Night falls as we ride, the darkness bringing out the threat of the beasts once more. I had been hoping that our luck would remain true, but as soon as we enter the forest, an animalistic grunt proves otherwise. We can hear the sound of a beast charging through the trees, its feet pounding the earth and its nostrils huffing. The red eyes that appear are the only indicator we get of it being close before I see the horns and the snarling mouth. A Crypthag. A demonic, massive bull-like beast who could easily annihilate us all.

The men maneuver their horses between the beast and me. Auden fires his bow, which does next to nothing. He readies his sword, but I know from all the reading Orla and I used to do that his sword is almost just as useless. We're dead. Done for. My mind prays to Goddess Iena regardless as I feel my heart hammering and my body brace for the inevitable pain.

Then, before the Crypthag can reach us, a glowing, heated spark shoots towards it, illuminating the night and knocking the beast back. It came from Rylan. Was that....magic? His face is shocked, but not shocked enough.

"Go!" He yells at Auden, snapping him out of his own state of surprise. Auden rides forward with Rylan as Rylan manages to send out another wave of power from his fingertips. The Crypthag is on the ground, roaring in pain. Rylan sends out another wave, and the beast goes quiet. With a few sword thrusts for good measure, Auden finishes it off.

The night is starkly silent once more save for the sound of our relieved but adrenaline-filled breaths. I can't take my eyes off Rylan. He has magic. Magic straight from the Goddess Iena. And he can use it. How? Why? And why wasn't my opportunity that simple?

"You..." Auden's bafflement almost sounds like anger. "You had magic all this time?"

"I didn't!" Rylan swears, looking cornered. "At Elia's ceremony...while she was praying....something came over me. Goddess Iena, she....she spoke to me. She gave it to me to protect Elia. It's not for me. She knew danger was coming and wanted to protect her."

"Why can't Elia use her magic then?" Myra sounds accusatory.

"Mine was a gift. Elia...she was born with the magic within her. Her power is much stronger. It needs to be coaxed out."

"Why didn't Goddess Iena gift Elia?" Myra tries to find the flaws in his stories, but there's no evidence he begged for Dark Magic. No black eyes, no purple smoke, no sign that he can do whatever he pleases. And if legend is true, the Crypthag would have avoided Rylan completely if he was a Dark One.

"I don't know. I think my powers are temporary. And they're not very strong. Fire is all I have. It won't do much against Endryon and I doubt Dark Ones will be an easy kill with it either."

I can't help my jealousy. I can't help my disbelief. Only my trust in Goddess Iena keeps these feelings from enveloping me. If she believed he could help us save Vulaira, I'll believe it too.

"Why you?" Auden nearly scoffs. Rylan can barely look at any of us when he answers.

"I don't know."

"You're a Claybourne. All of your ancestors came from nothing to serve royal blood, just like mine. We are not meant to be blessed-" Auden starts.

"I never asked for this!" Rylan snaps. "I never wanted magic. I didn't pray for it. I don't need it. But it's my duty to protect Princess Elia. I pledged my life to her, and I promised Goddess Iena I would do what it took to keep her safe. If she thinks I need it to help protect Elia, so be it."

A silence falls over the group. I break it by moving my horse forward again, and the rest follow. We continue on without speaking, still trying to process what just happened. I've wanted magic all my life. I've prayed for it every single day since I could remember. I was always told it was mine to have. And yet this man, who never wanted it and never asked, got it so easily. All the nights I endured with my father yelling that I wasn't trying hard enough. All the nights I couldn't sleep because of the shame I felt. And the guilt that built up knowing people were suffering and dying because I couldn't help them yet.

"I'm sorry, your grace," Rylan mutters quietly. I realize he's slowed his horse down to match mine. And that tears are falling down my cheeks. I wipe them away quickly, feeling my cheeks flush.

"Not necessary. As you said, you never wanted this." I shake my head.

"Never wanted the magic," He clarifies. "I did want to protect you, your grace."

"Of course," An awkward chuckle slips past my trembling voice. "Duty-driven, as all knights are. You know, speaking of things we never wanted....I never wanted knights." Rylan's brown eyes lock onto mine. "I always thought I could handle myself. Guess that's not really true."

"I'm sure you could handle yourself just fine, your grace," He replies.

"Well, I've always relied on magic that I still haven't been able to do. I can't even use a sword!" I have to work to keep my voice down.

"I could teach you, if you would like." His tone is still so formal I'm not sure if he actually wants to or he's just trying to appease me.

"I...Thank you, sir knight. I wouldn't want to inconvenience you, though."

"It wouldn't be an inconvenience." He assures, stopping his horse and mine as we enter another village to check in for the night. "Horses will need to rest. We'll have some time. Unless you'd prefer Auden." I look back at Auden, who's managed to soften his anger and make Myra laugh as he speaks to her. I'm more familiar with Auden, but something about Rylan makes me want to learn from him. Maybe it's just the curiosity of his magic. Or maybe because this is the most I've heard him speak, and this could be my chance to know what he's like. Would I have cared in the safety of the castle? Probably not. I would have just assumed he was all-business and respected it. But out here, we have some time.

Author's Note: I hope you are enjoying this so far! Let me know what you think by voting and commenting. :)