Wade woke up just as the sky was beginning to lighten. He stared at the dim, reddish glow spreading from the east through the canopy, still sluggish with sleep. The air was freezing and thick with moisture; with each breath, it felt as if he were inhaling more water than anything else. Without his jacket, his clothing did little to protect him from the cold; he shivered and curled up tighter.

A muted rustle came from Wade's right. His eyes flicked to the side, where he glimpsed Serafina slip away into the forest, her face bright and alert. Asher was only a step behind her, his arms folded against the chilly air. No doubt they were going to practice magic.

Wade groaned and sat up, groping for his sword. He wasn't going to miss seeing this again, even if it did mean he wouldn't get any more rest. He stumbled past Aurum, who's scales glimmered with dew as he twisted his head to the side. Kira lay nearby, her head on the dragon's hind leg and Wade's jacket wrapped around her like a blanket.

Have fun, Aurum said, his gold eyes flashing.

Wade nodded tiredly in response. As he made to step over a fallen branch, his left shoe skidded across the wet grass, throwing him off balance. With a choked cry, he toppled across Aurum's back, driving all the air from his lungs. He grasped Aurum's slick scales before he could fall on top of Kira and stumbled upright, adrenaline jolting him awake.

That was quite graceful, Aurum commented, his mirth flooding through the bond.

Thanks, Wade replied, heat flooding his face. Before he could embarrass himself further, he trotted after Serafina and Asher. Their footprints were easy to spot in the thick mud, and before long he glimpsed Serafina's dark, curly hair up ahead.

"Hold up," he said, his voice quiet and ragged with sleep. Thankfully, Asher heard him and slowed to a halt, tugging at Serafina's sleeve. She turned around, surprise flitting across her face at the sight of Wade.

"Wade! I thought you were asleep."

Wade cleared his throat and crossed his arms. "I was. Fortunately, my keen senses detected that I was about to miss something interesting and woke me up."

A brief silence. Asher moved forward and held a hand to Wade's forehead, mischief gleaming in his eyes. "Are you feeling alright, Wade? You're talking nonsense."

Wade batted his arm away and scowled. "I just woke up; don't expect my jokes to make sense." He looked at Serafina and dipped his head. "Morning, Serafina. Where are we going?"

Serafina shrugged and pushed on, ducking under a low branch. "A place far enough away so we won't disturb anybody. Follow me."

Wade nodded and trailed after her, grabbing Asher's arm when he hesitated. "What are you waiting for, Ash?"

"Nothing, I just . . . I'm not used to having an audience." Asher chuckled nervously. "It feels strange, using magic so openly. Especially in front of you."

"Relax, Ash. I'm your friend, not a crowd of onlookers," Wade reassured him. "You won't even know I'm there."

Asher's posture eased a little, and he nodded. "Thanks, Wade."

"No problem."

It didn't take long until Serafina stopped their little group and turned around, examining the forest. "This spot will do. Wade, you might want to stand back a little." She grinned. "Unless you'd like to help Ash fight me."

"I'm happy to watch, thank you." Wade retreated underneath a tree, where he had a good vantage point of the two magi. "Is this good?"

"Perfect." Serafina turned to Asher, a more serious expression crossing her face. "Right. I've been thinking, and I want to try fighting again. This time, however, we can only use water. It will force you to be more creative and resourceful."

Asher nodded and raised one hand. A wavering ball of water formed over his palm, shifting and twisting itself into a variety of different shapes. Wade shifted closer, trying to get a better look at it. With all that had happened, he had never had a good chance to observe magic like this.

"Good," Serafina commented, watching Asher closely. "You're learning."

Only the barest shift in her voice warned that she was about to attack, but Wade caught it. He leaned back just as a line of water appeared in the air before her and shot toward Asher. He jumped aside and redirected it at her head, eyes ablaze.

Serafina carelessly waved her hand, and the water froze and dropped to the ground. Asher stepped back, confusion rising in his eyes. Out of the corner of his eye, Wade saw another pillar of water rising behind his friend. He bit back a warning as it rushed toward Asher's back.

