Ballistic Coefficient

It didn't take long to find Evie. She was seated at the remnants of that morning's steadily-dwindling campfire, finishing up a small plate of eggs. As Pale approached, she swallowed what was left in her mouth, then set her food aside.

"Pale," she greeted. "I'd ask how you slept, but I think the whole caravan knows by this point. Everything okay?"

"It's fine," Pale insisted, taking a seat next to her.

"It sure didn't sound-"

"Evie," Pale said, cutting her off. "It's fine."

Evie looked like she wanted to argue, but held herself back, instead shaking her head. "...Alright, very well. But if you're not here to discuss that, then what are you here for? Because something tells me you're not one for small talk."

"Does that bother you?"

Evie shrugged. "Everyone's different. And besides, we're-"

"Family, I know." Pale paused. "I… still need to find an answer to that question, don't I? I got distracted by other, more pressing matters…"

Evie waved her off. "Only if you want to. I certainly think it'd do you some good, but ultimately, it's for you to decide, not me. But aside from that, what's on your mind, exactly?"

"The Luminarium," Pale told her. "I want to know more about it."

Evie's expression faltered. "The Luminarium…? No offense, but why would you be curious about that? Just from what I've seen, you're not much of a mage, and that place is pretty much exclusively for mages."

"I'm seeking information, we'll say, and from what I hear, that's the place to find it. Moreover, Kayla has nowhere else to go, now that her father is dead and her town has been razed to ash. In the absence of anywhere else to send her, the Luminarium seems like a good enough place."

"Assuming she can get in," Evie interjected. Pale raised an eyebrow, and Evie rolled her eyes. "Place is staffed by a bunch of pompous, arrogant know-it-alls. They're going to look down on her for being of low birth before she even takes the entry exam."

"Entry exam?"

"What, you didn't really think they'd let her in just because she showed up, did you?" Evie shook her head again. "Every prospective student has to go through an entry exam in order to be admitted into the Luminarium. You either pass or you fail, and the outcome you get depends on the nature of the test and whether you're fortunate enough to get a proctor who's only kind of a complete jackass. And given that Kayla's not of noble birth, at least not that I'm aware of, they're going to be hard on her from the get-go."

"So it's impossible, then?"

"Not necessarily," Evie conceded. "Plenty of low-born students get in every year, despite the objections of most of the students and some of the staff; it's just that they managed to sufficiently impress their assigned proctor enough that they were granted entry in spite of their birth status. Believe me, if you show up to that place and you're not a noble, the odds are already stacked against you."

Pale leaned in. "Have there ever been cases of non-mages being admitted, or at least people who want to gain entry for knowledge instead of honing their magical abilities?"

"Yes, although it's very rare," Evie warned her. "And they're always relegated to being archivists and scribes rather than studying magic with the rest of the students. There's usually a small contingent of people who get in for that every year, though obviously, that number pales in comparison to the students looking to improve their magic."

"So it's possible."

"It's possible, yes," Evie grunted. "Just not particularly likely. It's a very insular, cliquish, almost incestuous school, you see – they're going to be looking for any excuse they can to deny you both entry. And if you still manage to get in despite that, the majority of the student body and staff are going to treat you both like dirt." Evie turned to stare at her. "Think about what you're doing, Pale. Is this truly what's best for you and Kayla?"

"We don't have a choice," Pale retorted. "Or at least, I don't. I need the knowledge they have available in that school."

"And why is that?"

"Let's just say it has to do with getting me back home. As far as I'm concerned, it's either scrying through the Luminarium and hoping for the best, or spending several decades trying a different method. And believe me when I say that I can't afford to wait that long."

Evie's eyes widened. "Did you say several decades? Exactly how far from home are you?"

"Farther than you'd ever believe," Pale said simply. "I'd tell you more, but you'd probably think I was lying if I did."

"You'd be surprised. When you're as long-lived as an elf, you get used to seeing all sorts of oddities." Evie leaned in. "If it's a secret that can't get out, then I would be willing to take a blood oath to keep it safe. That is, only if you're willing to tell me of your own volition; I won't pry if that's not what you want."

"A blood oath?"

Evie nodded. "It's a type of magical ritual. Essentially, it's a binding spell that forces the person swearing the oath to refrain from telling anyone else what they've been instructed to keep to themselves, unless the other party's conditions are met. It's called a blood oath because two of the catalysts needed to fuel the ritual are drops of blood from both parties. The name's a bit on-the-nose if you ask me, but it's a very effective type of magic – commanding officers use it to safely pass messages between their troops during times of conflict, for example. It ensures that even if the messenger is captured and tortured for whatever information they're carrying, that it is still impossible for the interrogator to get it out of them."

Pale nodded along, bringing a hand up to her chin in thought. "Sounds useful."

"Very much so, yes. Unfortunately, it's not exactly an easy spell to cast, which is why it's generally only used by the upper echelons of mages. And in any case, I won't force you if it's not what you want."

