The Time of Void Skies brought death and destruction all across Vanasia. Memorials were set up across many towns, honoring those who had lost their lives in the tragic event.

The Lyceum had the largest memorial of all. Thousands of names were listed. It didn’t matter if they were rich, poor, a criminal, or someone who had died of causes unrelated to the event. If they died during it, their name was listed.

Of course, after the tragedy occurred, people were quick to direct blame. Suhara Ballad, the sixteen year old who bonded with Theema, was the main person accused of being responsible. She was the one who collected the souls for Theema and allowed her to enter the world, after all.

After a certain mage recorded her memories while she was unconscious, a lot of truth was revealed about Suhara’s life. She claimed to be from Western Beradina, when in reality she had grown up as a poor orphan from Welldrop. In fact, she had actually been a boy named Jaux Ballad before arriving at the Lyceum. Bonding with Theema had apparently transformed her into a girl. The fact that she lied so much about herself drew her more ire. Also, the mage who recorded her memories was assaulted by her, which only made things worse.

There was a case for expelling Suhara, claiming her to be a criminal who entered the Lyceum illegitimately, but it was dropped. Mainly because the memories were recorded against her will by someone not authorized to do so, also a crime. In the end, neither Suhara nor the mage ended up facing any charges.

Understandably, the whole situation had been very hard on Suhara. She had already blamed herself for the event, and when she saw a large number of people also direct blame toward her, she began finding it hard to even get out of bed in the morning.

Fortunately, Suhara has also seen a lot of defense and support. To her surprise, none of her close friends really cared that she used to be a boy. Either way, they supported her and did not believe claims that she was a criminal or a bad person. Furthermore, the fact that she bonded with Theema against her will and did not know of her true intentions made criminally prosecuting her impossible. And the Lyceum itself was criticized for catering too much to the wealthy and the privileged, inadvertently allowing for something like this to happen.

There were other sources of blame too. The old shopkeeper who gave the demon root to Suhara was subject to a lot of criticism, with many claiming it was irresponsible to give such a powerful wand to someone very clearly inexperienced. Some even called his sacrificial death an attempt to clean his image. The Lyceum itself was also further blamed for keeping the statue that allowed Theema to bond with Suhara within its walls. Many people demanded that the staff be more cautious and weary before bringing any “sketchy artifact” into the building.

Whatever people pointed to as the cause of the event, the world was still recovering. Towns were being rebuilt and everything was gradually going back to the way it was before.

The Lyceum has at the moment been fully rebuilt and is set to resume operation.

=+=+=

The first day of classes had finally returned, and with it a feeling of normalcy. And boredom. Lots of boredom.

A lot of the classes so far had just been recaps of what had been taught before the event as a mental refresher, which made the day very tedious and cumbersome. By the time lunch had rolled around, Suhara was already begging for it to be over.

Once Suhara sat down at the table with her friends, she saw him. The mage she had knocked out to get to the Lyceum in the first place. He was staring daggers at her. It made her sink in her seat.

“Hey Suhara!” Tricks exclaimed. “I didn’t see you at breakfast, are you skipping meals again? You know you can’t do that.”

Suhara mutely nodded her head.

“Uh, what’s wrong?” Tricks asked. “What are you staring at?”

The rest of the table turned their heads. “It’s that mage again.” Desyi said.

Suhara nodded again. She couldn’t deny how guilty she felt for knocking him out. He had every right to hate her. She couldn’t even blame him for going through her memories and exposing her entire past.

Now THAT had been a massive pain in the neck to deal with. She had hoped that she would be able to keep her past a secret forever, but alas, it was not to be. Everyone now knew where she came from, and that she used to be a boy. Everyone knew that she had lied about her origins.

Going back to classes was a hassle, as she was on the receiving end of a lot of awkward stares. A few of the other students had teased her about the fact she used to be a boy, and some even called her a pervert for sleeping in the girls’ dorm.

She was beyond thankful that her friends continued to support her through this, and didn’t care about her original gender.

“I’m sorry.” Suhara muttered.

“Sorry?” Desyi asked. “For what?”

“For lying… about everything.”

Frey gave her former novi a hug. “You did what you had to do.”

“If it makes you feel better.” Norman said. “Realistically there was no way you could’ve hidden this forever. The Lyceum gets missing person reports from all across Vanasia, and I receive some of them. One of the ones I got was for someone named Jaux Ballad from Welldrop.”

“Norman, you really aren’t helping.” Deledy said to him.

Norman shrugged while Suhara continued to stare at the mage. It looked like he was contemplating going over and confronting her. She had never been up close to him since she knocked him out, and she was hoping it wouldn’t happen again.

Unfortunately for her, the mage began walking toward her.

Suhara closed her eyes, bracing herself for what was about to happen.

“Hey you, you got a lot of nerve.” The mage said. “Open your eyes! Stop pretending you can’t see me!”

