Valentina lay awake, her eyes fixed on the ceiling. She watched the dust particles dance in the light.

  "Good morning, little Weaver," Vyxara whispered in her head. "What are you thinking about?"

  Valentina sighed softly. "As if you didn't know," she mumbled. "About my fight with Innogen. The last meeting with Professor Horne. Oh, everything, really."

  "Ah, your... oral lesson with our good professor," the demon chuckled. "Was it that bad?"

  Valentina closed her eyes and remembered the events, the feelings, the taste. "It was... strange," she finally said. "Not necessarily unpleasant, but not really pleasant either. Just... strange."

  "The first time is often like that," Vyxara replied with surprising understanding. "It takes time and practice to get really good at it – or to acquire a taste for it."

  Valentina opened her eyes and frowned. "How do you even know all this? You're a demon, aren't you? Did you even..."

  Vyxara laughed softly in her mind. "Oh, little Weaver, you have no idea. Demons are much more than what your priests tell you. We are as old as creation itself. I have seen, experienced even, the memories of many people. They are within me, those memories."

  Valentina sat up, suddenly curious. "What do you mean by that? What are you really?"

  "I'm a self-perpetuating rogue eigenfunction, a soliton in the Essence field," Vyxara said while projecting a smile with those words.

  "Once again, you're using words and concepts I don't understand. Explain it to me so that I understand it!" said Valentina angrily.

  There was silence in her head for a moment. When Vyxara spoke again, the demon's voice sounded thoughtful. "Imagine a storm in a vast ocean. A big, raging storm that never lets up, no matter how long it rages. Other storms calm down and dissipate, but not me. I am a storm that sustains itself, never dying, never calming.

  Imagine the world as a tapestry, woven from invisible threads that hold everything together. You, the ground you are standing on, the stars even. Everyone is part of this weave, everything bound in the same patterns. But not me. I am a run in the tapestry, a rogue thread, outside the normal design. The more I unravel, the more powerful I become.

  I can't be undone because I don't work by the same rules as the rest of creation, just like your world doesn't work by my rules."

  Valentina tried to imagine it, but it was beyond her imagination. "But then why are demons so... evil? Why do you torture humans?"

  "Evil?" Vyxara sounded amused. "That's a very human way of looking at it. We're not evil, little Weaver. We are simply different. Our goals and values are different from yours. What you see as torture might simply be a way for us to gain energy or communicate."

  Valentina shook her head, confused and fascinated at the same time. "That doesn't make any sense. The Martyr defeated you, didn't he? He saved the souls from you."

  "Did he?" Vyxara's voice was barely more than a whisper now. "Or did he simply negotiate a contract with us, as you did with me? Perhaps you should take another look at the story, little Weaver."

  Before Valentina could answer, there was a knock on her door. She flinched and then called out: "Just a moment!"

  She got up hastily and wrapped the blanket around her shoulders. When she opened the door, Innogen was standing before her, looking as tired as Valentina was, but with a smile on her lips. "Shall we talk downstairs at my place? I have bread and warm milk for us."

  Innogen had not yet finished her sentence when Valentina felt her stomach growl violently. She dressed quickly and followed Innogen into her spacious room, which, as always, smelled so wonderfully of lavender. The curtains were drawn back to let in the morning light and on a small table stood a tray with still warm bread and two mugs with a pot of warm milk next to it.

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  "Sit down," Innogen said gently, pointing to the soft upholstered armchairs by the window. Valentina sank into one of the armchairs, grateful for the comfort after the hard mattress in her own room.

  Innogen handed her a mug of milk and sat down opposite her. "So," she began carefully, "tell me how it all started. With Professor Horne, I mean."

  Valentina took a sip of the sweet, warm milk and stared out the window for a moment, thinking about what to tell Innogen. She would have to tell her a... carefully curated version of the truth to omit Vyxara and her unusual abilities.

  "It was just after the first round of the Greystone competition," she began quietly. "I was so desperate. It was going well, but I knew that being good might not be enough to win. I heard all those rumors about Faustus getting those expensive instructors from the capital. And then I overheard Professor Horne talking to another teacher about the next round."

  She paused and bit her lip. She couldn't tell Innogen about Vyxara or her Essence Listening ability.

