“I got something,” the young intern said. He proudly lifted a small vial. In it, his superior spotted the cut head of a cotton swab. Thick congealed blood stained the white material. “I knew the killer would have missed something.” “Great job,” his superior said. She picked the vial. It was properly labeled and everything. “I found it on the ceiling. In a corner. It’s as you said, ma’am. The devil’s in the details.” “And you have the focus required to notice them, though I’m not sure the boss will do anything about it.” “What do you mean?” the intern asked, his joy melting away. His superior had the grace to be embarrassed. Her intern was doing a great job, but he was still a little naive. Every high profile case was a political one. “It’s a meme,” Helena explained at Nestra’s look of incomprehension. “Wait, the old gleam has a better grasp on meme culture than I do?” Mazingwe gave Nestra a look of pity. “You are so unwired,” he dared say. “Alright. Enough, the both of you. Doctor, please fix my sister.” They had the audacity to laugh at her for a bit longer, then Helena grew serious. “Yeah, my arms hurt more,” she confirmed. “Additional channeling for close quarter combatants. Anymore and the pain would have spread to your torso. If you would follow me?” The two stepped into a testing room. Left outside, Valerian tried some small talk with Nestra but she was too anxious. She did congratulate him on mastering his first major spell. They would have to test it in a raid soon. Helena returned with a downward anxious expression with Mazingwe in tow. She was holding some scan images rather tightly. “My patient has agreed to share the details with you so I will explain what is happening. Potential void mana is necrotizing tissue of the younger Miss Palladian. The damage extends to every organ on its path, and when the nerves are hit, that is when pain spikes occur. Helena’s natural regeneration struggles to keep up with the exposure.” He sounded very calm. “Damage seems to be more extensive than acid mage lesions. Unfortunately, some scarring has already occurred.” All because the school doctor dismissed her. “I’m going to kill that fucking fraud,” Nestra growled. “I’ll handle it,” Helena said. Her tone showed she wouldn’t listen to objections. Nestra backed down but… fuck! “I’ll handle it. I got a report from Doctor Mazingwe here. I’ll send it to him alongside the board. I trusted him. Not letting that go.” “If I may continue?” Mazingwe calmly asked. The two sisters muttered quiet apologies. “The scarring remains light and unlikely to hamper Helena Palladian in the long run. I recommend a regular intake of basic healing potions to help natural regeneration along during raids or periods of intense activity. You are starting to raid this semester, right?” Mazingwe’s datasheet snapped in half. Both sisters studied the ceiling and a nearby potted plant with rare intensity. “If I learned that you are massively increasing your power by raiding illegally without giving your body time to mature and adapt to your aggressive mana, I would be very annoyed.” “It really helped me,” Helena said. Mazingwe tapped his chin with a long, thin finger. “As a matter of fact, I seem to remember that regular use in a controlled environment helped cases of non raiders. Hm!” The doctor moved away to his old-school desk. He recovered a data sheet from one of the top drawers. Nestra leaned forward. The drawer was filled with spare datasheets. “Yes. Recent study from the University of Vancouver. I might recommend more regular activity then. In the meanwhile, if House Nephrite could assist?” “I have a spell for deep fatigue and radioactive damage.” “Wait, what? Radioactive?” Helena gasped. “It repairs damage at the cellular level. It should work in your case, even if the origin of the damage is different. Here, let me try.” Valerian placed his hand on Helena’s shoulder. His serene expression turned focused. Time went on. Helena sighed, choked, then sobbed. It took two minutes for him to finish and by the time he was done, he was noticeably paler. “Next treatments should not take —” “Oh my Riel. Thank you! Thank you!” She was crying now. Nestra gave her a hug. Mazingwe patted her shoulder as well. Valerian went to grab more chocolate. “It’s been so long, so long. I forgot what it was like to live without it? How? It… doesn’t hurt anymore! Riel!” “It’s temporary,” Valerian said as he offered the second cup, which Helena picked with trembling fingers. “We are treating the symptoms, not the cause, but if what you need is time then I’ll be happy to help you along.” Helena nodded. She was in shock, in a way. Mazingwe eventually offered to talk to her in private, leaving Nestra alone with Valerian again. “Thanks. I really appreciate it,” Nestra said honestly after the two had left the room. “You’re welcome. I look after my friends.” He clearly wanted to say something more so Nestra encouraged him. “What’s on your mind?” “Don’t take