Asher stiffened and leapt out of the way just in time, waving his hand and sending it flying back at Serafina. It twisted out of the way as it neared her, splashing harmlessly to the dirt.

"Try something different, Ash!" Serafina cried, a feral smile breaking across her face. "Don't be so obvious with your attacks!"

Asher took a few steps back and met Serafina's eyes. The mist suddenly thickened, making it nearly impossible to see. Wade squinted, unable to see either of them.

Serafina cried out from somewhere in the fog, and there was a loud splash. Wade twitched, wondering if he should make sure they were both alright. Thankfully, the mist drew apart and sunk back into the ground to the ground, revealing Asher sprawled in the mud, thoroughly soaked. Serafina stood over him, the clear winner.

"That fog was clever," she said, extending a hand and helping Asher up. "But you need to move around more. And stop letting me attack first."

"Noted," Asher grunted, grasping her hand. He moved a yard or two away and stared Serafina down for a few moments. Her eyes gleamed with some hidden taunt, and she stepped forward, one hand twitching at her side.

Asher lunged forward, raising his fists as if he were about to resort to punching. Serafina held her ground, confusion and shock warring in her face. Asher ducked under the jet of water that she sent at him and slid across the muddy grass, hooking his leg around her own. Whatever he did next was too fast for Wade to catch: one moment Serafina was standing, and the next she was on the ground with Asher, who sent a stream of water at her before she could recover. Serafina barely managed to divert the stream and stand back up, her hair tangled and dirty.

"Enough playing," she growled, so quietly Wade barely heard her. Her gaze sharpened, and more water materialized around Asher's legs. It twisted around his ankles and jerked to the side, forcing him to the ground. Wade glimpsed a hint of white glinting on the surface and realized with a jolt that Serafina had transformed it into ice midair.

Asher didn't have time to react before more water doused him from above, plastering his hair to his head. He cried out and held his hands to his head, screwing his eyes shut. Wade winced: it must've been freezing.

Serafina grimaced and combed her fingers through her hair. "That was a bit of a dirty trick."

"I'm sorry," Asher said quietly. When he looked up again, shame filled his face. "I don't know what I was thinking."

"Don't be," Serafina replied, a smile finally breaking through her stern look. "Honor is a great thing, but it should not stop you from defending yourself. Besides, I did tell you to stop being so obvious."

Relatively sure they'd finished, Wade made his way over to the two magic-users, careful to avoid the giant puddles lying on the ground. He lightly whacked the back of Asher's head—for though clever, attacking Serafina like that had been unfair—and grinned. "I've never seen anything like that before. You're both amazing!"

Asher sheepishly returned the smile; Serafina shifted her feet. Wade caught her eyes for a moment, and his heart did an odd sort of flip. They both looked away at the same time.

"Anyways," Serafina said, "we should get back. Henry and Kira will be awake soon, if they aren't already."

"You're done?" Wade asked. He'd expected their practice to be longer than a single fight.

"No, but we're finished dueling. I can teach Ash by using words as well," Serafina replied, a halfhearted smile touching her lips. She took a few steps away from them, in the direction of the lake. "I'm going to get some water. I'll meet you with the others."

Wade frowned: as she moved out of sight, he glimpsed her shoulders sag, as if something was trying to pull her down to the ground. The weariness in the posture twisted a threat of unease around his stomach. He glanced at Asher, but his friend didn't seem to have noticed anything.

Asher started moving back to their camp, then turned around to look at Wade. "Are you coming?"

"Yes," Wade said, but he didn't budge. "Just give me a few minutes."

Asher followed Wade's gaze to the place Serafina had vanished and then chuckled. "Ah."

Wade scowled at his friend, who shot him a knowing look. "What?"

"She's very beautiful, isn't she?"

"Oh. Oh, no," Wade growled, shoving Asher's shoulder. "Don't you dare, Ash. Get out of here."

"If you say so," Asher laughed, turning away.

