After spending the rest of the day and night together, Misa and I woke up to prepare ourselves to go to the Council’s grand meeting.

Not much happened since yesterday, but a lot of emotions replaced the eventfulness.

Galavant finished his summoning by mocking us both for our misfortune in the most roundabout way, only to be explicit before he said his goodbyes.

‘You might want to give up on both of these mortals, Wizard,’ he told me. ‘They are not worth your time. And they aren’t worth anyone’s either.’

What would a fay know about what’s worth and what isn’t!

I tried ignoring the insult and comforting Misa, telling her how she really was important, but she took the insult harshly. She did not know how to keep acting around me. I had to make sure to lift her spirits and remind her that I would do anything in my power to save her, that a creature like Galavant has no say in who is and isn’t worth it.

The problem with that is that I had dug my own grave.

I felt like a hypocrite too.

I had steeled myself to give up on Misa, but every now and then she appeared, and then I had to comfort her. I just couldn’t give up on her. But I still need to do something about my nephew and somehow make sure that Misa doesn’t get into trouble.

There was no good solution. Given how she was being followed and stalked by a demon, for no reason I am aware of, all I could do is have her tag along with me. Even if she stayed with Hayier or I sent her to Tedet, she would have to move from place to place without someone to take care of her. This meant she was too vulnerable without me. My solution wasn’t a solution, and it also wasn’t going to do me any good. But there was nothing else I could think of.

My best bet is that I can at least convince the Cabal to take care of her. I could even use her, somehow, to convince them I wasn’t a bad person if the issue with vampires does come up.

In my eyes, everything was stacked against me.

Vampires were still looking to kill me. There’s a great fay I need to ‘convince.’ The Cabal might severely punish me for my transgression. I need to protect a powerless mortal against a demon. And to top it all off, there’s a vampiric war looming over us all. If any of these things go wrong, I might not be able to solve all or any of my troubles.

I would love to get some help, but the last thing I want is to pull more people into my mess. Especially when I know the only one willing to help me is my best friend.

“Misa,” I tell her while we ride the bus. “You will not be able to attend the grand meeting in the main hall, but will be taken care of by someone while I gather with the rest of the Cabal.”

“Do I have to wait in a reception area?” she asked.

“No, not exactly. But let’s say it is for visitors. You can’t listen to our business, and honestly, you wouldn’t be allowed in under normal circumstances, but given the magnitude of our reunion, there will be a lot of powerful wizards. Besides, you’re being followed by a demon. They don’t accept mortals, but they also don’t want to leave defenseless mortals in danger.”

“They don’t sound so bad.”

“They are a conservative and inflexible bunch of gerontocratic stubborn fools. But that’s how it has always worked, and it has worked well enough for millennia.”

The way the Cabal is organized may be antiquated but you can’t deny how effective it is. They are not ruling a nation, they are simply overseeing and controlling an organization of people with the same nature, not with the same vision. The people that join are mostly forced and indoctrinated. But at the end of the day, we all agree with the mission of the Cabal, even if some of us don’t agree with the methods.

Those that don’t join or leave the Cabal are either rogue former wizards or warlocks and witches – and the Cabal doesn’t take leaving lightly.

After arriving at our stop and walking for a few blocks, I take the strange route laid out to reach the right place. Reaching the Cabal’s headquarters takes a bit more effort than you’d think. Walking around this route is necessary to reach the right spot with the kind of magical energy and atmosphere. The requirements of this ritual need the magic-user to be in the right state of mind. The route laid out is arbitrary, but it’s selected and indoctrinated to make you feel like you’re taking the steps necessary to reach the Cabal. The power of the mind is as powerful as the power of the world itself.

Truthfully, the world already has the required atmosphere, but the user needs to give a little nudge to the spell.

Once I seem to be doing random turns around the blocks and confusing Misa on why I seem to be crossing the same streets, I finally reach the small parking lot we’ve walked by four times. We walk across it and in a small alleyway – only four or five meters long – and we pass two red doors of the buildings and into a third one. I grab the knob and chant my magic.

This is the first time in a while since I’ve opened the way into the spiritual realm, bending the space between worlds and linking them through the higher dimensions in just the right way to reach exactly the spot I want to get into. The space before us distorts and an opening lets us see into a new place.

