“While the main argument of Magister Aldus Leven’s ‘Post Mana Warfare’ centers around the idea that defensive magicks are superior to offensive magicks, is something I have no issue with. What does present itself to be more properly scrutinized is his claim that “In a land where mages can wield seemingly limitless mana. Wards are the most effective countermeasure beyond nullifying the area’s mana completely.” (Levens, Pg 64). In this essay, I will argue that a person cannot harvest a ‘limitless’ amount of mana, and that because of that, defensive magicks effectiveness comes from being able to outlast the expenditure of a mage utilizing offensive magicks.”


    - Magister Lobrecht Eywick, Magus of the Amethyst Tower, “A Measured Critique of Post Mana Warfare”


    <hr><hr>


    “Sophie and Eva keep saying they fucked up. No, I did.” Sophia bluntly declared, her hands balling up, “I am an adept of shadow and I should’ve done better. Should’ve been more careful. I was cocky.”


    “Sophia, that’s not…” Ary tried to interject.


    “That’s not what?” The girl snapped.


    Ary shuddered a little, “Sorry. Keep going.”


    Her tone must''ve been a little too obvious. She could feel Sophia tense up slightly, clearly having picked up on something.


    “Sorry.” Sophia muttered.


    “No, no. I’m sorry.”


    “Darkened hells, you guys are all too alike, you know? I was rude, I’m apologizing. You don’t need to.” Sophia growled.


    “Eheheh, fair enough.” Ary tried to lighten the mood.


    Sophia rolled her eyes, but the half elf didn’t seem discontented by the response. Taking that as a good sign, Ary tried to probe for information a different way.


    “So what have you been up to lately? I mean, we haven’t seen too much of you lately.” Ary spoke.


    Sophia grunted, her hands now resting atop the table, “Mmm right. Nothing much I guess. Mostly just, you know, classes and studying.”


    “And all of it’s mostly, going?”


    “Heh. Yeah, just going.” The half elf affirmed.


    “Oh!” Ary let out a little squeak, “Thanks for helping, before I forget.”


    “Eh?” Sophia turned to look at her, the half elf seemed genuinely confused, “Help with what?”


    “The court case, Sophie’s trial.” Ary informed her.


    “Ah…” Sophia looked away.


    “We managed to get there in time thanks to you. Elaria delivered a stunning speech, at least that’s what Sophie told me.”


    “Oh… yeah?”


    “Mmhmm, and then with some help, Sophie managed to get a lightened sentence.”


    “A sentence? You mean they actually convicted her of something?” Sophia growled.


    Ary could sense the rising concern from the half elf. Her mind made a note of how protective Sophia seemed to be. The two of them are more alike than they think. Well, I guess clones would be alike though? Eh.


    Ary nodded, “Yeah. But she just has to sign up for the adventurers guild and work on the weekends. So I guess she finally gets to be a real adventurer now.”


    “Huh.”


    “But I only heard about that from the others, Sophie could probably explain in more detail than I can.” Ary confessed.


    “That’s…” Sophia gritted her teeth, “That makes sense, I suppose.”


    “I wasn’t there. They told me to go watch the Braveskull trial and take notes.” Ary pouted.


    “Oh?” Sophia’s voice wavered a little. Of course, how stupid of me. I shouldn’t have mentioned the company.


    “No verdict that day, I guess they’re still debating.”


    “Oh.” Sophia’s body sagged and Ary panicked a little. She was so comfy just now, dang it.


    Scrambling to keep the half elf upbeat, Ary decided for a lighter approach. “Yeah. They told me to go take notes in case they needed them. But they didn’t even ask about it after Sophie’s trial!” She muttered and let out an alarmingly loud huff. A part of her hoped to have injected some levity into the moment. Another part of her genuinely fumed at how they had simply forgotten her efforts that day. I mean, Elaria did say she got rid of me to not distract Sophie. But still! She protested in her mind, they could at least take some interest in the work they made me do.


    “Aww, that sucks.” Sophia agreed.


    “Right? Ugh. Used up most of the day too!”


    “Hahah.” Sophia sighed with a half smile, “I suppose things are mostly resolved now?”


