It's with hopelessness that Day sits on the steps of the courtyard. His eyes drift from one spot to another, his brain associating each step with a new memory. A new spot where Alec cracked a joke, and Zoe cackled like the witch she is, another place where Sierra smacked the top of Lucas's head for not paying attention, another spot where Noah kicked ass, and another spot where Raylene flirted with him shamelessly.

The fourth task hung heavy between the candidates, a sense of heaviness that could be detected during their trainings. And with an increase in malefactor attacks, tensions were running high. Day stills remembers a bunch of third years, giving Elijah Grimm grief, for an attack that wasn't his fault. The only wrong he had done, was simply belong to a family that once had supported the Dark King.

Day hears Raylene's footsteps before he sees her shoes. As the Bender witch takes a seat next to him, Day's stomach drops.

"You wanted to talk?" Raylene asks, and he notices when her smile drops. "Is everything okay?"

Day runs his hand over his face, unsure and hesitant.

"No."

"What's wrong?" Raylene asks, her voice no longer confident.

"I don't think I see this going anywhere right now," Day says, his tone soft but his body rigid.

"Can't say I didn't see this coming," Raylene replies.

Day looks at her in surprise.

"Have you finally accepted your place in the war or just realised how you feel about Sierra?"

"What?" Day's eyes are wide in shock, unable to comprehend what Raylene was implying. "I don't have any-."

"Feelings for Sierra?" Raylene interrupts, scoffing. "Save it, Day. I've seen the way you look at her."

"You've got it all wrong."

"You can say that, but when you realise how you feel, just remember Day, I told you so," Raylene says, still looking out rather than at Day. "And don't worry, this was fun as brief as it was."

With those parting words, Raylene Tan stands up and squeezes Day's shoulder in understanding or comfort, Day isn't entirely sure. And then she walks away, leaving Day to his thoughts.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Sierra blocks a round body kick from Amisha, and her hands rise to block a punch. The two witches dance around each other, blocking, attacking with both magic and physical combat. The controller witch pivots to the side, her hands rising, blue wisps wrapped around her fists. The force of her magic pushes Amisha back, and as Amisha puts up a shield against the magic, Sierra delivers a round body kick to Amisha's hip.

"Nice!" Alec yells grabbing Sierra and Amisha's attention.

It is only then that the two witches notice how they had held everyone's attention as they had swiftly moved. With Task 4.5 announced for two days from now, everyone had been training harder than ever. Most evenings after classes were spent in the courtyard which resulted in many injuries. Though that wasn't much of an issue, with Zoe, Alec and Noah around, practising their healing.

"You're getting better, Kingsley," Amisha appreciates, wiping her face with a rag.

"All thanks to you," Sierra replies, thinking back to the extra training Amisha had been doing with her. At the start of the year, when they had begun training, physical combat had not been Sierra's strength. But now, she moves faster, and predicts her opponents next move much quicker than before.

"Are you done for today?" Amisha asks, glancing around, her eyes lingering a second too long on Alec.

Sierra nods, before adding, "I need to go run some errands."

"Western Veneficia?" Day interjects, putting his water bottle down.

"Yeah, if I don't go today, I have to wait till next week, and that's not exactly ideal."

"Mind if I join you?" After a side glance at a smug Alec, he adds, "It's getting dark, probably not a good idea if you go alone."

Sierra nods, trying to not focus on the flutter in her chest.

"Alright, let's go then."

Sierra grabs her wallet and shrugs her sports jacket on and waits for Day to gather his stuff before they walk towards the gate and to the carriage.

"I heard about Gideon's, uh, blow up," Day says, unsure of what words to use.

"Oh wow, word sure gets around," Sierra replies, signing her name on the clipboard.

The gates open and the pair approach the carriage.

"Are you okay?" Day asks. He opens the door to the carriage and gestures for Sierra to get in. She's not quite sure why the small act stumps her, but it does.

"Thank you." She jumps in and answers his question, "I wasn't then, but I am now."

The carriage starts up, and by now Day doesn't feel the need to hurl or scream. Though, Sierra's hand does clench his. His chest tightens at the action, and he can't deny that he enjoys the feeling, more than he'd ever had with any of his flames. The carriage comes to a stop, and as if realising what she had done, Sierra removes her hand and clears her throat.

The carriage door opens and Day steps out, Sierra following behind him.

"Where to first, mi'lady?"

Sierra laughs, and says, "You'll just have to find out."

She walks ahead without him, and Day is rooted to his spot. Stunned momentarily, wondering why the sound of her laugh affects him as much as it does. She pauses when she realises that he isn't following. Sierra turns around and asks,

"Aren't you coming?"

Daysnaps out of his reverie, following her. She cracks a smile, one of thosegenuine ones that reach her eyes. The Gods of the Cauldron damn him, 'cause Daywill follow her anywhere for that smile.