To clarify, this isn’t a portal, it’s a hole created by bending and fusing the space between mortal and spiritual worlds. The space-time-bending result turns it into a spherical hole that looks the size of a basketball with an image spreading like a reflection of a metallic ball.

“Let’s go,” I told Misa.

Seeing hesitation on her face I reassure her it is safe to walk through.

“But hold yourself. You’ll feel like you’re falling in every direction. At first, it’ll suck you in, then you’ll fall, then you’ll float, and, suddenly, you’ll drop again. It’s going to be disorienting and will make you dizzy if you’re not prepared.”

She looked at me as if I told her something literally incredible – something that can’t be believed.

I encouraged her to walk in and as she did, her shape deformed as the light reflecting from her body scattered in all kinds of directions. In a matter of seconds, she was on the other side.

Following behind her, I stepped forward and prepare myself for the otherworldly experience of walking through a magical wormhole.

Just as I described it, my world and perception flip-flopped into an indecipherable mess. Before I knew it, but just as I was expecting, I was already at the other side, finding Misa on the floor rubbing her tush.

“Bad landing?” I asked.

“Emergency landing,” she answered, making me chuckle.

“This way, across this tunnel, is another door. That place will lead it to another place where we will do the same thing. Another walk through a hole and we’ll be there.”

“Another?”

“Only one more,” I said while dancing.

The reference might have fallen flat for someone who doesn’t enjoy children's shows about dogs entering paintings. Or maybe she’s too young for it. That idea alone makes me want to sit down on a couch to think about my age. Am I too old already?

After jumping into the last three-dimensional hole, we found ourselves in front of a woman who clearly had been expecting someone, or maybe several someones. She wore a traditional cape of an Official Wizard of the Cabal, gray in tone with a simple black embroidery in the shape of vines and leaves. She should be in the same class as me, but the fact that she did not address me as an equal, meant she was at least a higher rank.

“Wizard Avarez,” she stated. “You’re expected.”

“So, it seems,” I said awkwardly. “My apologies, but who are you?” I wanted to sound a lot more formal, but something told me otherwise that I shouldn’t give this person any more grounds to treat me like I was lesser. At the very least I tried to be polite.

“Grace Yand-Una,” she said, emphasizing her surname which sounded particularly exotic.

“Wizard Yand-Una,” I tried my best to pronounce it. “It’s nice to meet you. But I’m not sure how I am expected. I was not told that my presence was important.”

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“Some things change. It wasn’t like that before, but now it is. I’d tell you to follow me, but who’s the woman behind you? A recruit?”

“Negative,” I said and immediately regretted how iffy it sounded. “She’s just a mortal. I brought her for security reasons.”

“Why would you bring a normal person here?!”

“Like I said, security reasons. She’s being followed.”

“You were followed?!”

“Settle down. There’s no way anyone that isn’t a wizard can enter, you know this. And no one was behind us.”

“Should I really be here?” asked Misa behind me.

“No,” answered Yand-Una.

“Nothing they can do about it now. You’re under our protection for now.”

“You should have told us in advance.”

“There was no time for that, I only found out a few hours ago about it.”

It was yesterday, but I wasn’t lying we’ve only known this for less than thirty-three – even less than twenty-four hours.

“She needs to stay in the hall,” Yand-Una ordered.

“Already ahead of you.”

My way of talking was definitely getting to her. She did not like that I addressed her as my possible senior or as a higher rank. My point was to treat her like she’s still within my class and that I dispend a kind of respect she wasn’t offering. It wasn’t in the words she used, but in the way, she talked to me and the facial expressions and mannerisms she used. If she would not respect me, I wouldn’t respect her either.

I repeated to Misa what I had already told her and asked her to wait in the hall while I took care of the meeting. However, Yand-Una said she was expecting me, and even though I didn’t say anything about it right in front of Misa, I’m sure those words meant more than just a greeting.

“I was expected?” I asked her when I came back to follow her to the Cupula. “Is there a reason they wanted me here?”

I took her silence for ignorance. She might not know the reason for it but it’s possible I already know why. It made me nervous knowing that they were waiting for me to arrive.