Wade watched his friend go, glaring daggers into his back. Finally, he walked after Serafina. She'd left clear tracks in the muddy ground; it was simple enough to follow them. Minutes later, he emerged into the clear, open air beside the lake. The sky had lightened considerably, and a few clouds were drifting into view.

Serafina was crouched by the clear water, brushing some mud from her skirt. She looked very different than she had moments before; every movement bespoke a great weariness, and she didn't even seem to notice Wade as he drifted closer.

"Hi," Wade said after a moment, sitting down next to her. Serafina jumped and turned away, hiding her face.

"What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see if you were okay." Wade leaned forward to get a better look at Serafina's face. Her eyes were downcast and dull, and her hand trembled when she brushed a stray strand of hair from her face. "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing," Serafina muttered. "I'm just tired."

"Serafina. If you don't want to tell me, then just say so. But I'm not blind."

She hesitated and closed her eyes. "I don't want to tell you."

"Okay," Wade replied, ignoring the sting the words sent through his heart. He stood up and took a few steps toward the others, then paused and turned around. "Just . . . don't hurt yourself, please."

No reply. Wade kept walking, twisting his hands together nervously.

". . . Wait."

Wade stopped. Serafina hadn't moved, her eyes fixed on the lake. "Yeah?"

"Asher is very talented with magic. And he's a lot stronger than I am." Serafina cleared her throat. "Not to mention I . . . I am already quite weak. I just need a few minutes to recover my strength."

"What do you mean?"

"Even snapping a branch from a tree takes a lot out of me." Serafina held out one shaking hand before tightening it into a fist. She let out a long breath and let it fall into her lap.

"Despite that," Wade said after a moment, coming back and sitting beside her, "you seemed to beat him pretty easily."

Serafina lifted her shoulder. "I've been practicing magic in secret for years. I know a few tricks, that's all."

"You don't always need strength."

"You'd be surprised." Serafina's eyes gleamed, and her voice faded away.

"What do you mean?"

Serafina shook her head. It was a long moment before she spoke again. "Don't tell Asher. If he tries to go easy on me, he won't learn anything."

Wade's eyes landed on the scar that spanned the length of her left cheek. It stood out clearly against her tanned skin; he resisted the urge to reach out and touch it. "But you might get hurt. Ash wouldn't forgive himself if he actually harmed you."

"He'd have great difficulty doing that," Serafina said with a small laugh. "He doesn't need to know, Wade. Promise me you won't tell him."

"I . . ." Wade bit his tongue, considering. "So long as you or Ash aren't in danger because of this, I promise not to tell him."

Serafina raised an eyebrow. "I suppose that'll do."

". . . We should probably get back. The next few days are going to be long." Wade stood up and held out his arm.

"Yes," Serafina agreed, taking his hand. She wiped at her bleary eyes and swayed; Wade reached out to steady her. She pressed her lips together but leaned against him anyways, letting out a harsh breath. Wade felt his frown deepen: she seemed even more tired than he first thought.

"You and Kira are riding Ember today," he ordered, guiding her along the thin beach.

"That poor horse can't possibly carry both of us," Serafina murmured.

"Then one of you can ride Aurum. I'm sure he wouldn't mind."

Serafina looked up at him, a spark lighting in her eyes. "Fly? With him?"

"Why not? He's much stronger than he looks, trust me."

Serafina's gaze drifted to the sky, and a reckless smile touched her lips. "Sounds dangerous."

"Sera."

"Yes?"

"Should I be worried?"

The girl's grin widened. "Of course not."

Wade chuckled and guided her around a tree. "For some strange reason, I have trouble believing that."

Serafina's only response was a mischievous look. She used Wade's arm to push herself upright and took a deep breath. "I think I can walk on my own now. Thank you."

"I'm glad to be of help."

"You're very kind, Wade," Serafina said, stopping and looking up at him.

He met her dark gaze and smiled softly. "I try."

After a moment, Serafina kept moving. "C'mon, we've kept everyone waiting long enough." Her hand brushed against Wade's as she turned; her eyes shot back to his, and a slight smile spread across her face. Before Wade could return it, she was gone.