The last three days in Nine Star passed rather uneventfully, but a terrible dread fell over Roespeye. The announcement of the day of Raven’s challenges brought with it despair and a partial exodus. Thousands fled, unwilling to tempt fate should the Titan arrive to bear witness to Raven’s deeds and then inflict terrible judgment on the city due to his perceived reckless bluster.

  Such a response had been factored into Raven’s schemes. As Panka voiced, the Titan maimed and destroyed on a whim, and destroying cities, even large ones, wasn’t beyond his conscience. The fewer people in the city, the better. Even so, Van and Valentine stayed by his side, despite their parents’ objections. Privately, Raven had wished they also fled to safety, but he knew it would be useless. If by chance the Titan set his eyes on them as a result of their association, no safe haven existed.

  And as the day of his reckoning drew near, he was glad to be with them, as the days became lonely. Raven, while avoided by the citizenry before, was now treated as pariah. This was as intended, but it would have been quite burdensome without the companionship.

  “Do you really think the Titan will come to Roespeye?” Valentine asked, looking out the window. She dusted off piles of snow from the stone windowsill and leaned over, but high above the cone of snow ever-drifting to Panka’s well, there was nothing to see.

  “He will come,” Raven replied, standing before his push-pin board and staring at the seven sheets of paper. They hung as monuments, documenting not just the challenges from the masters of Nine Star Academy under the Vark Ilias, but his last obstacle to victory.

  “When he does, what do you want us to do?” Van asked. He had his ear pressed against the coffin leaning up against the wall. The pandora with the clock design sealing the box up was now ashen, almost white.

  “Please don’t touch that,” Raven chided. “And there is only one thing I will ask of you tomorrow. The task I require will take place after challenge number four. At that time, I should be able to hand you detailed instructions; your achievement will be crucial to our victory. After the task is complete…” He turned to face them. “You should flee the city, as far as you can travel. Do not return until you receive word the city is safe again.”

  “I won’t leave you,” Valentine said with conviction.

  “You must. The Titan kills with purpose, but he also cares little about collateral damage. If all goes according to my schemes, your presence will be nothing more than a gamble of your own lives.”

  “I assume you won’t be attending the end-of-term school ball tonight?” Van asked. “It’s expected to be sparse for obvious reasons, but the masters insisted against postponing the tradition.”

  “No, I won’t be attending. My presence would just ruin it. But I understand you both are looking forward to the event. Have fun and don’t get into trouble.”

  “Yes, Dad,” Van quipped with a roll of his eyes.

  They laughed, and Valentine squeezed Van, holding him tight. Raven watched them in amusement.

  “In the end, aren’t you glad Van asked you to help him win Valentine’s affections?” Rue asked. He could sense her smile.

  “I thought it was very stupid at the time,” he replied. “But I suppose I am.”

  “What?” Valentine asked.

  “Nothing.” He shook his head, smirking. “It’s getting late. You two should get going if you want to make the event on time. Meet me tomorrow morning at Domi Roespeye. Eight o’clock.”

  “Yes, Dad!” Van replied as they turned to leave.

  “It was funnier the first time,” Valentine said right before she closed the door behind them.

  He stood watching the door in silence. Quiet never felt so desolate.

  “What are you thinking?” Rue asked.

  “I hope they won’t be angry with me after tomorrow.”

  “One day, they will understand.”

  “Was I a good friend to them? I hope I was. I’m a grumpy, sour person, but I really do like them.”

  “You were a good friend.”

  He nodded.

  “You should get your sleep, Raven.”

  “Yes. I really should. A good, long rest.” He looked around, taking a deep breath. “And when I open my eyes again, I hope to see something new.”

  Early in the morning, Domi Roespeye was empty, but the church of the Mountain City possessed a fullness of spirit and comfort. Raven lay bowed before the Chancel with his face low to the ground. He clasped his hands together in fervent prayer. The Holy One felt near to him, a soothing presence. Severe darkness surrounded his soul, but in this place, he felt a measure of assurance and calm.

  All his thoughts and all his efforts for six years had been for this day and this day alone. In truth, his whole life had been spent in preparation for the undertaking now waiting for him. Dwelling on his destiny’s end, he felt further comforted. Despite so many severe obstacles, he still arrived at the intended day of all his schemes. And through faith, he would see the final task done.

  It was an hour before he heard another sound, a throat clearing. He slowly raised his head and got up. Van and Valentine stood behind him. Valentine wore something new, a feminine version of Van’s Thimble attire. A black vest with clasps and pockets, brown arm sleeves and knee-high boots, accompanied by a thick canvas scarf and cloak.

  “It suits you,” Raven said.

  “I was made a Thimble today,” she said proudly.

  “Van finally told you everything, did he?”