“So, you don’t know either,” I baited.

She turned her sight and spoke to me with a face that told me to stay silent.

“Maybe they want me to become a Senior Wizard.”

I could barely hear her grunt, but she certainly did not appreciate my joke. Whatever the reason was for her dislike or distrust of me, she was not aware of why I was here. My only concern is if she’ll find out by the end of it, because if she will, that means everyone else will as well.

The Cupula was adored with Roman architecture and medieval ornamentations that have been taken care of for centuries on end. Over the walls, thousands of paintings hung, showing the faces of every Merlin and Senior Arch Wizard under their command.

It felt like I was walking through a school hall, with the pictures of every principal smiling and looking over their future students.

At the very end, atop the massive, dark oak double doors, two men were looking down on the entrance to the Cupula, surrounded by several knights in armor. King Arthur and the Wizard Merlin with the Knights of the Order of the Round Table. Crowning the two, a hollowed yellow triangle with an eye that watched over them.

I walked this hall several times. The first time I was nervous to start a journey; I didn’t know if I would be able to make it through the selection process. Now, I’m nervous because this may be my last.

The massive doors open by themselves, welcoming their guests to the Cupula, where several circular tables were placed. Looking over them, podiums were placed on the edges separated by great Doric columns. All Senior Wizards sat on the edges, like amphitheater seats, barred from walking over to the central atrium. All Arch Wizards sat at the tables, while the Senior Arch Wizards sat at the back, in their respective seats at the back podium. Common Wizards and Official Wizards that have not attained the ranks of Senior would look from the back, without seats. Sometimes, if they are accompanied by Seniors, they could seat next to them.

“Follow me,” Yand-Una said, and took me to the seats on the edges. “My master, the Senior Wizard Earlin has opened seats for us.”

“How nice of him,” I said, trying to sound genuine, but ended up being sarcastic with my nervousness.

The last thing I want is to call attention, and seating with the Seniors meant I’ll be catching eyes.

It took a while before the Council finally began the grand meeting, along that time several Seniors glanced at us.

A long time ago, the lingua franca of the Cabal used to be Latin, changing from English after they had moved into the rest of Europe. Centuries later, they went back to English. The languages have changed so much through the ages and English had become the most important and international language of humanity; it was a lot easier to get people to speak the language than to learn a new one.

The meeting began with the most important matter the Cabal had to deal with: vampires and torviela. Normally, the Cabal doesn’t concern too much with torviela, since that’s a problem mostly dealt with by the Hadtherad. However, today was different.

“We have to presume that both torviela and vampires will be working closely sooner rather than later,” spoke one of the Council, Senior Arch Wizard Lockleed Graut.

S.A.W. Graut used to be the most powerful wizard before the current Merlin took office. S.AW. Graut was the last Merlin, but he’s already too old to maintain the position without dying soon. He’s the oldest and most wise, and decided to leave his position in anticipation. Because of his age, and the loss of his position, he became a lot less strict and more friendly. Older wizards talk about who he used to be, and many remember him fondly. Newer wizards, including me, love the man.

“Because of this,” he continued, “we need to start thinking about communicating more intimately with the Sou’afvail Hadtherad Knights of Artar’ey.”

“But before we continue—” interrupted the Merlin. “Wizard Avarez!”

The sudden interruption to my name being called startled me. I did not react to it besides being frozen in place. I was never calm, but the idea that maybe all of this would pass without anything happening to me made me accept my reality more than I thought it would. The moment reality slapped me in the face, I could not respond to it.

“Avarez,” called out Yand-Una. “You were called.”

“Yes,” I answered. “I—I was.”

“Wizard Avarez, are you there? Come up to the central atrium.”

“I’m being called, right? Right. Okay.”

I hesitated on every decision, only thanks to Yand-Una I felt the pressure to stand and move. She grabbed me by the arm and lifted me, escorting me to the small gate that separated the seats from the atrium.

“There you are as well, Wizard Yand-Una. Come, as well,” this time S.W.A. Graut called out.

A myriad of eyes were locked on us. I felt my dripping cold sweat creeping down my face and back.

