Toshie opened her eyes.

  The sun was beating down on her, but it didn’t have a face this time. She was lying on one of the bedrolls they had used on the ship, but she could feel the bumps and lumps of a beach. The salty air pierced her nostrils. Sitting on a sun-bleached log, Brot tended to Yrlith’s wound.

  “Where’s Sally?” Toshie asked, sitting up.

  “Oh, thank goodness, you are awake!” Brot was wrapping a bandage around Yrlith’s arm.

  “Sally insisted on – Ouch! – finding some fresh water. How are you feeling?”

  “Exhausted.”

  “I would assume so!” Brot seemed excited. “That was an outstanding spell you cast! I have seen Fireballs before, but you destroyed that entire ship! You must have used up your Mana. I could tell it even took some of your Life Force.”

  “Mana? Life Force?” Toshie was too exhausted for this nerd shit.

  Brot tilted his head. “How can you use Magic if you do not know what those are?”

  “She’s not from here,” said Yrlith.

  “Oh, a Stranger!” said Brot. “I have heard of Strangers. There are even murmurs of Strangers studying at my school! But I do not believe I have ever met one before!”

  Toshie was even more confused.

  “A Stranger is, well, no one knows where they come from. But they appear in our world from time to time. Many die soon after arriving, but some survive and do great good! Or evil. You are not an evil one, are you?”

  Toshie gave Brot a look.

  “No, no, no, of course not! You helped me! I apologize! I cannot contain my excitement! I never thought I would meet an actual Stranger, especially one as strong as you!” Brot was speaking a mile a minute.

  “Slow down, Brot,” Yrlith said. “You’re scaring her.”

  “Oh, you have my sincerest apologies, but it is quite simple, you see? You have seen Yrlith use Mana to transform herself and Princess Tunasad. The Princess protected us with her barriers. I used my own to treat your seasickness and Yrlith’s arrow wound. Your Mana will restore itself over time. Certain foods and drinks will also replenish it. But, if you use too much, it will drain your Life Force. Drain too much, and you may perish!”

  Toshie’s head was spinning. “What are you, an info dump?”

  Yrlith ughed.

  “I am journeying to find my Mission so that I may complete the studying and training I have done.” Brot looked hurt. “This is all important information for a new Priest like me.”

  “Figures that you’re new,” Yrlith said.

  Brot pulled the bandage tighter.

  “Ouch, ouch, sorry! You’re doing great!”

  Brot smiled at her. “By the way, is it not odd Princess Tunasad has yet to return?”

  Yrlith frowned. “You’re right. Let’s look for her. You up to that, Toshie?”

  Toshie managed to stand on her feet. “I think so.”

  “Good, let’s go.”

  Sally wished she brought a knife.

  Sally was used to being prepared with a comment, a joke, or praise worded so precisely that the recipient would not realize it was an insult until reflecting on it ter. But growing up as a Princess meant her clothes were never equipped with the pockets to carry the things she wanted to have. Her brother had pockets to spare, but he was five years younger and mostly annoyed her. Sally spent her childhood – when she wasn’t learning to properly sew, pray, or dine – exploring the castle at night. Sometimes, she’d take her brother with her. She liked his pockets, but that was about it.

  “What if Mother or Father find us?” her brother nagged.

  “You won’t have to worry about that if you set yourself on fire. Keep that torch above your head.” Sally was showing her cousin the route she had found from her bedroom to the throne room. Her brother was a convenient walking brazier.

  “It’s so hot,” he whined. “We could be having tea and cake.”

  “That way leads to the privy dumping ground,” she said to her cousin, ignoring the compints. “So we’re just gonna go around this way.”

  “You are so very smart, Tunasad,” her cousin said, her rge eyes beaming with admiration.

  Sally blushed. “Call me Sal.”

  “Mother said never to shorten your name!” protested her brother.

  “I’ll shorten you if you don’t quiet up! We’re nearing the throne room.”

  Her cousin giggled as her brother fumbled with the torch.

  They reached a dead end after a few more minutes of quiet walking.

  “Okay, stay here. I’m gonna go listen and make sure the coast is clear.” Sally ran up and put her ear to the wall.

  “Most days, I regret that she was born.” The voice was her father’s.

  “Zwiebel! Don’t speak that way about your daughter!” This one belonged to her aunt.

  “Oh, quiet. You’re not the one who has to deal with marrying her off.”

  “Still, you and Majo should treasure your child.”

  “Bah, sixteen years old, and she’s already ruined four proposals.”

  “Wouldn’t you prefer your daughter be happy?”

  “She seems happy enough to ruin my kingdom!”

  “You know that’s not what I mean.”

  “What do you know anyway? You gave up your chance at the throne to run your silly little army.”

  “Zwiebel, I’m not here to argue with you. We need to talk about–”

  Sally dashed back to her cousin and brother. “How about we go py somewhere else?”

  spsh

  ‘Water!’ Sally thought, looking at her now submerged boots. ‘How did I miss this ke?’

  She looked up and screamed.