it the wrong way, but seeing you caring for your sister? it makes me feel like you’re much more, I don’t know, approachable? A person? You’re still that giant demoness with the huge sword that can trounce entire squads but you’re also Nestra, Helena’s sister. It suits you.” “Yes. I feel like I am finding my place now. Not completely, not yet, but I think I’m getting there. It’s a pretty good feeling.” “Sometimes I feel like it took me ten years to get to a point that others process in their teenage years. Like I lost a decade in limbo, and now I have to play catch up. And repair the damage. What can be repaired, at least.” “Hey if it’s any comfort, some people never grow past their teenage years.” “Not sure if I should measure myself to the lowest possible bar.” Valerian patted her hand. It was a friendly gesture and it was okay. “Half of Threshold’s population needs therapy and we’re one of the better enclaves on the planet, mental health wise. So take it easy.” “The world has gone to shit and I need perspective, got it,” Nestra said with a smile to show she didn’t mean it. “I think I know what you need. More raiding!” “Absolutely,” Nestra replied. “But before… I need to find a way to help Helena.” Nestra had never been more certain of anything in her life. Sereth looked up from his simmering pot, brows furrowing. His ears did that little dance they did when he was thinking hard. “Little Nezhra, the kero nut is the fruit of the — of back home. It is a void infused food staple that is anathema to all life that is not of the People.” “But it is very nourishing!” Nestra couldn't contain her excitement. “The fruit uses the void as nourishment. Helena is already using void so clearly her body has adapted to a degree, or any channel would kill her. What she needs is a little push.” “For all you know, it might as well kill her.” She pointed an accusatory finger. “For all YOU know, mister kero thief, it might not. You said it yourself: it had never happened before. Helena is the first.” “Human technology is very impressive.” “So maybe this is what she needs. It would definitely help her. Otherwise… I fear she might be on a timer.” “That might be true. Unfortunately, I have run out.” “So go seek more! You did it once.” “It is not that simple.” Satisfied with his preparations, Sereth closed the lid before reducing the fire. He grabbed a glass of red wine and sat next to Nestra, who was waiting by the couch. On the wall next to her, the Sight Killer’s last painting hung like a trophy. Teneru did get what she wanted. Nestra would allow her to keep an eye out. But just the one. “I told you that I cannot travel as female Aszhii do. I am old enough to breach through nearby portal or pseudo-portal worlds, and find my way back eventually. By the time I succeed, years, nay, decades will have passed for you. Last time, I had help from one of the wanderers, a precaution to report on your health immediately. This time, I will not have a way back until you have matured, little Nezhra. There are no more Kero Nuts to be found until you reach the third sphere.” “I thought they were for your sister?” “Sorry, just… an emotional response.” “If you want to hasten your progress, you could come with me tomorrow. It is high time you worked on your resistances. Resilience is one of the Aszhii’s strongest points, and you have yet to make much progress in this aspect.” He tilted his head to the side. “Though your technique and grasp of the Scornful Crescent remain very impressive.” “So what, a day out?” “Yes. If your work allows it. And by that I mean, quit if you have to.” Nestra frowned. Officer Kim had been exceptionally quiet these past few days, besides a message to confirm the Sight Killer was dead. Technically, Nestra was still on indefinite paid leave pending the resolution of the District Fifteen fiasco. It had only been a few weeks. “Sure. let’s go hunt some stuff.” Nestra reached the top of the incline with gleam speed. A child-like curiosity needled her forward, and when the forest expanded like a green curtain below her, the view rewarded her anticipation. Sereth came to stand by her side. There was sympathy in his expression as well as kindness mixed with a bit of pity. The near forest was larger and thicker than any park she’d ever been to. It was also so messy. The air smelled of life, but also death and a thousand other perfumes she didn't recognize. Her eyes searched the chaos for traces of humanity and she did find them. Deep glassed craters formed circles of glittering reflection where Threshold’s artillery had turned the horde into so much glass, and in the distance, of course, was the wall. It was even more impressive from outside. Tall, pristine, unyielding, the battlements and towers bristling with weapons, the wall extended left and right in a continuous and unbroken line for kilometers, and beyond it, the three titanic skyscrapers that formed the trinity of Threshold’s skyline stood proudly. Beyond, still, was