Rivers of the Night

The young girl was maybe 12 or 13 years old. Her cheeks puffed out in an adorable sort of way, and her red hair was done up in a pair of pigtails. Freckles dotted her cheeks and little nose, a pair of bright green eyes standing out in contrast.

Theron couldn't help but smile when he saw this little girl. She probably wasn't a breath above five feet, but she seemed larger. It was impossible to believe that she knew any bad or evil existed in the world at all.

"Theron, where'd you go? You just up and disappeared. Teacher Fern is very unhappy."

"Just handling something," Theron replied, his voice soft and gentle.

Classes were not mandatory. The structure of the Imperial Scholar's path was quite lax. Exams were taken when the student was ready, not at a set time, and so long as you were completing a certain number of credits within an allotted time, you wouldn't be bothered.

There were some geniuses, groomed by powerful families, that only entered the academy for a few months, clearing the credit threshold quickly before graduating to jobs long prepared for them.

Theron was already on schedule, so it wasn't a problem even if he disappeared for another half year.

"That's what you always say. What could you possibly have to do? Teacher Fern is worried about you—!"

The little girl seemed to realize that there were others around and blushed. Her gaze darted about, her instinct being to hide behind Theron, but that would only make it worse.

Among the girls that had followed her, one who looked to be 16 or 17 years old smiled at Theron. She wore the robes of a Luminescent Moon Sect disciple.

"Little Sadie, who's this?"

"This is Theron. He is in my class," Sadie recovered and explained. "Theron, this is Thessa. She's from the Luminescent Moon Sect. She's my brother's—"

"Just Thessa is fine," she said with a chuckle.

Sadie blinked and then turned to everyone else.

"This is Soren and Teagan. Then there's Flora, who you already know."

Soren and Teagan were the two boys of the group. They were both around Thessa's age and from the Sect. Flora was a girl from another class under a Teacher Bloom, if Theron recalled correctly.

He greeted them all with grace. All of his mannerisms seemed to come from an etiquette teacher's dream. There was nothing to pick at.

"Then I'll have to bid you all farewell," Theron said after some small talk. He had training to do and couldn't waste time here. "If you're all around in the future, I'm sure we'll have more time to get better acquainted."

Soren smiled, giving Theron a jovial pat on the shoulder. He was a bit handsy, but that also seemed to be his personality, so Theron didn't mind it too much.

"Of course, we'll be around for a mission the next couple of weeks. Since Little Sadie likes you so much, have dinner with us sometime."

A not-so-subtle stomp to the foot made Soren wince, and the others laughed at his expense.

Theron bowed once more and slipped away.

A gaze watched his back vanish into the crowd, a curious light in its depths.

"Nice kid," Soren chuckled, earning himself another stomp.

…

Theron frowned long after he left the pagoda. He walked with a brisk pace, heading toward the academy, but his thoughts were on the group he had just met. Namely, the three from the Luminescent Moon Sect.

Disciples taking missions wasn't out of the norm, but what mission allowed them to come into the city?

Most Sect missions would be related to training — killing beasts, finding herbs in dangerous locales, etc.

But Soren said they would be in the city for two weeks? Why did it sound like they had come more for leisure than anything else?

The Sect was a place to grow warriors. Most weren't even allowed to leave without special cause. Why would they allow a group of three to meander about in the city for several weeks? What mission could be so lax?

The Imperial Scholar academy wasn't as grand as the pagoda. The gates were simple and unadorned, a rolling pair of large wooden doors that emitted a delicate floral scent.

Inside, the rest of the academy was much the same. The principles of a scholar, whether on the path of Imperial politics or military, were rife with reminders of humility and modesty.

I will have to take them up on their offer of dinner and monitor this situation.

This was the conclusion Theron came to before he suddenly smiled bitterly. A familiar and sharp fragrance filled his nose, and he saw the person before he laid eyes on them.

A heavyset woman thundered forward. Though a bit chubby, her appearance was pleasing to the eyes, looking like a kind middle-aged housewife. Trouble was, this housewife seemed to have a bone to pick.

"Teacher Fern," Theron greeted with a bow.

"Oh, so you still know to call me teacher? You haven't forgotten in the last MONTH you've been gone?"

Theron lowered his head and didn't reply. His answers were effective against Sadie, but not so much against this valiant woman.

"Don't think that just because you're ahead on credits that you can just up and leave whenever you feel like it. You have a good chance to become one of the few Perfect Credit students. Do you know how valuable that title is in the Empire? Don't waste your potential!"

"Yes, Teacher."

Teacher Fern laid into Theron for several more minutes. She had gotten used to punching at this air bag. The softer and less resistant Theron went, the harder she had to go.

The first time she lambasted this young man, it had fallen flat because he just accepted without a word. Now she knew not to fall for his tricks so easily.

After a while, she was finally out of breath.

"Tomorrow, there'll be an exchange between our class and Teacher Bloom's. You will be there, or by the Gods, I will rip you out of your bed by the ears. Are we clear?"

"Yes, Teacher."

Theron smiled bitterly. So that's what this was all about.