The following morning, Zoe did not arrive at her first class for the morning, her professor, Barid Blackburn went to discover where she ended up. She was not the first student to ditch his class to go in search of something far more interesting. Much to his surprise Professor Blackburn did not immediately find the missing student, spreading out his search, until he ended up in the headmaster's office for advice.

"What do you mean she's gone?" Anrod Netheridge bellowed.

"Her roommate Izora said she was gone when she woke up and no one I have spoken to has seen her since yesterday. Even her normal places to hang out had no trace."

"So where is she?" He said getting more angry by the moment, "Have you spoken with the mages for a tracking spell."

"Not yet. I thought I would speak with you first."

"Go see them. Let me know when they find her." The headmaster ordered.

The mages were quick to produce the tracking spell, it was a common spell they needed almost daily. Many of the mages that the college employed were not done so to teach but were the ones that kept the college running day to day and produced the magical items that they sold to help fund the learning and study. They were even more well respected than the healers as they made everything that the local towns used to make life easier.

"Professor Blackburn, seeking a wayward student? That has been some time now since you have had such a need." The familiar mage announced.

"Yes. This one is. How are you, Milos? I feel, going to be one I seek out your help with a great deal."

"Like that are they?" Milos said

"The child of destiny."

"Of course, that makes sense. How old would she be now, twelve, thirteen?"

"Six."

"Six? Are you sure….hmmm well I guess she is of the age where her rebellious nature would be kicking in and the magic would only make such things more extreme." He said confused, “Really six… feels like it was longer ago.”

"Are you able to track her?"

"Of course, give me a moment." The mage made his way over to a table on the other side of the room, vials of green, blue, and yellow liquids sat bubbling away on their own. He mixed a few drops of each in a bowl, reciting a hushed incantation, before pouring it onto a map spread out on another table in the centre of the room.

The liquid swirled around, writing a street in Orriver's trade district where all the shops produced the city's furniture, clothing, weapons, and other important items for the citizens to sell.

"That's blacksmiths Lane." Professor Blackburn said.

"Yes. Do you know the place?"

"I do."

Professor Blackburn, Anrod Nethridge, and Katherine Mercer all stood outside the blacksmith's home, the forge on the ground floor having died down to mere smoldering embers and at risk of going for the first time in years. The floor above was a very different sight indeed, even from the ground they knew something bad had happened there.

Broken windows, some with snapped slats barely holding on, others completely open with their coverings having fallen, and one even with a small wardrobe half hanging out.

"We need to get up there now!" Anrod said taking the lead. Before they could move however the city guard came rushing down the street towards them in full armour with a determined look covering their faces.

"STAND ASIDE!' The lead guard shouted and the trio separated to let the band of five guards rush up the stairs at the side of the building

"We need to get up there now!" He said emphasizing really.

They rushed towards the stairs, only to be stopped before they could get up to the living quarters the guard left outside to prevent intruders

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"Come no closer." The guard screamed.

"Sir we are from the college. We are searching for our missing student. What has happened here?"

"You will need to speak with my captain."

"Please get him."

The guard leaned back, to poke his head to see inside. "Sir. You have visitors."

"Who is it?"

"College freaks."

They could hear the groan from outside on the ground floor so when the captain finally made their way out they knew the conversation was about to go badly. "What do you want?" The captain screamed.

"Sir please we are searching for our missing student, a girl of six. Our mages tracked her here." Anrod said.

"Yeah, I know who you are after. Come on up." He said gruffly.

They marched up the stairs and walked inside to see the horrific sight that was far worse than what was able to be seen outside. Blood splattered like paint on every wall. The floor and roof had not a single piece of furniture remained intact and standing, chains broken into small pieces, the table snapped in half someone had fallen through it, knives impaled in walls halfway up the blade which meant they were thrown with considerable force.

"She's in the next room." The guard captain said pointing in the direction of the adjacent room.

