--- Mary

"Don't you think the letter could be exaggerating the facts a bit, Master?"

Master Bravo raised an eyebrow. "Had I received it, I would have my doubts too, Mary. But the Princess herself wrote it. Her father the King trusts her, so who am I to question his judgment?"

"It's not what I meant," the girl went on. "The Archmage still sounded skeptical when he asked us to investigate this matter. In his words, there's no way a single person could summon and control an army of undead. If such a thing happened, it's unprecedented."

The more she thought about it, the more impossible it seemed. Mary hadn't seen the message with her own eyes, but knew that something very out of the ordinary had occurred in Lyngard just a week before. King Sebastian hadn't consulted the Circle before sending his soldiers, yet now the situation had changed drastically. To the point that their intervention was necessary.

Rickhart breached into the city. It's the second time he catches Cassidia unaware with his unexpected moves. If he can pull out other tricks, we'll always be a step behind of him. Moreover...

According to Archmage Sartan the defenders had only resisted thanks to princess Elise's leadership, but there were also other rumours. Rumours of someone she had brought who wielded the power to stand in the necromancer's way. Word of this mysterious warrior was already spreading through the Kingdom.

They are certainly talking about Roric. I can't wait to see him! How did he become so powerful in such a short time? Two months ago he barely kept up with Rickhart, and now he is able to fight him on an equal footing. I want to know more. About the Elementals, and about him.

Master Bravo coughed to draw her attention. "You've been acting like there's something big on your mind, lately."

"I... No, it's only..." Mary babbled, trying to keep her composure. "I'm worried if this necromancer will require the Circle to take extraordinary measures. If he has enough strength to attack a fortified city, we should be prepared for the worst."

"I won't delve deeper into your thoughts, but what you say is right," replied the man, puffing some smoke with his pipe. "Since the Archmage is willing to go this far."

"Our machines cost a fortune. He's never given the permission to use them this lightly."

"They are too complex for our novices, that's why he asked me to come."

One of the many services the Mages provided for the Kingdom was the identification and tracking of inappropriate uses of magic. No matter the kind, no matter the level, there was probably a device in the tower's basement that could reveal and identify it. Necromancers were usually taken care of by the Order of the Light, but its paperwork was told to be even stricter than the Circle's. In that moment, the news had yet to reach the Holy City and the heads of the organization. And until they decided what to do, the representatives in Cassidia didn't have the authority to move.

A very inefficient way of doing things. I'll never understand the Order. Every time something related to their magic happens, they always give a late response and then take the merit when it's all solved. Paladins, priests... Their blind faith into abstract concepts disconnects them from the real world. If they weren't such a big and ancient organization, nobody would even lend an ear to their nonsense.

The young apprentice had to admit that the Order was more popular among the commoners, because of their doctrine of helping anyone in need and sharing their knowledge with teaching.

Still, if they kept their books under lock and key like us, there won't be so many so-called heretics around. Where would Rickhart be, without his spells? Magic is too dangerous to be left uncontrolled.

That included the Elementals, or so Mary thought until a while before. Roric's appearance had made her change her views quite a bit. There were so many things in the world that had yet to be studied and classified by the Circle, magic abilities hidden so well that their very existence was questionable. She was curious about them, but sometimes maybe it was better to let those legends resurface on their own.

After all, it was thanks to a similar power that Lyngard had survived. Not even Rickhart expected to find an Elemental in his way.

***

Despite her intention of meeting Roric, Mary had to follow her master's instructions and help him setting up their instruments as fast as possible.

Arcane detectors were delicate and responsive, true works of art of the tower's engineers, but they had to be used before the last traces of magic disappeared or they wouldn't have picked up anything. The girl observed the two machines they had brought from Cassidia, each with its own design and features.

I've never been that interested in these things, but they sure are powerful. Identifying what kind of magic was used here, after so much time? Until a century ago, it would have been impracticable.

"Can you start the one on the left, Mary?" asked Bravo. "You only have to channel raw Arcane inside that crystal."

"Raw... Raw? Are you sure it's not going to explode? I can only control it for a couple of seconds after it's out of my body."

"Don't worry, that part of the machine will catch your magic and stabilize it."

"Like a lantern-spell? Wait, that means the crystals too are made with the Arcane," the girl looked at it closely, trying to understand its functioning. "So, someone is fueling them in this very moment?"

One of the Mages who was traveling with them, the one in charge of the maintenance, stepped forward and provided an explanation.

"It's actually me," he said. "I'm constantly keeping them in shape, so they don't interfere with each other and especially remain solid. The disadvantage is I can't walk away from them and cast other spells, but apart from that they won't break. Try powering them up, miss Wilmore."

"Alright."

Mary focused and drew out her power, letting it flow to the heart of the detector. She had never put that much inside a physical object before, for safety reasons, but the engineer seemed right. The transparent crystal received her arcane energy and began emitting a dim light, along with a buzzing sound.

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"What now?" the girl asked.

"Now we wait," replied master Bravo. "The one I activated reveals any residue of magic and is tuned for the spiritual kind the necromancer uses. It will show us which direction he fled Lyngard even if he didn't use a single spell."

Neat. I didn't think it could track people this well.

"It should give us a report in a minute or so... Here it is," the man glanced at one of the glass orbs at the bottom and took one of them. "Can you see?"

The reflection of the sun made it difficult to spot, but there was definitely something on the other side of the item. A white trace of fog, lingering on the fields and invisible to the naked eye. Watching through that thing made it almost as clear as day. Mary nodded, returning it to her master.

"William!" he yelled, calling for one of his older apprentices. "Take a horse and follow this trail. It leads South, but I want to see where it ends."

"What about this one?" asked the Mage girl, pointing at the detector she had just turned on. "Is it doing the same?"