the shimmering sapphire of the Pacific Ocean. It was barely visible. “I have seen pictures and movies, of course, but…” “Is this really the first time you have left Threshold?” Sereth asked. Nestra nodded. She was a little embarrassed. “We were supposed to fly to Berlin for my eighteenth birthday, on air force transport. I wanted to attend the European fencing championship. That dream evaporated along with my damn core.” Sereth grabbed her shoulder. His hand was heavy, powerful, yet safe. Nestra was getting touched a lot recently, by people she loved. It was kind of nice. She’d been missing it. “This is just the beginning! Portal worlds are false. You can feel it as well as I do… but the true worlds beyond? An infinity of possibility.” He gave her an encouraging smile. “A lot of it is edible!” “I don’t have a problem,” Nestra replied a little too quickly. “No no no, of course not. In any case, should we go? The portal in question is a little farther.” They ran through the forest, and fast too, with Sereth setting the speed at the upper limit of what Nestra could manage. She tripped a few times over slippery roots and exposed boulders. The forest here was a jungle, completely untamed and so dense her human self would have had to cut her way through with a machete. As it was, she just barreled on through bushes and brambles. The scent of loam and leaves was strong. “You need to get used to it, city bird!” her brother mocked from ahead. They ran for an hour before Nestra had to beg for a pause. Her Aszhii muscles were sore. It was the first time it happened without a fight. It left her to wonder. “Can we grow stronger through training? Like humans?” “Of course! In fact, techniques and instincts are honed through repetition.” “No, I meant… muscles.” He gave her a knowing smile that screamed ‘muscle head’. “Ah, I see. Hmm. I suppose, yes, but combat itself is generally all the workout we Aszhii need after we have gone beyond the second sphere. Hmmm.” He considered the question for a while. “You are probably correct. I would just like to say that it is much more useful to punch a monster in a portal world than it is to lift iron. Are you ready to go? We are almost there.” Nestra stretched a bit more. She felt a little tired, like after a good workout. “I need to run more.” “We will work on that as well.” “Before we go, are you stopping monsters from hunting us right now? We haven’t seen anything so far.” “Ah, no. The local monster population hasn’t recovered since the kaiju attack. The forest remains sadly empty.” “Less competition for the best fruits, I suppose. You also need to remember that monsters that escape a portal breach and their offspring eventually revert to animalistic instincts. That includes self-preservation.” “So two apex predators smashing their way through the undergrowth will only be intercepted by the most confident of local alphas, yes?” Nestra stretched one last time. She sniffed the air. “Is it me or is the mana here thinner, somehow?” “Yes,” Sereth replied, then he smiled. “Are you not going to tell me why there is less mana here, in the wilderness, than in the deforested Threshold? How can it be?” “More portals? But… they are closed without breaking. I thought breaches led to the most mana infused in the local area. Wait, I think I remember that the number of portals inside of Threshold is pretty high.” “So it is. Shall we?” “You’re hiding something. You are smiling and your ears are twitching.” “Of course I am, but I don’t want to ruin the surprise. The humans will probably show you at some point. Shall we?” “I might torture the information out of you.” “You wish. Less talking, more running.” After two hours , Nestra judged they had to be more than a hundred kilometers away from the city, heading west towards the interior of the new continent. Life returned with strange birds she’d never seen watching them race from the sky. And insects. A lot of insects, but little else. Animal life was much more spread out there than in portal worlds. It was the first time Nestra moved so much through wilderness without being attacked, or seeing anything to interact with, really. Just trees, trees, trees, rocks, grass, all in a big mess without any structure or any point really, and there was so much of it. The dead things mixed with the living, rotten tree trunks leaning against healthy ones. Now that she thought of it, very few of the trees seemed to be thriving. Not like they would in her family’s garden. Really felt weird, not getting attacked. They had crossed two Thresholds worth of land without encountering anything of note beyond a couple of D-class portals. Even the fruits had been eaten by now. It was all very disconcerting. “You will need to learn how to orient and feed yourself, little Nezhra, but that is not a priority.” “I can just enter those portals and eat what’s in there.” Sereth shook his head. “If you are seriously wounded, even a D-class guardian can