Suhara opened her eyes. “I’m sorry.” She said.

“Not gonna cut it after what you did.”

“Let it go.” Frey stood up, defending Suhara.

“Let it go? Would you say that if she knocked you out and forced you to walk through her shithole of a town? Not to mention all the people that died because of her in the event.”

“I said, ‘let it go’” Frey’s voice took on a more threatening tone.

The mage laughed. “I can’t believe this. Look at her, she’s obviously looking for sympathy right now. It’s so transparent.”

“The feud between you two should be over. It’s you that is continuing it.” Frey said. “Just end it.”

“You do know you are defending someone who used to be a boy and is now sleeping with you, right?” The mage said. “Are you really okay with that?”

“As okay as I will be when this fist collides with your face.” Frey said to him.

“Nice of you to threaten me. Really makes me feel safe.”

“The verdict is already out. Nothing is going to happen to either of you. Keep it at that and leave now, got it?”

The mage grumbled. “Fine.” He turned and walked away.

The rest of the table turned to Frey, shocked.

“Jeez Frey, threatening to beat someone? I didn't think you had that in you.” Desyi said.

“I didn’t think so either.” Frey responded. “What can I say? Pretty protective.”

Frey was caught off guard when Suhara suddenly hugged her.

“Thank you.” She said.

“No problem.” Frey smiled.

=+=+=

The rest of the lunch period went by pretty smoothly. Suhara slowly got out of her silent phase and began talking again.

“I should’ve realized she was evil a lot sooner.” Suhara said. “The forced transformation, putting me in deadly situations, and keeping a living vampire as a slave. It was so obvious! Why am I so dumb?”

“There is no way you could have known.” Deledy assured her. “Besides, all of that is in the past now. Theema’s gone. You won’t have to deal with her anymore. It’s over.”

“I just wish I could’ve done something…”

“You did.” Deledy said. “You beat her. That’s gotta count for something, right?”

Suhara gave a slight smile and lightly nodded her head. As she did, she looked over to Helanna and noticed a detail about her she hadn’t before.

“Helanna! You don't have your collar anymore!”

“Hmm? Oh yeah!” Helanna exclaimed. “I’m a basic class mage now. I just passed my test today!”

“Why couldn’t you have been a novi a little longer?” Deledy whined. It wasn’t long before she laughed. “Just kidding, it’s great that you’re learning so fast.”

“Thank you!” Helanna excitedly replied. “I really hope I can keep it up.”

“So naive, just like I was back then.” Deledy shook her head. “We all burn out eventually.”

“Well, I won’t!” Helanna declared.

“We’ll see about that…” Deledy said.

Suhara laughed.

=+=+=

“I’d like an investigation into that statue, and whoever brought it here.” Rilane stated. “I’ll ask Helsfur about conducting one.”

“Is it still in the research department?” Wenlia asked.

“No.” Rilane responded. “I checked and it seems to have vanished. Not a trace of it at all.”

“Oh, thank gods. It would’ve been real creepy if it was still there.”

“Yeah…” Rilane agreed. “I’m still curious though, does anyone know how that statue got here? Does anyone know who brought it in?”

“I’m not sure. Could be people who are no longer affiliated with us. Or people who wanted to put us in danger. Remember how that ghost Seventy nine was able to locate Suhara so quickly? Turns out it was a mage who told it our location when questioned. So it’s not like there aren’t people who are willing to do that.”

“Can’t argue with that.” Rilane said back. “But if that’s it, then why would they bring that statue here at all? If they only wanted to put us in danger, why would they do something to put the entire world in danger? That just doesn't make sense.”

“None of this makes sense.”

“Yeah. Pretty much.” Rilane replied. “Do you… do you think it’s possible Theema put that statue there herself?”

“No clue. But that’s quite terrifying to think about. Really gives me chills.”

“Absolutely. Either way, I’d like some answers. I’m gonna ask Helsfur for an investigation to find everything they can on how that statue got here and who could’ve brought it here, and I’m also gonna request better regulations and analyses for whatever artifacts are brought into this building.”

=+=+=

During her runnings around the hallways, Suhara accidentally knocked into someone.

“Oh my gods! I’m so sorry!” She said. She looked up and saw none other than Roy Intone. He was unmistakable, with his permanently smug face and his dark blue hair.

There was a naive part of Suhara’s mind that was expecting him to say something along the lines of ‘I never got to congratulate you for your victory’, or ‘I’m sure you’ll turn out to be a great magician’, but that turned out to be nothing more than an unrealistic fantasy.

Roy grumbled as he quickly walked away. Nothing. Not even an acknowledgement. Just straight bitterness. Apparently, that was the kind of person he was.

Suhara took the time to give him a passing glance, then resumed walking.

=+=+=

“Leaving already?”

