As Duran approached the squat wooden building, he hesitated, raising his fist to knock on the door. Before he could manage it, however, the door swung open. A familiar face stared down at him, her eyes disapproving.

  “…Mother?” Duran had only met his mother once since she’d left him as a baby, and it hadn’t been very friendly. “I thought the squid ate you.”

  It was all hazy in his memory. The sharp impact of the water, the brief moment he’d seen the squid before he’d been rescued and thrown back on the floor of the temple. Much clearer, though, were all the memories of her attacking Madame Elysia with her rapier.

  Still…maybe this could still improve his chances. She was his mother- she had to help him! This could be a classic redemption story, where after an up-close encounter with a squid she’d realized her wrongs. What if she had ended up here by accident, and all she wanted was to come back home?

  His mother stared down at him for a moment longer, clearly unaware of her options. “I’m not supposed to tell anyone this,” Duran said, leaning in, “But we’re here to-”

  She reached out and grabbed the front of his tunic, pulling him closer. “You are here to learn,” she hissed. “Do not tell anyone of your parentage. Do not tell anyone of your goals. You will be gone by next month.”

  “Um-” Maybe he would be gone next month because the rescue would be easy?

  “Follow me,” she said, dropping the front of his tunic. Duran straightened up and tried to brush some of the dirt off of his tunic and the blanket he’d wrapped around himself.

  He had to half-run to keep up as she turned into the door. As he stepped inside, it slammed shut behind him. Beyond was a long, low hall, lit by multiple fireplaces and several lanterns. He could see about thirty teenagers sitting at various tables, all eating what looked like bowls of stew. He could smell it on the air; rosemary, meat, and what must have been onions.

  His stomach grumbled. “Do you think I could have a bowl?” Duran tried, but his mother was striding across the hall. In her wake, the students all quieted, ducking their heads down like they didn’t want her to notice them.

  Duran straightened up and tried to keep up, only tripping over his blanket a couple of times. At the back of the hall was a second door, this one connected to a covered walkway. His mother only checked over her shoulder once before she strode down the walkway, chin held high.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  The room on the other end of the walkway was what looked like a mudroom, stacks of boots clustered near the entrance and cloaks hung on hooks. His mother yanked open a door next to one of the hooks, revealing shelves. A linen closet.

  Duran could only stare as she removed what seemed like endless pieces of clothing- a cloak lined with fur, a pair of boots, three tunics and additional pants. By the time she was finished, he could barely see over the top of the pile.

  “Shoes off,” she said. He fumbled to pull off his boots without dropping the stack of clothing. By the time he was finished, she was through the main archway. Sometime during his distraction, she’d acquired a candle, the only light in the room. It seemed to be a dormitory. Rows and rows of bunks, all with two trunks at the end of the bed.

  “This one will do for you,” she said, pointing to a low bunk. “Your things can go in the trunk. Classes start tomorrow.”

  His mother stared at him for a moment. Say you’ll help, Duran thought. She had left to be an adventurer- everyone knew it. Yes, there had been a minor incident before. But that could be left in the past. Obviously, she was a hero. Why else would she be at an academy like this?

  “Will you-”

  She held up a hand. “Your presence here is a mistake,” she said. “Do not make me expel you. Keep your mouth closed.”

  “Can I at least have a bowl of stew?” Duran tried, but she was already turning to go. She’d taken the candle with her. He was left to sit on the bottom bunk in the dark, shivering.

  Duran was midway through trying to regain feeling in his toes when inspiration dawned. His mother hadn’t told him not to have a bowl of stew. And he was so, so hungry.

  It was only a short walk. Surely it couldn’t go wrong.

  He fumbled in the dark to put on his uniform, fastening the closures with trembling fingers. It was another adventure trying to get out of the dormitory; he managed to knock his shin on three different trunks before he finally managed to feel his way to the door.

  Boots were another trial; after getting the wrong one three times in a row, Duran just accepted that for the time being, he’d wear two left boots. It wasn’t a long walk, anyway.

  His low mood swung upwards as he pulled the door open. Heroes didn’t listen to orders. They didn’t stay in their bunks all night. They explored. They might even get a nice bowl of stew for their trials.

  Then, door half-open, he was left to stare. Speechless.

  There was a bear standing there. The glowing green eyes were the least of Duran’s worries. The bear was massive. It was breathing through its mouth, loud panting. He tried to avoid looking at the teeth. There were just so many of them.

  Since when could bears stand on their back legs?

  “Uh,” tried Duran. “Hello, sir. Do you think I could pass you by? I want some stew.”

  The bear didn’t respond. Duran pointed. Almost comically, the bear’s head turned to face where he was pointing. “Food,” Duran offered. “For me.” He acted out a spoon and a bowl, chewing.

  After a moment, the bear grunted (what did that mean?) and cocked its head. Then, as if all it had needed was negotiation, it turned and slowly trundled away.

  Duran still waited until it was out of sight to go into the dining hall. He was a hero, not an idiot.