be a threat. An Aszhii stands alone. You must learn how to survive by yourself, eventually, for when things inevitably go bad. Ah, we are nearly there.” Emerging from the treeline, Nestra found herself facing a colossal lone mountain erupting from the green cover. Naked patches of land revealed the stone underneath, like a rash on the fur of a sick animal. A thick column of black smoke emerged from its summit. “Volcano,” she whispered. “Always an impressive sight. The second sphere portal is over there, halfway up the slope. It’s the closest one I could find that matches your needs.” “Off you go now,” Sereth said with a wave. “I will be waiting here.” Nestra jogged up the slope, easily jumping from one rock to another to avoid the crumbly gravel. Soon, the telltale glow of a portal warmed her skin. C-class for sure. The radiation just welcomed her home even before she could spot the entrance. Nestra considered slipping into the portal world then and there, however she glanced up and spotted something interesting. There, a little bit above her and to the side, was what looked like a lode of something black and shiny. She’d heard of new resources sometimes being found out of portal worlds but those were rare and often quickly harvested. This place was isolated though, far away from any minor enclave. Maybe she’d get lucky. She could sell this — or at least its location — and buy more armor to feed the Skin. A vague sense of heat emanated from the deposit. Lava mana, with some exotic form of stone as well. It might be worth a lot. Nestra approached. She would need a sample. Beady red eyes opened in the crystalline mass. Red flesh. No, a mouth, opening. A gland under a forked tongue. Red mana. Nestra sidestepped with momentum just an instant too late. Blazing pain scoured her left arm up to the shoulder. The spray of fire followed her to the side. Nestra rolled low and aimed. A bolt touched the body of her foe but the heat and pain made her overshoot the eye. The bolt exploded in a spray of blood and broken scales. Nestra rushed forward, blade brandished. Smoke made everything blurry but she saw more obsidian scales shifting to reveal saurian legs. She knew the damn species, a monitor-like beast that soaked in mana to build its shell. It was in every show as the creature that needed to be killed to forge a good set of armor, the rarest and most powerful being the ‘diamond tail’. This one was an obsidian tail, and it was angry. Nestra needed to kill it fast. She charged in an arch and used momentum. Her speed placed her behind the beast. She jumped over the expected tail whip the movies always showed. She let the Crescent guide her hand. Her claymore smashed into the base of the tail between two scales thanks to precision. Black stone and blood flew. The creature screeched. Momentum carried Nestra next to its head as it pivoted. Claws grasped for her. Her intuition screamed danger and she blocked. The strength was monstrous. She was pushed back. Nestra had grit her teeth when her burnt arm flared with the shock. The creature attempted to bite her. It followed her down the slope in a torrent of chipped rock, talons, and rage. Her sword deflected every blow but the beast’s speed could not be underestimated. A counter finally cut off two of the creature’s fingers. It screeched and collapsed, unbalanced. It was all the opening she needed. Nestra hit the throat. The first strike cut a deep groove that silenced the creature’s cries. The second revealed the spine. The last one finished decapitating it. Power flooded Nestra. Speed, but also something else. Something red and spicy infusing into her skin. She looked at the damage. Her left arm was covered in blisters seeping red blood, the burnt out Skin crawling back like ink on a piece of paper. Of burnt paper. With the furor of battle leaving her, the pain returned in all its glory. She grabbed a healing and cleaning spray she’d picked specifically for that. It was just a bit frustrating that she had to use it before even entering the portal world. “Training against elements also means learning how to dodge them,” Sereth remarked from afar. She didn’t even tell him he could have warned her. He had been very clear, and she was being very stupid. Careless. This was an uncleared section near a portal that might be a repeating one. Of course, it could have some monsters around. She was just being so damn stupid. A city girl naively stepping out for the first time except she was past twenty with zero excuses. “I’m so fucking stupid.” Ok, ok, it was fine. Fine! Just recover and… actually loot the damn thing? It had to be worth a lot. Too bad she couldn’t bring most of it back. She would collect the best meat and armor, wait for her arm to mend, and then work on that heat resistance. Nestra breathed in sulfur and overheated gas. It smelled rather bad but her lungs processed all of that without issue. Her human self would be choking, unable to breathe right now.