Joula sadly nodded as she packed her goggles. “I’ve already stayed here longer than I should have, anyway.”

“But you just got here!” Suhara whined. “Well, to me anyway…”

Joula laughed. “We’ll see each other again, I promise.”

Suhara smiled. “So where are you going?”

“I think I’m gonna go back to my homeland first.” Joula replied. “It’s been so long since I’ve been there. I still love those moving islands, even if sometimes I wish they’d blow up.”

“Do you think you’ll see the Kraken again?”

Joula punched Suhara’s shoulder. “Shut up!”

They both laughed for a bit, then went quiet.

“I had it in my hands, you know.”

“What?” Suhara asked.

“The Amber Heart. In that pocket dimension we were in right before things went mad. I snuck into the lake and tore away the leather. And there it was, staring right at me.”

“Oh…”

“Yeah… I almost took it too. I knew it would be bad if I did but sometimes I wonder what could have happened.”

Suhara nodded. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know what the Amber Heart is.”

“That’s right, you’re still new here…” Joula remarked. “Well, it’s like insanely powerful and stuff. I don’t actually know that much about it myself, but holding it… I don’t know, it feels so unbelievable but I actually held it. In my own hands.”

“Could give you something to research during your trip.”

“Yeah, as long as I can find a book. I really hate looking around in that library.”

Suhara gave out a weak laugh. She then went in and gave Joula a hug. She had been hugging a lot recently. She didn’t quite know why, but she did know it was fun.

=+=+=

Marlifa was already holding a crystal ball when Helsfur walked in.

“Ahead of me I see.” Helsfur said. “Searching through stolen memories, thought you would be better than that.”

“She’s quite a peculiar one.” Marlifa said back. “I’d hate to see her leave.”

“And she won’t. She’ll be staying here as long as she can. I see a lot of great potential in her.” Helsfur affirmed.

“A future archmage maybe.” Marlifa added.

“Yes… speaking of which, do you know what happened to the archmages?” Helsfur asked. “Are they still alive?”

“Most of them still are.” Marlifa answered. “Including Melidea, who wishes to not be contacted for the time being.”

“Understandable.” Helsfur smiled. “You know, getting this school back together has been a real headache. But that’s not what’s got me most frustrated.”

Helsfur groaned as she rubbed her face. “It’s just that, even with all that has happened, there’s still so much we don’t know about Theema. I have recently authorized an investigation into the statue that was brought into this building, the same one she used to bond with Suhara. I hope that can give us some answers.”

“Don’t fret about it too much.” Marlifa responded. “You will find that there are a lot of questions in this world that can not be answered. I don’t think we’ll ever learn all there is to know about Theema. She will likely remain another great mystery.”

“I personally wouldn’t call anything about Theema ‘great’”.

“A difference in perspective.” Marlifa said. “Either way don’t be hard on yourself. You have done a wonderful job as headmistress and that will not be ignored.”

“Honestly after all this the only thing I want is a drink.”

=+=+=

Suhara opened the door to Rales’s research room. He was sitting down, intently studying some relic she couldn’t quite see.

“Hello?” She asked.

“I’m quite busy right now.” He said. “Is it important?”

“Well… I just wanted to say sorry for pushing you in the medical ward.”

“Yes, pardon my rudeness.” Rales turned his chair around to face Suhara. “It’s no big deal. With all that was going on, I understand you wouldn’t be in the right mind. No hard feelings.”

“Oh, thank you.” She said. “What are you looking at there?”

“No idea. That’s what I’m trying to figure out.”

“Can I see it?”

“Sure.” Rales handed the relic over to Suhara. It looked like an old stone tablet of some kind, yet the way it reflected light was extremely odd.

“It’s weird to look at. Had my eye on it all day. The words are written in a language I don’t understand. I’ve been trying to find some way to translate it.”

The two proceeded to examine and study the stone tablet for what was probably close to an hour. They bounced ideas off each other, and took a look at other artifacts, but they still didn’t get very far.

Eventually Rales pushed the tablet aside. “That’s enough of that. Probably gonna have to call someone more knowledgeable than me. Wouldn’t be the first time.”

“I know how that feels.” Suhara said.

Rales hesitated and looked down for a bit. “Suhara… I’ve been meaning to ask you this question for a while. And I- I’ve never been able to find a good time…”

Suhara internally braced herself. She knew exactly what he was going to ask. It was going to be about a possible romantic relationship. She hoped he would forget about that, but alas, it was not to be.

All through her life, she never really had the time to think about romance. She never thought she’d ever have to deal with it, growing up a poor orphan left little time for it. And when she first came to the Lyceum, she was constantly preoccupied with Theema. Romance rarely crossed her mind.

And when it did, she always thought of Frey, not Rales.

That was another part of why she didn’t want to have this conversation. She would have to find a way to tell Rales she wasn’t interested.

She hoped he would take it well.