  She looked at Van indignantly. “Raven knew you were the leader of the Thimbles before I did?”

  Van laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his head. “I told you right after I told him. I swear.”

  “Did you drink from your pool this morning?” Raven asked Van quickly.

  “I did. Get it over with. This is the last time, right?”

  “Wait, take some of my Hydra, too,” Valentine said. “I… want to contribute.”

  Raven nodded and placed two fingers each against their chests. As Hydra slowly siphoned from their bodies, his nearly gray eyes became shining green once more.

  “No matter what happens, I want to thank you both for your contributions. They have been tremendous,” Raven said. “There’s just one more thing to do.”

  This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

  His friends nodded solemnly. Together, they surrounded the golden image of the Titan beside the dais and with a great heaving push, they toppled the repulsive idol. The crash boomed through hall, echoing for several seconds. When quiet returned, Raven wiped his hands emphatically.

  “It’s time to finish the job. But before I do…” His eyes twinkled mischievously. “Valentine, you’ve given me an idea.”

  Master Alabanie Smith laid his head on the surface of his podium. Clammy skin stuck to the surface, glued by the sweat trickling down his face. His body existed in a state of shuddering fear. Likewise, his six colleagues sat at their podiums within the Ilias Drome, mired in silent dread.

  “I can’t handle this,” Master Turngood finally lamented. The Pandora professor got off his seat and paced for the dozenth time. “The Titan could come. My God, he could be here right now!”

  “Get a hold of yourself, Simeon,” Rook Czeslaw growled. The bearded history teacher frowned, folding his massive hands together. “You still represent Nine Star Academy. Have some dignity!”

  “Hang your dignity!” he shot back. “Why didn’t we do something about this before now? We should have made that brat disappear months ago! We’re all going to die!”

  Fanny Fyre rolled her eyes.

  Turngood’s harried expression filled with anger. “You should be more scared than anyone, Fanny! You think the Titan won’t know you’ve been fraternizing with this boy who loudly boasts about one day killing him? He will definitely know! You’re probably already dead and you don’t even realize it.”

  “Oh, shut up,” she said before biting her lip.

  “You just make sure you stand as far away from me as possible! I don’t want the ruler to think I’m a sympathizer in any way. I wash my hands of this whole matter.”

  “Our challenges to him were impossible,” Czeslaw said. “Absolutely impossible. If the kid doesn’t pass every single one, maybe the Titan won’t punish us. All we can do is hope.”

  “But Whitesong somehow learned what we all wrote!” Smith complained, lifting his head. “How did he do it? He’s had a year to prepare!”

  “There is at least one challenge he definitely won’t succeed in,” Master Forir said. The other masters quieted in respect. He looked at Fanny, eyes furrowed into a dark glare. “As long as we stick together against Whitesong’s folly, we shall succeed in foiling his terrible plans.”

  She didn’t respond, but he pressed. “I’m talking to you, Fanny.”

  Glaring back at him, she said “Don’t you dare order me around, Selim!”

  “Your actions have been stupid,” Czeslaw said. “He’s right to confront you. We all know you’ve been helping Whitesong with all his scheming. I was ready to reject his application to our school a year ago, but you had to enroll him.”

  “I haven’t done anything wrong. Raven saved Valentine Chessex’s life, and that’s all I needed to understand he isn’t the villain you all make him out to be.”

  “Speaking of Ms. Chessex, now she’s a follower of that demon! Was she really saved?”

  She was about to retort before Master Cooley cleared his throat. “This arguing will get us nowhere,” he said with rare firmness. “What’s done is done. We must fulfill our obligation under the Vark Ilias, and nothing more. The ruler has been given no reason to harm any of us. Our fate is with the Holy One now as it always has been.”

  “But—”

  The creak of the double doors opening interrupted Czeslaw.

  Raven pushed the doors aside with Van and Valentine in step behind him. A burst of wind careened through the Ilias Drome, scattering the pages of the Star Tome in huge gusts. Dozens of pandora surrounded Raven, rotating at a wild pace. In place of his robes, he wore a long, black overcoat with purple flames crawling up the left side. His earrings were replaced with small, black hoops.

  He approached the seven masters with a deadly smirk. Faster and faster the pandora spun until finally they collected into a pocket of his coat, leaving only Rue the Day to hover above his outstretched hand, slowly rotating in place. The pandora shined like the sun, causing his quarry to shield their eyes.

  “My day has come,” he said. Van placed his hands in his pockets while Valentine held her arms.

  The light faded, and Rue joined the other pandora in his pocket. The masters stared at him from their podiums. The differences between them were profound. Turngood and Smith were sweating buckets. Both anxiety and excitement filled Fanny’s countenance. Czeslaw and Forir stared furious daggers at him. Bastille prayed in silence while Cooley sat calm as ever.

