Elegy for a Star

“So, Sergeant Howlcrag brought a pair of practice knives to the training yard this morning,” Tess exclaimed enthusiastically, “And I did so much better! I’m-... I don’t know, it felt so natural! He was really impressed.”

The others focused on their food, occasionally nodding at Tess’ story.

“It feels really good to impress him. He’s such a hardass otherwise,” she explained, stirring her spoon through the simple broth they’d been given for dinner, “I still haven’t been able to hit him yet, though. He’s so good.”

The others didn’t reply, instead keeping their heads down and looking at their food. Tess looked around at them. Each one was deep in their own thoughts. Even Joyona wasn’t eating like she usually did.

“And then he grew wings and revealed himself as the God of Storms before smiting me, and I died,” Tess said. The others just nodded.

“What is wrong with all of you?” Tess exclaimed, breaking up their separate reveries, “I don’t have to talk about this. We can talk about something else, but all of you seem so… I don’t know, preoccupied? Distracted, at least.”

“Sorry, Tess,” Mairaela replied, “Just been a weird day. This new class is… bizarre, I guess? It left me thinking a lot.”

“What about?”

“I-...” Mairaela paused, shaking her head, “I don’t think I’m ready to talk about it yet.”

Tess frowned, nodding her head. She looked to Joyona, “What about you?”

“I failed our first exam,” Joyona said, straight-faced, as she stared at her soup, “Not a good start to the class.”

Tess felt her hair stand on end, “Joyona! How? You… you’re more than capable.”

“I’ve skipped some classes,” Joyona explained.

Tess’ eyes widened, “How many?”

“Six.”

“Joyona!” Tess blurted, “That’s more than half of the classes so far!”

Joyona bobbed her head, “Yep.”

“What have you been doing?” Tess asked, almost like an accusatory parent.

“Going out,” the Evigkin replied.

“Where to?” Tess asked.

“Oar’s Rest,” Joyona replied.

“Joyona, that’s hours away! How are you getting there and back?”

“Carriage.”

“That’s got to be…” Tess thought for a moment, “Gods, how much would that cost, by now?”

“I’m almost out of coin,” Joyona confirmed.

“Joyona-...” Worry grew in Tess’ heart, “What is so important in Oar’s Rest?”

“It’s personal.”

Tess frowned. She wanted to help Joyona, but she didn’t know how without understanding what the problem was. “Please talk to us about it when you’re ready,” Tess requested, “We can’t have you fail this class. We need you in the Void with us.” Tess felt like somewhat of an imposter, talking to these three gifted about what they need in the Void. She had to become useful. She knew it.

Tess looked to Gwen and asked, “And what about you, grumpy?”

Gwendolyn didn’t reply, instead pushing her tray away a few inches.

“Gwen?”

“It’s Gwendolyn,” she replied, “Dame Gwendolyn, okay? Stop calling me Gwen. That isn’t my proper name and I’ve told you all a hundred times.”

This even drew Mairaela and Joyona’s attention.

“What’s the matter?” Tess asked, “We’re here for you.”

“I’m fine.”

Are you sure?”

“I am fine!” Gwendolyn shouted, rising to her feet and picking up her tray.

“Gwen…” Tess started, choking on her words and trying to correct them immediately before anyone noticed, but she couldn’t take it back.

“Dame Gwendolyn!” the knight screamed, “You will treat me with the proper respect that I am owed, Tess!”

“I’m sorry!” Tess replied with a raised voice. They were drawing the attention of those around them, “I didn’t mean to.”

Gwendolyn looked conflicted. Tess could only imagine what was going on in her mind. Why was she behaving this way? How could Tess help? Gwendolyn did not appear to be like herself at all.

All at once, Gwendolyn slammed her tray onto the table, splashing broth across the bench. Most of it got on Joyona, but the giantess didn’t seem offended. She seemed more concerned about Gwendolyn than anything else. They all were. All three of the others watched Gwendolyn with confusion, but didn’t manage to say anything before the knight stormed off, abandoning her food for others to clean up.

Joyona frowned at her damp sleeve, “I suppose today will be laundry day.”

Miri chuckled in Tess’ mind, “Guess that stick found its way back home.”

“What is going on with all of you?” Tess asked, holding her hands out and looking for answers.

“Sorry, Tess,” Mairaela replied, “Maybe today just isn’t a good day. Not every day has to be.” Mairaela rose to her feet, collecting her tray. She looked to Joyona and asked, “Hey, do you still have that Naporian wine?”

Joyona bobbed her head, “Help yourself.” She handed a key to Mairaela, “Just leave it under the pillow.”

Mairaela thanked the giantess before walking away to dispose of her remaining food.

“I don’t understand what’s going on with them,” Tess said to Joyona once the others have left, “We need to do something.”

“Not everything requires interference,” Joyona replied.

Tess felt a sting, but only because she knew it was true, “We can’t go into the Void like this.”

“It’s good that we can’t get any assignments, then,” Joyona replied with a deep grunt, “I’m going to go catch up on class.”

Soon enough, Tess was left to sit alone at the table. Even her mood had dampened, absorbing the stress and sadness of her teammates. Sympathy tugged at her heart until it was all that she could focus on. She let out a deep sigh.

“Little mouse,” came a sultry voice before that Winter Fey—the one that she met from the Post Office a few days ago—sat down across from her.

There was something about her presence—the scrutinizing stare of those pink eyes—that put Tess on edge. “Oh. Hi,” she replied.

The Fey leaned forward until her elbows were on the table and her upper body resting against her forearms. “Figured I’d head over. You look lonely.,” she expressed with a faux frown, “Having a little tiff with your friends?”

“No,” Tess shook her head, “Nothing like that.”

“Ah, right,” the ash-skinned Fey nodded, “People usually slam their food on the table when they’re happy among their friends.”

“Yeah,” Tess sighed, propping her cheek upon her palm, “I’m not sure what’s up with them.”

The Fey leaned forward, tilting her head down so that she could catch Tess’ gaze, “Let them cool off then. Maybe we could get to know one another in the meantime.”

“Oh, damn!” Miri exclaimed, “Let’s fuck her! Tess, please! I don’t ask for much!” Tess had to keep from rolling her eyes or snapping back at Miri for being so distracting.

However, the Fey’s comment did cause Tess to perk up and narrow her eyes suspiciously. She turned her head a little and hesitantly asked, “Are… you hitting on me?”

“I just said we could get to know one another,” she replied, “I’m not quite so easy to bed as that Summer Fey friend of yours.” She looked Tess over and added, “Besides, you aren’t ready for me, little mouse.”

There was a slight bit of irritation at the Winter Fey’s mockery of Mairaela, but she supposed that Mairaela had also been pretty rude to her in return. It was hard to side with either of them. They were so mean to one another. Is this how all Summer and Winter Fey behaved around one another? She knew that there were wider, more political differences, but do they, as a people, really despise one another?

“I don’t even know your name, anyway,” Tess replied.

“Well, that’s an easy fix,” she replied with a smirk, “Call me Ylla.”