Rales put his hand on Suhara’s shoulder. “Do you ever have feelings about… us? I’d really like to know.”

Suhara took a deep breath. She almost didn’t want to answer, but she had to.

She could do this, she told herself.

“I’m really sorry but… no.” Her mind gave her an image of beautiful flowing red hair. “I- I have my eyes on someone else.”

Rales pulled his hand away, clearly disappointed. “Oh.”

“I’m sorry! I’m not saying I don’t like you, it’s just not like that.”

“It’s okay. Somewhere in my head I guess I should've realized it was just a fantasy. You never seemed that into me. I promise I’ll back off from now on.”

“We can still be friends though, right?”

“Absolutely, trust me. No hard feelings.” He put his hand on his chest.

“Thank you.” Suhara smiled.

“No problem.” Rales replied. “Just so you know, I do go on trips pretty often, So any time you feel like coming along, please do so.”

“I’d love to. Can I bring my friends along too?”

“Of course. As long as they can handle it.” He smiled.

“Oh please, they can handle danger way better than you.”

Rales laughed. “We’ll see about that.”

=+=+=

As the days passed by, the classes in the Lyceum got back up to speed. They became less tedious and more involved, just as they were before the big event. There was still plenty of grief going around, but generally, everything was getting back to normal.

Almost everything, that was.

There was still one very unsure young girl, staring at herself naked in her bathroom mirror. It was the first time since her first shower in the Lyceum that she had really looked at herself.

A lot had happened in the past few weeks.

Whenever Suhara reflected back on her old life as a boy in Welldrop, she found it hard to think of herself as even being the same person. It was like seeing a blur in her mind. She had changed so much, and not just physically.

Suhara activated her winter sight. Seeing all her elaborate tattoos, as well as the four spirits embedded within her, reminded her of just how different she was now. She had to wonder, what would Jaux think if he saw this? To see how powerful she was now, would he be excited? Or would he do everything in his power to avoid becoming her?

Probably the latter. Suhara already knew that Jaux did not take well to change.

Referring to Jaux as a different person was rather silly. Intellectually, Suhara knew that for the first sixteen years of her life, she was Jaux. But it really didn’t feel like that. There was a huge disconnect between her current self and her past self, to the point where she couldn’t even perceive the two as being the same entity. It was very strange to think about.

It could all probably be summed up in one phrase: life changes you.

There was certainly one enormous change in her new life, and it wasn’t physical. No, it was that in her old life, she never had anyone to really emotionally connect with. She had some fun times with her fellow orphans, but there wasn’t a single person she could say was a true friend.

But now, she had people who she could rely on, who she could trust, who she could have multiple memories with. People who actually liked her back and liked being around her.

Tricks, Frey, and Desyi probably had no idea how much they meant to her. To grow up an orphan, with no family to speak of, and no one to truly consider a friend, it could make a person feel as if they have no true place in the world. Feel as if they have no future. Feelings Suhara was all too familiar with.

She hadn’t had those feelings for a while though. She had a pretty good life now. For once, she did have a future. And people who would support her along the way. She was studying and using magic. It was everything Jaux would have wanted and more.

Did she like all the parts of her new life though? Did she like her new body too?

In the beginning, she found the change annoying, as well as frustrating, and truthfully she still didn’t appreciate being forced into a new body against her will. She had spent a great deal of time early on trying to figure out a way to change back.

But as time went on, she began to forget about that. Becoming male again became less and less of a priority. To be fair, a lot of that could be attributed to Theema and the event, but that had all been over with for a while at this point.

And she still hadn't once thought of finding a way to change back.

Through the reflection in the glass, Suhara examined her body. That same body she had found so foreign just weeks ago. She had, in the past, described it as uncomfortable, or awkward. It was embarrassing to be in such an unusual form.

But when she looked at her body now, she found it much more admirable. Her face was delicately shaped, with high cheekbones and alluring violet eyes. Her long waterfall of ebony hair could now be described as rich, and her lips were full and plump.

The rest of her body, her breasts, her arms, her legs, even her vagina, all seemed so wonderfully crafted. Lean, but graceful. And all covered in soft and fair skin.

It was a body she could describe as elegant, or beautiful.

This was who she was now?

Suhara wondered, if given the option, would she go back? There was a time when she was certain she would, but not anymore. She had to admit that she had grown quite fond of her female body as of late. She wasn’t sure if she could give it up. There were a few things she missed about being a boy, such as peeing standing up, but enough to go back?

She couldn’t believe she was saying this, but she didn’t think so.

Suhara saw her reflection smile beautifully in the mirror. This body… it was hers. She didn’t think she’d ever be able to say that, but here she was. This body was hers. She was beautiful. She was elegant. This WAS who she was now.

And she couldn’t be happier.

A few tears of happiness fell down Suhara’s face. She loved her new life. All parts of it.