"I'll think about it," Pale offered. "Anyway, the Luminarium… what are the entry exams like?"

"They change from year to year, unfortunately," Evie explained. "Of course, the school's been around for hundreds of years, so they can only mix things up so much. But still, they keep the nature of the year's entry exam a closely-guarded secret until exam day. I can say that in the past, it's been everything from a written exam on magical theory to clearing out a dangerous location full of monsters to a full-on multi-week military training camp. Sometimes, they've even combined multiple types of examination into one – imagine having to go hunt monsters, then come back and immediately take a written exam on magical theory while you're hungry, exhausted, and possibly wounded. Not fun."

"Sounds challenging."

"Very much so, yes. I ought to know – I attended there once, long ago." At Pale's surprised look, Evie smirked. "What, you didn't really think someone as long-lived as me wouldn't at least make an attempt, would you?"

Pale blinked, then shook her head. "You're certainly full of surprises."

"That's putting it mildly. Anyway, perhaps my information's a bit out-of-date – it has been a few centuries, after all – but the bits and pieces I've managed to glean from other travelers have given me the impression that the Luminarium is still very much the same as it was when I left all those years ago."

"So you didn't finish?"

"Nope." Evie shook her head. "Got sick of all the prissy nobles looking down at me due to the circumstances of my birth. One night, I finally had enough and marched right out through the front door. My parents were pissed."

"I can imagine."

"Oh, believe me, as bad as you think it might have been, it was worse than that." Evie flashed her a grin. "But yeah, that's about what I've got for you. Still interested in trying to get in?"

"It's not like we have much of a choice," Pale replied.

"Of course you do – you both could stay with me, living the life of a caravaneer."

"That might work for Kayla, but it wouldn't work for me. I have obligations back home."

Evie waved her off. "Alright, alright – I'd argue the point further, but something tells me you won't be swayed. Still, I might have better luck with Kayla."

"You might," Pale offered. "Though I still don't think she'll go for it – she seems intent on sticking around with me until I've gotten the information I need."

"Truly?" Evie asked, confused. "Not to pry or anything, but what in the three hells happened to you two over the past few weeks? Besides what you've told me, that is."

"Good question," Pale said. "You already know most of it, to be honest. The rest is all down to her and the fact that she seems to think she owes me."

Evie let out a grunt. "Crazy girl doesn't know what she's getting herself into…"

"You're welcome to try and talk her out of it. I'm not opposed to that, if only for her own safety."

"My own safety with regards to what?"

Pale and Evie turned to look behind them. Kayla was standing there, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Evie stared at her with surprise.

"You're supposed to be resting, Kayla."

"Couldn't sleep," Kayla muttered. She pushed forwards and took a seat next to Evie, stretching her hands out to warm them by the fire. Her brow furrowed when she realized it was down to just a few embers; a small burst of flames from her fingertips lit it back up in an instant.

"Well, sorry if we kept you awake."

"Truthfully, I was fading until my name came up." Kayla turned towards Pale, giving her an irritated scowl. "You're not going to get rid of me that easily. I made a promise to you, and I intend to keep it."

Pale simply held up her hands in surrender. Evie chose not to comment, instead mimicking Kayla and beginning to warm herself by the fire once more.

"So, I guess that's that, then," she surmised. "You two need to get to the Luminarium. And soon, at that – the school year starts in a few months, and last I checked, they don't accept late admissions."

"Is that along the way for you?" Pale questioned. "Assuming you don't mind us hitching a ride."

"Of course I don't mind," Evie replied. "Unfortunately, our paths split pretty quickly along the way – the Luminarium is far south, and we're heading east. So you two are going to be on your own after a short time."

"That's not a problem," Kayla told her. "We can take care of ourselves."

"Oh, I have no doubts about that. I'm more worried about what's going through your head. You both have been through a lot in a very short amount of time; now, I know it's asking too much for you both to sit still for a bit, but I was hoping to give you some down time. But if you're intent on getting to the school, that's not going." Evie heaved a tired sigh. "In any case, I guess you have my answer – you two can tag along with the rest of the caravan, so long as you pull your weight. You both know the drill – standing guard, helping with chores, all that stuff. Shouldn't be an issue for either of you."

"It won't be," Pale promised.

"Good. Now, I do have a price for my hospitality – you both are going to get some quality sleep, even if I have to cast a sleeping spell on you. Now, is it going to come to that, or are you two going to actually take it easy for once?"

"Message received," Pale stated. "Come on, Kayla."

She gently took Kayla by the hand and began to pull her back towards Evie's wagon. As she and Kayla entered the back and laid down, Evie climbed into the front seat. By the time the wagon was moving, Kayla was fast asleep. Pale watched her resting for a moment, then turned to stare out the back, watching the frost-covered trees as they passed by in the distance.

It was impossible to know what the future held for the two of them, but whatever the case, she was glad to have Kayla by her side regardless.