It’s the first day of class with the tutors. I’m supposed to learn from the Earl Monday, Wednesday, and Friday while I learn from the magician on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Today is Monday.

As the Earl walks into the library, where we decided my lessons would be the most efficient, I politely curtsey. “Hello, Earl Mannes.”

“Please, Young Miss Allandis, call me Dorian.”

“Then, Teacher Dorian, please just call me Nova.”

“Well then, Miss Nova, shall we begin?”

“Before we begin, may I ask how you knew it was me that day at the market?”

He is silent.

“That day was the first and only time I left this house since my incident a few weeks ago. I had changed my appearance with magic, walked around the marketplace with a few guards, also disguised.”

“If I tell you, will anything change?”

“My curiosity will be satiated.”

Sighing, he says, “That day, you walked into three different dessert shops within the span of one hour. All three of them are extremely famous, and all three of them are located on the same street that can be overlooked from the second floor of the Fortree Restaurant, where I sat people-watching.”

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“So I remember. I thought someone was watching me so I left the street soon after.”

“With a few guards following you, from deduction, you were either the captain, a person with a lot of money, or the daughter of a nobleman. I thought you were too young to be a captain, and you carried yourself more like the daughter of a doting parent than a person with a lot of money.

“After you left the street, you encountered an orphan of the Mayo Orphanage, where I volunteer to work.”

“So you learned about my help through that girl.”

“Not quite. I happened to be on my way to her when I saw you bringing her food. Out of interest, I used a tool created by Natasha Broffenberg, who I’m sure you know as your teacher now.”

“What kind of tool is it? I thought she didn’t sell her inventions.”

“She and I have known each other since before we were old enough to attend school. Concerned about the possibility of me being tricked by a person disguised by magic, she gave me glasses that could see through any disguise.”

“You must be someone extremely close to her then.”

He lets out a laugh. “I wouldn’t say we are that close. But do please keep the invention a secret.”

“I will.” I smile. “Thank you for being honest.”

He awkwardly scratches his nose. “Now then, shall we get on with the lesson?”

“Please.”

“Then, let’s start with history. The country that we live in, the Kingdom of Foriales, is ruled by the current King James Thane Foriales the Third. He has been ruling this country since twenty years ago when his father, King Mason Rone Foriales died from illness. But long before that, before the Magicians’ Tower was created and peace between tribes of people was established, before countries were established and borders were drawn, wild beasts ruled the land—beasts that we now call demons.”