Nerya kept running without knowing where she was going, bumping into people who protested at the sight of a child alone.

  Some took her for a vagabond, while others muttered about the lack of upbringing of her parents.

  She then darted into a small deserted street, continuing her run without stopping, cutting through alley after alley.

  But as she wiped away her tears, she collided with something that sent her stumbling backward.

  She lifted her head and saw a man standing in front of her.

  “Hey, couldn’t you watch where you’re going, you little brat?

  Didn’t anyone teach you some manners?” the man said, rubbing his leg.

  Nerya got back to her feet, her heart racing as she noticed other people behind him.

  Some were idly playing with the blade of a knife, others wearing unwelcoming expressions.

  “She’s a pretty little thing.

  We could have some fun, chief, couldn’t we?

  Then we’d just have to sell her, a cute little face like that should fetch a good price,” another man added.

  The group began to stare at Nerya with a strange look, rubbing their hands as if over a fine catch.

  But the man who seemed to be their leader raised a hand.

  “That’s a good idea.

  She must still be pure.

  That can sell for a small fortune among the nobles, we know how much they like to amuse themselves with that kind of merchandise,” he replied.

  Nerya turned and tried to run again, but her wrist was seized, her feet lifting off the ground.

  “And where do you think you’re going?

  You have to pay for damaging my goods, don’t you?

  A pretty little body like that has its uses,” he went on, his tongue sliding over his lips.

  “Let go of me, leave me alone,” Nerya cried, struggling.

  But the man tightened his grip, squeezing her wrist as a burning pain shot through her.

  “Gentlemen, gentlemen, is that really how one treats a young lady?

  And besides, taking another man’s catch is hardly courteous,” a voice suddenly said behind them.

  The whole group turned around, Nerya recognizing Wensworth, his expression closed and cold.

  “Be so kind as to return what is due to me.

  It would spare us a great deal of unpleasantness,” he continued coolly.

  “Pardon?

  I’m really trying, but… I don’t understand a word you’re saying.

  You want this child?

  Only I have a little problem, your name isn’t written on her, am I wrong?

  So if you want her, take out your coin,” the leader replied.

  Wensworth let out a long sigh, pulling out a jingling purse heavy with coins.

  He opened it and took out a golden coin, placing it in the hollow of his hand and showing it to the man.

  “This, my dear?

  Do you truly wish to soil my purse with your greed?” he said, looking at the coin resting in his palm.

  “There we go, now we’re speaking the same language.

  But all my men are thirsty, so we’re not going to settle for a single little coin.

  And you have to count the meal, you must be ready to pay the price for such soft skin, right?” the leader explained.

  “That goes without saying.

  Where have my good manners gone?

  What kind of brute would I be if I left such fine men hungry?

  I would therefore be curious to see what lies in there,” Wensworth replied dryly.

  He slid the coin across the back of his hand and flicked it, catching it between his thumb and index finger.

  A faint red glow appeared, then a sharp whistling cut through the air without warning.

  The coin buried itself in the temple of one of the men standing behind their leader, who collapsed with a dull thud.

  “Well, that makes one satisfied.

  So we said, one coin per man?

  That shouldn’t take more than thirty seconds, allow me to prepare everything.

  And as a considerate man, I’ll leave you the change with a full heart,” he went on, drawing six more coins from the purse.

  “I… no, keep it.

  We’ll leave her to you.

  We don’t want trouble with mages, we… we didn’t want to bother you,” the leader replied in panic.

  He released Nerya, who fell heavily to the ground, the group turning and fleeing at once.

  “Such a lack of delicacy, dropping a child like that,” Wensworth murmured.

  He slipped another coin between his fingers and hurled it at full speed, the metal piercing the thigh of the fleeing leader.

  Stolen story; please report.

  A cry of pain echoed through the alley, the rest of the group abandoning their chief.

  Wensworth then approached Nerya and helped her up, meeting her gaze with a broad smile.

  “Are you all right?

  They didn’t hurt you too badly, I hope?” he asked calmly.

  Nerya wiped the tears from her eyes and shook her head no, finally returning his smile.

  “Very well, then we’ll leave this place.

  Come with me,” he went on, holding out his arms.

  Nerya stepped closer and rested against his shoulder once he lifted her up.

  They set off, but Nerya grew puzzled by the path they were taking.

  They were not heading toward the church but toward one of the city exits, Wensworth exchanging a few words with the guard, who let them pass.

  They walked on for several minutes, until they finally reached a small lake at the edge of the forest.

  “Well, we should be at peace here,” he said at last.

  He set her down near the water and stepped slightly forward, Nerya seeing only his back now.

  Though she did not understand why they were here, she was relieved not to have ended up as merchandise.

  Wensworth began to rummage through his coat, Nerya catching sight of a dagger in his right hand as he turned back toward her.

  “Mistakes like you are not allowed in this world.

