Lili hovered near the unconscious body of Aaron. With a wave of her hand rune lines rushed onto Aaron fading him away.

" Was it necessary to curse Aaron?" Joshua walked into the control room.

"Joshua, you are here. Good you bought the girl." She floated over to Joshua and peeked behind him. " Hello, young one. I'm the great sage Lili."

Alaina looked up and down Lili.

"I'm Alaina. You are really pretty. Are you a fairy queen?"

A small smile broke Lili's stone face.

" Good girl. Flattery will get you everywhere. Come here." She grabbed her hand bringing her to the controlled panel.

"Lili?" Joshua followed behind them.

"Yes, It was necessary. " She opened up a cabinet in the controlled panel and rummaged through it." He is as stubborn as his brother. When they set their mind to it they will not stop. Even if it's the highest stupidity. Ah, here it is."

She pulled out a large piece of paper.

"Then why did you send him away? Wouldn't he be safer here?"

She snorted.

"Trying to hold down a Xenolane. They would be gone even before I locked the door."

She rolled out her paper onto the floor. Joshua walked over studying the blank piece of paper.

"Why didn't you explain to him what he wanted to know? Wouldn't understanding the situation make him safer?"

" No, not knowing is what is keeping him safe. If he finds out the truth, they would descend down upon him like his brother. In the worst case scenario they would kill him then risk a liability."

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Lili waved her hands and lines appeared onto the paper.

"There. Alaina, place your hands onto the runes."

"Huh? But I can't do magic." Alaina waved her hands in surprise.

" Don't worry. This paper will help you cast a spell. Once you get a feel for it, you should be able to do magic. Try it."

Hesitation lingered on her face for a moment, but she walked up to the paper. Kneeling, she placed her hand on the paper.

" So what are you going to do when Aaron does find out the truth?"

Joshua sat down.

" I hope when the time comes, Viltautas and the Varangian Guard will protect him."

The paper Alaina was touching burst into a purple flame, burning into Ash.

" Joshua, Joshua. Look, I did magic." Alaina jumped up and down, skipping around the paper.

" Good, good. Now we can start training." Lili nodded her approval.

" Wait, I get to be a mage." Alaina's eyes lit up.

"Yes, we will start with the fundamentals."

"I'm going to sleep. Wake me up when your mages are done casting spells." He laid down onto his back.

Lili floated over to the cabinet. Picking up a book she froze. The room darken as a sickly ether hit her barrier.

" Joshua wake up, protect Alaina."

Joshua bolted up sprinting to Alaina. Grabbing her he pulled out his spear.

Lili formed runes across the room to strengthen her defense.

The air warped and ghastly wolves jumped out of the distortion. The wolves gnarled at the sight of them.

" Blasted it. They found us. Joshua and Alaina get ready. I'm transporting you out of my realm."

Lili waved her hands, runes covered them fading them away.

Lili faced the wolves. Next to the wolves hooded figures appeared.

"How dare you invade my domain. The Court of Lich, you will not leave unscratched."

Lili's face appeared calm as a frozen lake as she released her full fury on the intruders.