Free Bastial Energy by B. T. Narro

Bastial to that.” Alex held his glass in front of her. A man approached and placed a hand on his shoulder.
    She clanked her cup against his. “Bastial. Speaking of my sister, I should at least find where she’s run off to.” Finding her should mean I’ll find Steffen as well. I want to see what he thinks of this talk of war.
    Alex gave her an agreeing smile and greeted his friend with a nod.
    Before looking for Gabby, Effie glanced at Cleve and Reela. They were still in each other’s company but now with drinks in their hands and grins on their faces. She hasn’t scared him off yet, must be playing nice.

 
     
     
    Chapter 10: Rumors
    EFFIE
     
    After a brief search, Effie recognized Gabby’s childlike giggle from outside when she neared the front door. Effie prepared her eyes for the dark night as she opened it, but instead a bright green light stormed into the house, grabbing the attention of those standing around her who winced and wondered aloud what it was. Without an answer to give them, Effie stepped outside to find out for herself.
    She managed to make out Gabby’s silhouette laughing hysterically while she stood beside something so bright Effie couldn’t look right at it. When Gabby noticed Effie, the strength of her laughter appeared to knock her over. Drunk already , Effie thought, shielding her eyes as she waited for the laughter to stop so she could speak.
    The brightness slowly dimmed before her sister’s manic laughs subsided, fading enough to reveal that somehow Steffen was the source of the glow.
    “What was that?” Effie asked.
    “A glow potion,” Gabby answered between laughs. “Your face…was…hilarious.” Her giggle slowly perished.
    “It’s more of a novelty potion as it doesn’t last long, and it’s unpleasantly bright,” Steffen added.
    Chemists. Effie held in a disapproving look. “Steffen, what do you know about war between Kyrro and Tenred?”
    His head tilted. “Would you like to be more specific? The rivalry between us goes all the way back to the creation of Tenred.”
    “Alex says there is to be a war soon .”
    “It wouldn’t surprise me,” Steffen answered with surprising speed. “The only thing preventing one territory from attacking another is that neither has enough power to win a siege. For battles to begin, all that’s needed is for one side to gain confidence that its army is powerful enough to overcome the great advantage each territory has in its defensive position.”
    Effie found it difficult to find the meaning in Steffen’s barrage of words. She might have thought it was a sign of too much to drink if it didn’t happen regularly while she was sober as well. “Can you try that again?”
    Steffen nodded. “Once either Kyrro or Tenred has an army big enough to attack and win, one of them will attack. It has always been this way, but the defensive advantage of each territory has been too great.”
    “So which army has grown powerful enough? Are they attacking us or are we attacking them?”
    “That…I don’t know, but you shouldn’t worry.”
    Effie hadn’t decided yet if she should worry or not, but there was something about someone advising her not to worry that always had the opposite effect. “This doesn’t worry you?” she retorted.
    Gabby’s hands shot up. “Wait,” she uttered as if she was just now hearing what had been said. “Father said there would be no more battles. We’re really at war? Don’t all students need to sign a contract that obligates them to fight in any battles?” She gasped at her own words, her eyes darting between Steffen and Effie. “You’ll be sent to battle?”
    Steffen raised his hands to relax her. “Psychics and chemists aren’t required to fight unless we’re under attack. However, all mages and warriors are forced to join any battle if the King demands our assistance. This even includes those who’ve graduated as a recognized warrior or mage years ago.” He turned to Effie. “To answer