  "How did you hear that?" Innogen asked curiously.

  Valentina shrugged her shoulders. "I was late for a lecture and walked past his office. The door was open." The lie came easily to her, which startled Valentina.

  "Anyway," she continued, "I knew I needed this information. So I went to him after the next lecture and asked him for extra help."

  Innogen nodded slowly. "And he agreed?"

  Valentina laughed bitterly. "Not right away. He said he didn't have time for tutoring. But then..." She swallowed hard. "Then I noticed the way he looked at me. And I thought... if that's the price I have to pay, then so be it."

  Innogen leaned forward, her eyes full of compassion. "Oh, Val..."

  "No, please," Valentina interrupted her, "I know what you're thinking. But it was my decision. Nobody forced me."

  Innogen nodded slowly. "I understand. But... What exactly happens in these 'lessons'?"

  Valentina could feel the blush rising to her face. She took another sip of milk to buy some time. "It's not always the same," she finally said. "He has certain preferences. He wants to touch me and... spank me." She saw Innogen flinch, but continued. "Last time, he wanted... my mouth."

  "By all the Martyr's flames," Innogen whispered. "Val, this is..."

  "I know," Valentina interrupted her, "but it's not as bad as it sounds. He's not hurting me. Not really. And I'm learning a lot from him. He gave me advanced patterns even some of his personal sigils. And Distilled Essence."

  Innogen shook her head in disbelief. "But the price you pay for it..."

  "It's worth it," Valentina finished the sentence firmly. "You may not understand, Innogen, but it's the only way for me. I don't have your money or your connections. This is my only chance to make something of my life. The lenders want too many interest payments from my family. If I don't win this competition, my family will lose the farm and end up in serfdom. I would have no chance of continuing my studies. That would be it."

  Innogen was silent for a long time. Valentina could see the emotions flitting across her friend's face – shock, concern, pity and finally... understanding?

  "I can't say I like it," Innogen finally said. "But I respect your decision. You're strong, Val. Stronger than I could ever be."

  Valentina felt tears welling up in her eyes. "Thank you," she whispered.

  Innogen reached across the table and took Valentina's hand. "But please, be careful. If Horne goes too far, if he forces you to do something you don't want to..."

  "He won't," Valentina assured her. "I'll take care of myself, I promise."

  Innogen squeezed her hand. "Good, and don't forget that I'm always here for you. No matter what happens."

  They sat there in silence for a while.

  "You know," Innogen finally said with a wry smile, "in a way, I actually envy you a little."

  Valentina looked at her in surprise. "What, why?"

  Innogen shrugged his shoulders. "You have the freedom to make your own decisions. No matter how difficult or controversial they are. I, on the other hand..." She sighed. "My path is mapped out. An arranged marriage, children, the duties of a noblewoman. I'll never have the chance to do something so... daring."

  Valentina laughed in disbelief. "You want to do things with an old professor?"

  "No!" shouted Innogen, blushing. "I just mean... having the freedom to choose my own destiny. Even if it means maybe making mistakes."

  "Maybe we can learn from each other," Valentina said teasingly. "You can teach me how to behave in high society, and I'll show you how to be a bit of a rebel."

  Innogen grinned. "Deal. But no affairs with professors for me, please."

  They both laughed, the tension that was between them the last weeks finally fully released.

  "So," Innogen said, grabbing a piece of bread, "tell me about your plans for the tie-break. How can we kick Faustus' butt?"

  Valentina felt a grin spread across her face. With Innogen by her side, she suddenly felt invincible. "Oh, I've got a few ideas..."

  As they began to discuss strategies, Valentina felt some of the weight lift from her shoulders. She still had secrets from Innogen, but the most important thing – their friendship – was stronger than ever.

  "Well done, little Weaver," Vyxara whispered in her head. "It's amazing how quickly you've mastered pulling the strings so skillfully."

  Valentina inwardly flinched slightly at these words.

  When the bell rang for lunch, the two friends got up. Before they left the room, Innogen hugged Valentina tightly once more.

  "Thank you for trusting me," she whispered, "I'm so glad I have you."

  Valentina returned the hug, her heart full of gratitude and affection. "I am too," she said softly. "More than you know."