Bjorn's jaw tensed, and a vein rose in the skin of his forehead, a telltale sign of his anger. “Let me tell you something, child. You—or your father, I don't know which—came to this world at the wrong time. He is undeserving of you. You are a walking contradiction to all of the studies we have ever done; the limits to our magical abilities and our simple abilities as human beings are being tested by your very existence. You will be remembered throughout history, even if you never accomplish anything, if only for being a living phenomenon. But you will accomplish many things, I am sure of it. And your father? He is no one compared to you. He is but one of many cookie cutter headmasters in a long, boring lineage of the Seran royalty. His name will be forgotten. Yours will not.”
I said nothing. I was simply overwhelmed by his praises.
“Your father is a bitter and jealous man,” Bjorn added.
“You think he is jealous?”
“Are you kidding? He once thought himself special for being a dual caster who could cast the coveted life spells in addition to a material element. He worked for decades to become respected. You arrive, and kingdoms on other continents are requesting your attention, not his.”
I stared at Bjorn. “What do you mean, they're requesting my attention?”
Bjorn hesitated, confused. “Ha. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised you don't know.”
“Know what?”
“Do you truly think you'd gone unnoticed?” He waited a moment. When I didn't respond, he added, “News of your abilities spread across the land like wildfire when you were fourteen, despite your father's best efforts to keep it a secret. The leaders of armies across the world, from lands and cities you have probably never heard of, have offered outrageous sums to get you in their armies.”
This news should have enlightened me. Instead, it was frightening.
“Why doesn't he just take the money and send me elsewhere, then? He'd likely enjoy the funds more than my presence,” I added dryly.
“You are the greatest asset of war that currently exists,” Bjorn said carefully. “Armies may have mages, they may even have dual casters, siege weapons, and other inventions, but many of all of them exist. There is only one of you. We have no reason to believe there will ever be another one just like you. Your father is keeping you within the confines of the Seran Army to prevent you from being used against him, either in war or within negotiations.
“It's why keeping you here, in Sera, is extremely important to him. He is outraged not only because he feels you disrespected him, but also because he's trained you throughout your life to be the greatest asset of his army, and you're not so keen on the position.”
“Why does he act as if I am an incompetent mage if he thinks I am so important?” I asked, confused.
“My personal opinion is that he's trying to keep you dependent on him. He wants you to think your abilities aren't marketable simply because he wants you to feel your options are limited.”
I took all of this information in for a few moments, sensing that both Silas and Nyx were also doing the same. Finally, I asked, “Is he searching for me?”
“Yes,” Bjorn replied. “That's why I hurried you in here. Among other reasons.”
“You're risking your job for it,” I replied.
“So be it.” He paused, searching my eyes with his. “I have no reason to believe your father would ever intentionally hurt you, but his selfishness and arrogance is limitless, and you are defying him. I have no doubt he might try to use intimidation tactics to get you to stay within the university.”
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“I am leaving soon, Bjorn,” I blurted then.
“Leaving? Sera?” He cocked his head slightly. “Already?”
“Soon,” I repeated. “I can't stay here. I can't let him control me anymore.” Even as I spoke, Bjorn nodded, understanding. “Silas and Nyx are coming with me. I don't know yet where we'll go, but I want to see the world. Use my skills. Make a name for myself.”
He smiled, then. I could tell it saddened him that I would be leaving, but I knew he wished me nothing but happiness. “And you will, child. You will. Oh! That reminds me.” Bjorn straightened, glancing toward the door of the armory, as if he would be able to see through to the other side. “There is a messenger here for you. He's been waiting for you since early this morning. Claims he's from Whispermere.”
I frowned. Whispermere. The word was familiar, yet somehow distant; I knew I had heard of the place before, but it must have been far away, because it didn't come up very often. “Whispermere is...in the mountains, correct?”
Nyx glared at Bjorn. “I think you have the location incorrect. Whispermere is weeks from here. And even if he made the trip, it's only accessible by a terrible uphill trek through the mountains and its populace is very...exclusionary.”
“No...Whispermere is correct. He looked very fatigued and said he left two moons ago.”
Two moons? Then whoever the messenger was, he'd been carrying his message for half a year. It must have been important, or he must have been paid a very, very worthy sum of gold for the trip.
“Did...did he say anything about what his message was or who sent him?” I asked, intrigued.
“No, my girl. He refuses to speak to anyone but you. He's in the university, waiting for you. I'll have someone retrieve him for you so you don't have to take a step in there.”
I nodded. “Okay, that would probably be best.”
Bjorn did just that, leaving the three of us in the armory for a few minutes while he made the arrangements. We made small talk while the messenger was retrieved.
“Maybe we'll have a destination in mind after this,” Nyx commented, wiggling her eyebrows in excitement.
“Yeah, no kidding,” I mused, anxiousness foggy in my chest. “Now that we know my father's been turning down requests for me from other kingdoms, perhaps it's a message from one of them that they wanted to make sure got through to me.”
“We can hope so, but that'd be rather convenient timing, wouldn't it?” Nyx mused.
It wasn't long before the armory door opened, and Bjorn hurried in, a middle aged human man behind him, with skin made of a tan so unique in hue it appeared gold. I had never seen someone with skin of such a color. I wondered if it was due to the environment in which he lived, or perhaps it was even a type of dye or fashion from his hometown. Other than his skin, it appeared he'd been living roughly since he'd left Whispermere. His long, dusty brown hair was matted and oily, and he had an unruly beard that had grown down onto the tops of his throat.
The man glanced at the three of us, but zoned in on me, like he somehow knew I was the one he was looking for. He bowed, as if he were approaching royalty. Of course, if he knew where to find me, he probably knew I was an heir to Sirius Sera.
“I bring you a message from Whispermere, Kai Sera,” he spoke, his voice one of relief. After having carried his message for so long, I could understand why. “But I am afraid that in order to fully deliver it, you must be completely alone.”
I hesitated, glancing over to Silas. He was never happy to leave me alone with anyone. Sure enough, he was already staring at the messenger with deep suspicion.
“It appears to be a letter, messenger,” he pointed out. “Surely, she can read it quietly and receive the message alone and in the presence of good company.”
“I apologize, sir, but my direct orders were not to deliver the message in the presence of anyone but her. It is crucial she receives this information alone.” The man's voice was wavering. It was almost as if in fear. I had the feeling that if the orders he'd been given weren't followed, his livelihood was on the line.
Silas was already replying to the man, but I interrupted, “No, I understand. I am very powerful here, and you know that to try anything would mean your death. You wouldn't request this if it weren't the case.” It was true. I was fully capable of defending myself, but the fact remained that the messenger might not be aware of this. In either case, I'd just made him aware. “Come, we will discuss this in the other room.”
The messenger nodded, and allowed me to lead the way. Having been in the armory before, I knew where Bjorn's office was, and so I headed there. With Bjorn still standing alongside my friends, I knew it would be unoccupied.
An ache of uncertainty settled warmly in my gut as I closed the door behind us a moment later. I felt no hostility from the man, but whatever his message was, it was surely important.
The messenger nodded again, despite my silence, and handed over the letter, keeping his eyes to the floor. “Please,” he offered, “Read it, and I will attempt to answer as many questions as I can.”
Even as I broke the red wax seal on the envelope, I watched the messenger, concern in my eyes. Pulling out the letter within, I let my eyes finally fall to the paper, and read the few words available to me.