    “Uhn!” Ary bobbed her head, “And thanks to you.”


    Sophia shrugged bashfully, deliberately trying to break free from Ary’s embrace. With only a token effort. Trying to match her pace, Ary gently tightened her grip. Sophia initially flinched and alarming her. But before Ary could let go, Sophia pressed up against her and managed to relax, turning into a lump in her arms.


    Unable to help herself, Ary let out a soft giggle. “I mean it, eheh, you got Sophie back. Thank you.”


    “Alright, alright.” Sophia mumbled.


    This time, when the half elf pulled away, Ary could feel a bit more force. Taking the hint, she loosened her arms and the half elf straightened herself.


    “Whatever the case.” Sophia turned to suddenly chide Ary, “We should finish dinner before it gets even colder.”


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    “Ahh, the food!” Ary squeaked.


    On the inside, she felt a little happier. For within Sophia’s eyes was not just pain and indifference, but a tiny spark of mirth. Enough that Ary was satisfied if this is all she could get for tonight. As long as she can smile a little, she grinned.


    <hr><hr>


    It was almost nine when she finally returned to her dorm. Leaving Sophia’s room after dinner had proven surprisingly difficult. She constantly fought the urge to try and pry a little more information out of the girl. But she knew that Sophia likely still felt some level of apprehension and managed to restrain herself.


    She had barely been able to open the door when a set of arms dragged her into the room. All she could do was let out a surprised little squeak before control was taken away from her.


    “Ary! I’m so sorry! Are you okay? What happened? How’s Sophia? How’d she find you?” Sophie practically wailed.


    “This damnable little elf! She could barely take care of herself! Then we got word of you disappearing, only to now have you reappearing!” An ever familiar fae scolded her.


    “Sophie! Yana!” Ary beamed.


    “Saint damned hells, are you okay? I’m sorry for leaving you there, I just-mmpf?!”


    Ary stopped Sophie with a kiss planted firmly across the lips. Yana mimed gagging and Ary just winked at her.


    “I know. I’ll admit, I’m… a little mad that you just kind of blew me off.” Ary smirked.


    “I know and I’m s-eep!” Sophie wilted as Ary stroked her ears.


    “But I''m fine, Sophia managed to find me and brought me over to her dorm. We had dinner too, so please. There''s nothing to worry about. More important than that, how are you two? Get everything sorted out?”


    “There was some trouble for the elf, but nothing that affected her health.” Yana reported.


    Ary arched an eyebrow at Sophie, half expecting that something had happened given the initial information that Sophia had shared with her.


    Sophie looked abashedly at the floor before excitedly looking at Ary.


    “Sophie? What’s up?” Ary asked.


    Like a puppy finally allowed to play, a wide smile crossed Sophie’s face, “You know how I have to work with the guild right?”


    “Mhmm?” What does this have to do with…


    “I mentioned it to Mila after we uh…” Her expression darkened a little, “after we talked about a few things. But eventually she suggested that she join up too! Apparently her master said no church work while she’s here but she’s been itching to move about.” Her excitement returned.


    Ary was a little jealous, Sophie was obviously delighted with the result and so she wouldn’t complain. But the girl did leave her alone on a bench till Sophia had recovered her.


    “Pfft, you just went to court and now you’re already trying to find loopholes in everything.” Ary teased, more for her sake than to get anything out of the girl.


    “Ary!”


    “I kid, I kid. But that’s… that sounds splendid.”


    “Isn’t it? I won’t have to do everything by myself!”


    Ary snuggled a little closer and gave Sophie a peck, “And someone can keep you safe.” Because as much as I want to, I don’t think I can.


    “Hey!” Sophie pouted, “Why do you look so disappointed in me?”


    “I’m not, I’m not.” Ary smiled, “Promise.”


    The two stared longingly at each other for a few moments before Ary gave Sophie a small prod.


    “So how is Mila doing anyways? The letters she sent…” She stopped the moment she noticed Sophie clamped up.


    Ary knew there would be a risk bringing up this topic, but curiosity got the better of her. Her predictions however, hit too close to home. Whatever cheery mood the two had was sucked out into the void beyond. Sophie’s expression immediately dropped, the smile on her face turning not quite into a frown, but close enough. Ary’s own faded into a nervous grin. From the sidelines, the fae watched as the two lovers now tried their best to sheepishly look at everything but each other.