They walked through into the next room where Zoe lay bleeding on the floor, torn clothes with big gouges underneath. Then they saw the blacksmith, his heavy blacksmith's apron, no better than the thin cloth of Zoe's clothes had large gashes through it with similar cuts and bleeding. His face was bruised and bloodied, and an oddly crooked nose.

"Geez what happened here?" Anrod remarked, " Katherine, do what you can to help them."

"Are you a healer?" The captain said, "We have one coming but they have been delayed. If you can get them conscious so we can question them."

"I don't have my potions but I have some spells that will start the healing." Katherine Mercer immediately got to work, her healing spells were effective but there were quite a significant amount of injuries between the two, and when the guard's healer arrived sometime later they were only just bordering stable but not conscious.

"Step aside. Let a professional take charge." The guard healer announced so cockily.

"Oh if you want a professional to be in charge, that would be me." Katherine barked back.

"Look lady I am in charge here."

"Take care of your man, stop trying to compare dicks. You won't like the result." Katherine said, The guard healer tried to stammer out a good comeback but was stopped by Anrod who just got in front of him and shook his head. The guard captain joined in to place a hand on his shoulder pulling him towards his patient.

"Sir as a favour to me would you allow us to handle the situation here? I feel you have more important things to deal with."

"I think that may be best. The guard captain agreed, "While I have you my niece has put in an application to join your school."

"Have her come see me next week.” Anrod reluctantly agreed knowing that this is how the game is played, and having had to play it many times in the past.

"I will sir thank you." The captain said," Alright men, the college will deal with this." Looking at the healer who had stopped working. "You finish up here and go back to the barracks."

"Yes Sir, "The healer said defeated. Zoe was first to awaken and they carried her out into the other room to speak.

"That captain was quick wasn't he." Said professor Blackburn.

"We were asking for a pretty big favour."

"still."

"Admitting one student to keep this quiet, is an easy concession." Their conversation was cut short by screams coming from the other room.

They moved quickly to get the blacksmith out of the destroyed home and back to the college hospital. Where for the next few days remained under the care of Katherine Mercer who proceeded to ensure he not only survived but was restored to full health.

"Where is that BITCH!" he screamed as he snapped back to consciousness rather violently.

"It looks like the Blacksmith is awake."

"That bitch of yours broke into my home and attacked me!" The Blacksmith Screamed, "If you think I am just going to forget about it, you’re crazy."

"You can either forget about, for an investment into your shop or simply forget about it entirely" Anrod said holding his hand up like he was holding a cup and a magical blue aura appeared between his fingers subtly getting his point across.

"Ugh. Fine." He said, "But you make sure she stays away from me." The man knew he was out of his league in this fight.

"We will," Anrod said leaving his home which had been fully fixed up by the college in the last few days while the blacksmith healed.

Back at the college Zoe sat waiting for Professor Netheridge to return. She had been called to the office early that morning and already knew what was about to happen. Anrod burst in, the door slamming from the force of his entry behind him.

"Zoe! What the hell did you do!?" He screamed, "You almost killed him and yourself. Why? Just why?"

"He needed to pay. For what he did."

"For what he did?"

"He abused her”

“Her?”

“Izora."

“That…"He started, it beginning to click into place."He was the stepfather?"

"He put her through hell for years. Then hurting her in the market."

"That's no excuse.." He said sternly "By all rights the town guard should arrest you for what you did. As for your standing in the college."

"I am getting thrown out aren't I?" And walked around the desk to stand in front of her directly.

"Let me be very clear here. You know you have done something wrong and I very much should...” he started, “If you ever pull another stunt like that again You won't only be thrown out but thrown in prison.

As for now, you will be allowed to stay especially with your recent actions protecting the queen but there will be a cost however" He gestured for her to leave but as she got to the door He piped in again "Very thin ice Zoe! do not speak of this to anyone. Especially Izora. Do I make myself clear? No one knows!"