This time the engineer from earlier stepped in. "No, as we speak it's analyzing the magic in the air. Once we are back to the tower, we'll use this data to assess the output, capacitance and skill of our enemy. It will take a lot since it's not arcane in nature, but at least we'll understand what exactly he can do."

I wonder what other kinds of machines the Circle built. Not many are allowed in the research area, except for the personnel and the Archmage. Would he let me visit it, if I asked?

That had to wait, however, at least until their return. She stood up, glancing towards the horizon.

Rickhart... He doesn't care about making enemies, that's for sure. He was clearly planning to run if the battle went badly, but where?

***

--- Roric

It took many days of preparations to arrange the trip back to Cassidia.

After the battle, the majority of the efforts was put into making the city safe and providing assistance to the wounded. The detachment sent by the King had lost many soldiers, but in all due honesty it could have gone much worse.

Not everyone was happy when Elise, who had discussed with Lord Albert on that topic, decided to spare the Barbarians and let them go. A group of reluctant horsemen was ordered to escort them to the West until they reached the Sibrin, at least to be sure that the enemies would leave those lands for real. Still, with her leadership the young princess had managed to win the hearts of most soldiers in Lyngard, and some people were already drawing similarities between her and the illustrious ancestor.

General Cremont had woken up and was recovering. He was said to lie in fear because Elise was under his responsibility and he had been injured carelessly, leaving her free of doing what she wanted. In his heart, however, he was probably proud that his student had achieved so much. In a conversation between Roric and his friend, she had told him that the man had tried multiple times to stand despite his state, just to be by her side when they would have celebrated the victory in the capital, but he still needed rest.

No matter how much he shouted or boasted his military rank, he had to remain in Lyngard until the healers said he was ready to move again.

Well, it's not like I'd forgive myself for missing an event such as this. The Princess herself, leading the troops in defense of the city? All while...

The boy noticed a group of people looking at him intently. It had happened so many times today that he had lost count. Maybe it wasn't the most important of all the news about that battle, but his own feats had surely left indelible tracks in those who were in the plaza that day, as witnesses.

Clearly, the hate towards Elementals was all due to ignorance and the people who feared those monsters since the times began were starting to reconsider. Yet, having so many eyes on him made Roric feel a little embarrassed.

***

The first group left Lyngard a couple of days later, while the repairs to the main gate were progressing.

Elise had chosen to travel with Lord Albert in a carriage, where they could speak freely about her future visits to the city. The elder was a strange man but relatively alright, compared to most nobles, and seemed to take at heart the interest of his people. That was also why he was undertaking that trip in spite of his age, to see the King and thank him for the aid. Politics wasn't exactly Roric's thing, so he gladly stayed out of it.

Some soldiers came to him, commending his bravery and skill. It was nice to be treated like a normal human being once again, yet the young warrior couldn't help but seeing some glimpses of reverential fear inside their eyes, here and there. They stopped bothered him after a while and so he kept walking in silence, still he felt relieved.

"It's been ages since I've seen you so satisfied."

He turned around and found Mary, marching alone as well, so he slowed his pace to allow her to catch up.

"I can't deny I am," he answered. "Maybe they'll even allow me inside the palace like they used to."

"Don't say that. I've heard many absurd things about you and the Princess," the young Mage laughed. "But for me, you were the hero of that battle. If you hadn't stopped the necromancer, who knows how it would have ended."

A hero... Me?

Roric didn't really think of himself that highly, but he didn't reply. The troops praising him and a cute girl calling him a hero was way better than what had happened the previous time, in Norburg.

"You know..." Mary went on, "When I thought about you facing such a dangerous opponent I was a bit scared, in truth."

"Really? But you were one of the few who believed in me."

"Yes, still... The King wouldn't have trusted you so much if you have been a different person. And neither would I. Oh, that must sound so silly."

"Why?"

"Because I should have taken your defense more openly, since I knew what's like to be treated like an outcast. Had I followed my heart, maybe-"

"I already told you it's alright," Roric interrupted her. "I know you don't hate me. So don't worry about it."

Mary blushed and took a pause, her brown eyes fixated on the ground. Now that he knew her a bit more, the boy guessed that she was ashamed of that small mistake.

"I... I just wanted to say that... I'm here if you need anything, that's all," she hesitated enough to capture his interest.

He looked at her, which made her instantly face the other way.

"I'm not meaning any weird thing, only... There are books on the Elementals in the Circle's library. I could snatch one or two of them out, if you-"

"Mary," said Roric. "You don't have to push yourself this much for me."

"It's... A favor! Just a favor!" the girl giggled, unconvincingly.

Why is she this nervous, I wonder? She's embarrassed by her lack of judgment, but this kind of things happens all the time...

He took a deep breath, and patted her back. "Thanks, Mary. I really mean it."

A discomforting silence fell between them. The young warrior walked without any rush, playing with his speed to see how the girl struggled to match it perfectly. She was a good friend, a person he didn't think he would have found in Cassidia. Someone who supposedly understood what was like being different.

"Come to think about it..." he began, "You told me multiple times that you were an outcast in the past. Is it because of the Arcane?"

It was like a veil had dropped in front of the Mage girl's face. She paled, and lowered her head.

"Yes... And no."

"Want to tell me about it?"

"It's not a nice story. It would make me seem someone who is just looking for your pity."

This girl hides a lot of pain inside her heart, like I used to when I first met Elise.

"What's wrong with seeking it?" he asked.

Mary glanced at him, and messed with her hair. "In the Circle we are taught to forget. In a certain sense, I would be talking about a person who no longer exists."

"I believe she exists. It's part of who you are, after all."

"Yeah, after all..."

There was another moment of silence, then the young Mage began her tale.