    “Turns out things are shitty everywhere. Kobald assed world can’t just… be nice.” Sophie eventually answered.


    “At least she’s here now.”


    “At least she’s here.” Sophie affirmed with a deep sigh.


    Ary gently pet Sophie, calming the girl down before she steeled herself, ready to push just a little bit more. Her curiosity getting the better of her.


    “Talking with her also made you a little more at ease.” Ary pointed out.


    “Eh? What do you mean?”


    “Your…” Ary paused, faint sense of unease building up, “Your flashback.”


    “Ah.”


    Ary could see the moment Sophie’s eyes grew a little unfocused and began wandering. But there was a certain otherness to it that told her what she needed to know. Sophie wasn’t just avoiding her gaze, her eyes were exploring somewhere far from the both of them in the depths of her memories. Ary bit her lip, I hope I didn’t overstep.


    Sophie sighed a few more times, processing whatever it was that was within her with more difficulty than Ary had anticipated. She rested her hands on Sophie’s shoulder, giving them a gentle massage as the half elf reflected. She blew a tiny bit on Sophie’s ear, the half elf shuddering reflexively. Heh, even when stressed, cute.


    Ary suddenly felt a weight push her down onto the bed, landing onto a pillow with a startled squeak. In seconds, Sophie was atop her, straddling her and gazing directly into her eyes. Pain and desire fought within the half elf, pulling her face into a more somber and melancholic expression even as her eyes stared at Ary hungrily.


    Simply relieved that Sophie wasn’t upset, Ary reached up and pulled the girl down onto her. She could feel Sophie tense up a little, the girl’s knees brushing against her sensitive spot and resting there. Ary swallowed, carefully moving her arms to wrap around Sophie and lock her in place.


    This stirred something within her partner and Sophie finally caved to her inner needs and began nuzzling her.


    “Bad memories of back then… Carrador… and Melton…” Sophie muttered between little kisses on Ary’s neck, her voice a mixture of delight and agony.


    “Sophie…” Ary whispered, returning some of the affection with a caress of her own, “You know you can always talk to me.”


    “I know.” Sophie pressed their noses together, a sad little twinkle in her eye, “It’s just that Mila… well it’s her story to share. But she’s been through some less than stellar trials of her own and well…”


    “She gets it better, huh?” Ary finished the thought for her, trying her best to hide a flicker of jealousy that crossed her mind.


    If Sophie noticed, she didn’t give any indication. With a tiny nod, Sophie acknowledged it, “Yeah, that’s about right.”


    Ary didn’t know how to feel. She knew that she certainly had far less insight about the situations that Sophie had often found herself in. At least, when compared to someone like Mila who was a warrior as well. It made her happy that there was at least someone whom Sophie could confide the darker of memories in, someone that could share the pain in a way that they would both hopefully heal a little from. Yet, at the same time, Ary wanted more, she wanted to monopolize being the one that Sophie could confide to.


    Ary shook her head, trying her best to fling those thoughts away. She slipped her hands past Sophie’s waistband and allowed her hands to travel across the firm cheeks that greeted them


    “I’m glad.” She breathed the words into Sophie’s ears.


    Both of them tensed, though a different tension than what they had felt mere minutes ago. Their breathing grew more connected as they continued watching each other, taking in the warmth that they shared.


    “What about now?’ She asked.


    “What do you mean?” Sophie’s ears twitched. Whenever she gets flustered, heheh.


    “What do you want now?” Ary teased.


    Finally getting the hint, something else awoke within Sophie as if a flame had finally come to life after being stoked for far too long.


    “I want…” Sophie murmured as they pressed themselves even closer together.


    “Mhmm?”


    “I want to forget the bad memories. Right now, I want some with you.”


    Happy that Sophie had finally broken out of her dour mood, Ary felt her own heart begin beating faster in her chest at the implication. With a final kiss and a mischievous grin on her face, she smiled.


    “I’d like that.” She put forth the final invitation. Poor Yana.