Yand-Una and I stood still in the middle of the atrium. The Merlin scanned us thoroughly for several seconds – but mostly, he examined me. The rest of the Council simply looked at us, their facial expression told me everything and nothing at all. All I could say is that they were looking at me expectantly.

I swallowed my saliva. I swallowed an elephant; its tusks scrapped my throat all the while.

“Wizard Avarez,” the Merlin addressed me, sounding the bells to my funeral. “We are aware that you’ve recently dealt with a vampire and torviela problem.”

I wanted to answer, but I could only stay quiet.

“Our intelligence told us you’ve been working along the torviela Uderach Kayaket.”

The room exploded in whispers, constructively interfering to a loud incoherent murmur. The Merlin lifted his hand and waited for the room to calm down.

“You represented that leech as its champion on a duel against another torviela representing a vampire.”

The whispers came back, only not as loud.

“Before we continue on all that has come along this… journey of yours. I must say that you are an important asset to this new problem. Your connections to the torviela are initially important.

“However, we will not ignore what you’ve committed. Don’t think for a second we will let you go unpunished. We are fully aware of what you did and why you did what you did.

“To make matters short before we continue – Wizard Yand-Una. The Round Table has deliberated that you’ve grown finely since your ordination. We are glad to give you Seniority and become part of the Greater Circle of the Round Table. However, this position comes with a duty. You will be Wizard Avarez’s warden from here on out. He must prove he can be trusted. You will follow his footsteps and work closely with him before and during future conflicts.”

I have been put on probation, of sorts. I am a delinquent wizard. The details of my encounters and work with Uderach must be too much for the grand meeting, but they seem to be important to have me sentenced in front of everyone. I’m sure that any other person would have been sentenced to death, and I am sure that the Merlin would’ve put me on the figurative guillotine himself. If there is a reason why I am not having my head chopped off or my magic removed, it must be because I’ve been doing this for a mortal, that I tried saving several along the way, and that I’m an important peace that took part in the new alliance between the leeches.

Anyone logical enough would have kept me alive solely because I am a direct contact with the vampiric world. I’m a chessboard piece too important to throw away, but too problematic to allow normal freedom.

All wizards are powerful, and our power must be used for good. I did use my power for good, but my actions lead to a lot of death and association with torviela. I am the source of everyone’s anguish in the Cabal.

“You have a lot of work ahead of you, Wizard Avarez, if you want to keep your original position. And your head. Your warden will be observing you and we will be keeping an eye on you. Anything goes wrong and you will be dealt with immediately. Beyond that, you will be working with us to deal with the torviela. All information regarding Uderach Kayaket must be forwarded to us immediately. If a war breaks out, you will be the first to know, and you must inform us the moment you find out about it.”

I had nothing to say. All I did was nod my head and look down at my feet.

I felt like my hands and feet were bound by an invisible rope. I could not move freely and I could not act before checking in with my superiors. This was a problem regarding the Rain faerie. Not only was my nephew in danger, but a lot of other people were as well. Misa was also being chased by a demon. If I acted rashly now, there would be a problem if they find out about it. No, not if. When they find out about it.

I took the courage to speak up. I needed to talk to them about this.

“Excuse me, Merlin,” I began. “Is it alright if I talk to the Council once the meeting is over. There is another matter I need to discuss that you may want to know about.”

“So, you know more about the torviela?” the Merlin asked.

“No. It’s about another party.”

They both looked at each other. First, they seemed confused, but their expression quickly turned dire. They glanced at me aghast expecting more bad news. ‘What else has this low-ranking wizard involved himself in?’

“It’s about Summer and Winter.”

While, before, the Cupula only turned chaotic with whispers, this time, they exploded in loud expressions of surprise. Panic was clearly turning the wizards into disarray.

I was expecting the Council to be furious, trying to silence everyone. But I was surprised to find them talking and as loud as the rest, barely addressing myself.

Only after a minute or two did the deafening sound of a thousand voices in a closed space lower enough for me to listen to my Senior beside me.

“You’re going to have to explain yourself after this,” she talked to me in a tone between fear and anger. “First the torviela. And now the Fey. What are you up to?”

I only looked at her with a blank stare.

The only thing that made me feel at ease was that the state of the Cabal felt very much like my internal struggle. I have never felt so at home in this place than at this exact moment.