rowan... I think he's just fading away.

Well, I'm not going to hold his hand. The image of Rowan fast asleep on the edge of her bed caused Seiren's neck to redden. She pushed the memory away before Madeleine found out.

You don't need to mollycoddle him. He's a grown man. But a bit of sympathy and toning down the wit will be helpful.

Seiren glanced at Rowan and almost pulled a face. He was so pale he seemed almost translucent. His black hair hung limp. Dark circles sat beneath his blue-green eyes. The flamboyance and cocky arrogance were nowhere to be found. It must be hard, losing his best friend.

A thin sheen of ice covered the ground. Not a single life form could be seen. Acrise loomed in the distance. A fortress of steel and stone, it was a formidable sight. Black-tiled towers spiralled into the sky against a grey, heavy overcast. Small figures marched along the battlements, keeping watch over the barren land. The train sped towards the station, built directly into the body of the great wall stretching as far as the eye could see to the left and right. The other side of Acrise was Hanna, the world of demons and power-hungry tyrants, separated by treacherous mountains and the steel fortress.

It sent shivers down her spine knowing she was in close proximity to the country of monsters. What she wouldn't give to just jump over that wall and blow up the entire country.

Nice, blow up a whole country for a few extremists' actions.

It's not just the extremists. Their demon-summoning is unnatural and so dangerous. They can't control half the things they bring to life. They shouldn't be doing this.

So your solution is to bomb them. What's the difference between them and you?

Seiren ignored the question. She propped her elbow onto the window, staring intensely as the train drew closer. The unforgiving eyes of the soldiers stared back down and they flashed by. The train plunged into darkness and ground to a halt.

Seiren stuck her hand inside her pocket, readying a rune.

"It's okay, Mage Nithercott," said Tylene from somewhere to her right. Seiren couldn't even make out an outline. "We're just entering the security wing of Acrise. We'll get moving soon."

Sure enough, after a few minutes, the train lurched forward again. There was a brief moment when they exited the tunnel and the weak sunlight leaked through the clouds, but then they entered pitch blackness again -- and stopped once more. A minute or two later, they stuttered forward before finally entering an open space that actually resembled a train station.

"I didn't realise security was so tight in Acrise."

"Never been here before, eh?" said Tylene with a smile. "Security is very tight. Curfew every night at ten o'clock and strictly only military personnel and soldiers based in Acrise are permitted out. We'll get a pat-down pretty soon and all our identifiers noted."

Seiren glanced up out of the window again. A line of soldiers glared down, weapons in their hands. Behind them, lightning threaded between the thick grey clouds. A shudder ran down her spine. This was an unforgiving place.

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