  I am truly sorry, but you must disappear,” he continued, his expression dark.

  Nerya looked at him with troubled eyes, wondering if he was joking.

  But his gaze left no doubt, and she closed her eyes, unable to do anything.

  Why.

  Why does it always end like this.

  Why is it always those close to you who hurt the most, she thought sadly.

  The sound of footsteps drawing closer made her heart race faster and faster, her body trembling as she waited for the dagger.

  Then she felt a warmth spreading from her chest, a strange sensation at first, which faded only to give way to pain.

  An orange glow burst from her body, mingling with the air as particles poured out of her.

  The air grew heavier to breathe as a vortex of particles formed, flames erupting and drawing arcs of heat that scorched the grass around them.

  “That’s exactly what I thought.

  You’re not like them, are you.

  You can put it away, please, I do not intend to harm you, Nerya,” Wensworth’s voice murmured.

  Nerya opened her eyes at his words, looking ahead at what was happening.

  A creature stood there, shaped like a graceful feline, yet from the base where its neck met its body rose two great wings with a dark framework.

  Flames sprang from those shapes, forming wings that shed glowing embers.

  Its belly was covered in pure white fur, contrasting with the darker coat patterned with strange markings along its legs and back.

  Its bushy tail, dark at the base, tore into blazing fur, while its paws extended burning claws.

  It’s… what is that.

  Where did it come from, she thought, shaken.

  “Easy there, little one, I mean you no harm.

  Would you mind stopping all this burning, you’re going to draw attention,” Wensworth went on.

  “Nerya, tell it to return, please.

  As you saw at the church, you have to control it.”

  Nerya stared in wonder at the creature, dropping to her knees and fixing her gaze on it, forgetting everything around her in that moment.

  Sensing Nerya’s calm, the creature’s flames dimmed and it turned toward her.

  It stepped closer at a slow pace, its head lowered.

  As it approached, Nerya felt no heat emanating from its body.

  The creature sat down before her, its blazing gaze steady, its ears lowered in a gesture of deference.

  Nerya raised her hand hesitantly, until it reached the creature’s head, which she began to stroke naturally.

  Wensworth sheathed his dagger and let himself drop to the ground, sitting near Nerya as he watched the creature.

  “If I had expected this.

  Another reincarnated one, also bearing a strange creature,” he said, pulling a flask from his satchel.

  Those words froze Nerya in place, wondering if she had heard correctly.

  She looked at Wensworth in confusion as he drank deeply from his flask.

  “Excuse me?” she asked, unsettled.

  “You can speak normally with me, don’t worry.

  You didn’t really think you were the only one, did you.

  Even if I admit it’s quite rare to cross paths with others like us, without the church I would have doubted my own feeling,” he explained.

  Nerya hesitated, a flood of questions filling her mind, before finally answering.

  “How did you know.

  I don’t tell anyone, the man who sent me here forbade it.

  So how do you know these things,” she asked.

  “Because I am like you.

  I had another life before this one.

  And the creature I saw proves it, your mana does not follow the rules of this world.

  We are subject to its laws, but as some strange mixture.

  I will explain everything when the time comes, but first you must recall your creature,” he replied seriously.

  “What is it anyway.

  It’s beautiful.

  And why can’t I keep it with me,” Nerya murmured, still stroking the creature.

  “I don’t know, I have never seen anything like it.

  But we must hurry before someone sees us.

  And besides, your parents must be worried sick, searching for you everywhere,” Wensworth replied.

  “And how do I know I can trust you.

  You wanted to kill me just now, what tells me that once it’s gone you won’t try again,” Nerya asked, her gaze wary.

  Wensworth put his flask away and sighed, his shoulders dropping as if Nerya’s words weighed on him.

  “I’ll answer you later, you can believe that, but this truly isn’t the ideal place.

  Focus and recall your creature, we must hurry,” he finally said.

  Nerya was not reassured by the answer, but if this creature was abnormal for this world, she did not want to draw attention to it.

  She closed her eyes, just like the boy she had seen at the church, trying to understand how she was supposed to make the creature obey her.

  As she relaxed in search of an answer, her body began to feel warm, and the creature was drawn back into her.

  She opened her eyes to see only Wensworth beside her.

  “Well, that was quick.

  Come on, we’d better get going, we need to bring you back to your parents before they turn the whole city upside down.

  They must be terribly worried about you,” he went on, standing up.

  He bent down to help Nerya to her feet, then turned his gaze toward the road they had taken to get there.

  “Pfff, what the devil possessed me to come this far.

  Come on, let’s get moving, if you want me to carry you, don’t hesitate to ask,” he said, shoulders slumping.

  He started walking, but stopped quickly, turning back toward Nerya.

  “And oh… if you could avoid talking about all this to your parents, please.

  I’ll give them a softened version, but keep some details to yourself,” he added with a wink.