After another conversation with my father, we decided to strike earlier. He secretly sent out a squadron of his own elites to take down the demon faction while he himself rooted out the spies in the Magician’s Tower as well as the court. However, while the demon faction’s base was obliterated, there were no demons around and all research had disappeared. The only thing left of them are the few captives my father’s men took and a room full of broken glass containers, each big enough to hold one person.

Since the last conversation between Prince and Dorian Mannes, no one has spoken in that room, leaving me with no more intelligence to gather at the moment. It makes me think that Prince knows it was bugged. Meanwhile, Cordelia left to find Teacher Broffenberg after telling me to search for the spirits. Her words keep repeating in my head, but where do I even start to search for them?

Annoyed, I heave a sigh before remembering that I’m still in class. The teacher shoots me a look of disdain. “Miss Allandis, if you find this class that boring, you may leave.”

Standing up, I glance at my notebook and read a few lines, saying, “Apologies, Professor. I just don’t quite understand the connection between jam stones and mana. I know that they void all magic, but why is that?”

Hearing this, the teacher’s gaze softens. “The world is about balance. Jam stones are created as the neutralizer, since mana is destructive by nature. Jam stones naturally draw in the power of mana to work, redirecting mana into them from the surrounding air, hence why once they are activated, they cannot be deactivated.”

“Then if the nature of the mana used was different, would jam stones not be rendered ineffective?”

“While this is a theory yet to be proven, any attempts to change the nature of mana have been outlawed due to the serious side effects of those who have attempted this in the past.”

“Side effects?”

“Exactly so. The side effect of forcefully changing the nature of mana is demonization. Mana can go out of control much quicker if one forcefully changes its nature.”

“But Professor, if the nature is successfully changed, why would mana still go out of control?”

“This is because the unnatural change in mana causes it to be less stable, as it wants to return to its original nature. This is the reason why mana cannot be used through any language other than the magi language.”

“Does using another language not work?” Teacher Broffenberg taught me otherwise.

“If another language is used, the nature of mana changes. This is why it is so inefficient, since the amount of mana needed for a spell is exponentially higher.”

“Thank you.” I sit back down before my questions lead the teacher further astray from her lesson. As soon as class ends, I pack up and head out the door. In the hallway, Lovina stands leaning against the wall while reading a book. She looks up and smiles at me. “Good afternoon, Lovina,” I greet, smiling back.

“Good afternoon. Shall we get lunch together?” She holds up her picnic basket.

I hesitate, but as her smile begins to fade, I say, “It would be my pleasure.” I follow her to the courtyard, where a few others in her friend group sit in a circle under the shade of a tree.

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One of them stands up, and with her mouth scrunched in disdain, says, “Lovina, you didn’t tell us you were bringing her along.”

Laughing lightly, she replies, “When did I ever complain about the friends that all of you bring along?”

The girl crosses her arms with annoyance clear on her face while the other girls move to give us room to sit. I glance at Lovina. She’s supposed to be smart, so why is she increasing my enemies? Handing me her basket, she gestures for me to find a place to sit before going off to socialize.

I head over to a girl with long, golden curls, saying, “If I may join you.” She gestures to the spot next to her and I sit down.

“Lady Allandis, it’s nice of you to join us,” she says. Her eyes sparkle with life.

I smile. “Please, call me Nova.”

“In that case, please call me Nina.” She gestures to the plates in front of her, all filled with a variety of sweets. “My family’s chefs create some of the most delightful desserts, if you would like to have them. I’m only afraid they don’t match up to the standards of your family.”

“In that case, I would be honored to try them after my main course.” I open my own basket to reveal sandwiches and place them a little closer to her before picking up one and nibbling it.

At this time, Lovina comes full circle and sits next to me. Taking a sandwich, she says, “I heard that Illana will be returning.”

Nina gasps, her eyes widening in fright. “Wasn’t she banished to the Outerlands?”

“Indeed.”

“But why is she returning?”

“The King invited her. It is said that the entire Council opposed this decision, but the King was adamant about her return.”

Illana, a magician in the same class as Teacher Broffenberg and one of her closest friends before they fought and Illana was banished. No one knows why they fought, but the reason for her banishment is that she dabbled in an unnatural magic.

“What do you think the reason is?”

“Who knows?” Lovina finishes her sandwich and picks up another. “I heard the Head of the Magicians’ Tower personally paid him a visit. Do you know anything, Nova?”

I pick up another sandwich as well before replying, “My father might be in the upper echelon, but that doesn’t give him the right to reveal secrets to just anybody.” Of course, that doesn’t stop him from telling me anything. With the threat of the demons coming and Teacher Broffenberg missing, he couldn’t possibly stand by and do nothing. “Did you see the demon that appeared on campus last week?”

Nina clutches her arms. “I have shivers remembering it.”

“Do you think another Demon War is upon us?” Lovina says.

“How can that possibly be? The demons were wiped out ages ago.”

“Who’s to say that they weren’t created? The darkness of society is darker than we can imagine.” I can’t help but think back to all the looks that Lovina has given me when she says this. “Perhaps someone has created an army and is planning to create a new era.”

Finishing my sandwich, I reach for one of the small cakes on Nina’s plates. “If another Demon War is upon us, would you fight on the front lines?” I ask Lovina.

She takes a moment to think. “I would rather prefer to create spells for others to fight with, but if it came down to it, I would fight. I am, after all, an Adaptor at heart.”

Nina giggles. “If you were our Commander we would surely win. What about you, Nova?”

“I would prefer it if we didn’t have to fight at all. I’m still only a child. But Nina, these cakes are amazing,” I say, reaching for another. “How can they be so fluffy and light? Even my house’s chefs haven’t achieved this level of fluffiness.”

She giggles again. “Thank you for your compliment, but I think you might have more important matters than examining my cakes,” she replies, pointing into the distance. “Are you two dating?”

I follow her line of sight to Jennis, standing against a pillar and staring at me with a smile. “We are just friends,” I reply, turning back to Nina. “Thank you for inviting me today, Lovina, and I hope we get the chance to meet more often in the future. It was delightful meeting you today, Nina. Then, if you will please excuse me.”

“Come by whenever you are free,” Nina says, waving. “We would love your company.”