  Raven raised his hand, pointing a finger. “I have come… to fulfill my challenge.”

  A dry drenching of black rain preceded the return of the great wooden beam stretching down from the darkness above them. At the end of the beam, the four previously ivory busts of eagles were now shining gold in color. From one of the beaks, a copper sphere popped out, floating to Fanny who grabbed it.

  “Let’s get this over with,” Czeslaw growled.

  “I control the order of the challenges,” Raven said. “And remember my terms. If I am victorious in all seven challenges, you shall formerly honor me as the greatest student in Nine Star history.” He pointed to the Seals master. “Let’s start with the easiest contest. Challenge Number One will be Master Smith’s challenge of a game of seals.”

  The copper sphere sprang loose from Fanny’s grip and opened. A slip of paper floated out from it, igniting in fire. Words written in pure flame formed in midair.

  “Defeat me in a game of seals”

  Raven smirked as Smith shuddered. Czeslaw produced his pandora with the image of a spear. In a flash of light, a gigantic soldier of stone materialized. Great crashing footsteps turned the soldier aside where a large table sat against the wall. Frolicking pages whisked this way and that to avoid the stone creature’s mighty steps. The hulking pandora entity picked the table up with ease, bringing it back before the podiums. Once the task was done, the stone soldier faded to ether, power returning to its home.

  The two foes took opposite ends of the table, pandora pens at the ready. The seals table provided for the match was gorgeous, inlaid with gold and silver, a true professional’s tabletop. A pandora lay situated on the surface of the gaming area, featuring a lagoon paradise.

  The other masters sat in observation from their podiums while Van and Valentine watched from the other side. But every so often, they looked around, and Raven couldn’t blame them, because he wondered the same thing himself.

  Did the Titan come? Was he here, watching from his personal shadows?

  “Tournament rules?” Raven asked Smith, fanning his face with his pandora.

  “Y-yes,” Smith answered. He touched the pandora, and the tabletop transformed into a sleek luminated surface perfect for the game. “I insist one of my colleagues act as judge.”

  “Pick whoever you like.”

  Smith glanced at Master Turngood who nodded. Raven and Smith performed the Opening X, and the game commenced.

  In less than five minutes, the game was over.

  Smith fell to his knees in shock as Raven declared victory, five seals to nothing. When he did, the chime of Funny Tower rang with an ear-splitting gong. Panka formally declared Raven’s victory.

  “I can’t… this…” Smith blubbered.

  “You didn’t think I would waste any more time on you, did you?” Raven asked darkly. He pointed to Fanny. “Challenge Number Two: a game of Parchen.”

  Smith retreated, red-faced and sweating buckets, while Fanny stepped up to the table. A slip of paper emerged from the copper sphere in her hands and ignited.

  “Beat me in a game of Parchen”

  She smiled at Raven, touching the pandora on the table. When she did, the table’s surface transformed once again, this time creating a perfect grid for Parchen, with special slots for all the cards that emerged from the liquid-transforming surface.

  Raven focused as he began to pick his move cards. While he wanted to trust Fanny, he never had any intention to come unprepared. Ever since their discovery of her skill at the casino, he had been practicing the game of Parchen in his spare time. He felt ready, but all his nerves steeled him for any and all unpredictable turns of event. Her brilliant mind could not be underestimated or taken for granted.

  “Will you give me the key around your neck if I win, Master Fyre?” he asked.

  Fanny didn’t look up as she picked through the move cards, looking flustered and frustrated. “Maybe,” she said.

  Forir’s scowl increased, but he said nothing.

  The game commenced, with Raven making the first move. He waited for Fanny’s response, but in little time, all concern disappeared. She fumbled, growled and struggled, and Raven won the game quicker even than the first challenge. Panka rang Funny Tower’s gong, causing the walls to shake and shudder. When the din faded, Fanny stepped aside from the table, smiling clumsily.

  “Boy, I am just not very good at this game,” she said loudly. “Maybe I need to rethink my life’s pursuits.”

  He smirked and shook his head.

  “I have to maintain my reputation, don’t I?” she said quietly after approaching him.

  He was about to reply, but words abandoned him when Fanny kissed his cheek.

  “Good luck,” she said with a mischievous grin.

  She began walking back to her podium when she saw Forir was still looking at her. His face burned with wrath at her actions, and his cardinal issued a single, angry chirp. She sneered back with her own impetuous anger.

  “Raven!” she shouted.

  He turned to her. She produced the long, golden cylinder from around her neck and tossed it to him, her gaze never leaving Forir’s. He caught it in one smooth motion.

  “I believe in who you are, Raven Whitesong,” she announced. “You will kill the Titan. Rid us of his evil forever!”

  Her colleagues gasped. Raven held up the key for Forir to see. The time for their duel had come.