“Well, that was interesting.”
Amelia let out a soft laugh. Little Jean was just too precious sometimes.
“What?” The girl pouted, crossing her arms and walking over to the office’s window to avoid having to look at her, “It’s not every day that you get to see two Ascended duke it out. It might not have been a duel to the death, but even just a territorial battle like that is enough to give a lot of insights.”
Amelia lifted her hands in mock surrender. “That is perfectly fine by me. No need to get defensive.” She still kept smiling, though, knowing it would drive Jean crazy, even if she couldn’t see it.
“Bah, I won’t be made to contain my enthusiasm. The entire Academy is practically begging me to share my insights! You know, it wouldn’t take long for you to come by and give a couple of lectures. It would do wonders to help the kids.” Jean gesticulated wildly, marching across the office and pointing an accusatory finger.
And here was why Amelia usually kept away from Treon unless she was absolutely needed. While she wouldn’t shirk from her duties, she had to admit a preference for direct involvement. If she so much as showed her face around the city these days, she would end up being followed by a crowd of overly enthusiastic mages pleading for a scrap of forbidden knowledge.
“I believe it’s your role as Councilwoman in charge of purely magical matters to handle the Academy. More so since you were the one who founded it and instilled such a thirst for knowledge in its residents.” She replied, earning a dark look. “Not nearly as easy as you thought it would be, huh?”
Jean groaned, flopping back onto the plush sofa. It was a very shiny purple that Amelia was positive wasn’t natural. It would be just like Jean creating a color-changing spell so that she could decorate her office according to her aesthetic preferences. As far as teenage rebellions went, it was acceptable. “I’m glad they are so enthusiastic; it’s what I always felt was lacking from the traditional Towers, but this is a bit too much. I don’t even have time to conduct my own research! It’s always
Amelia let the teasing smile drop and crossed the space between them, sitting next to Jean’s head. Obediently, she dropped her arm and lifted her neck so that Amelia could cradle it and begin running her fingers through her hair like they did when things got rough during the Incursion.
Amelia’s fingers moved gently through Jean’s soft, silvery-white hair, soothing her further by beginning to hum an old lullaby. The girl closed her eyes, leaning into the comfort, her tension easing with each gentle stroke. For a moment, only this mattered, and the weight of the world was lifted just by that simple, familiar gesture.
“Tell me,” Amelia murmured after she completed the song, her voice barely above a whisper, “what’s truly on your mind?”
Jean sighed, resisting at first, but the combination of Amelia’s warm presence and the rhythm of her fingers was irresistible. “It’s just getting the academy on its feet, and the local mages with their stupid plots to retake control, and things keep piling up,” she began, her voice quieter now, as though admitting the thought was harder than she expected. “I feel like I’m carrying so much and not doing nearly enough. Everyone who needs something goes immediately to me. I tried delegating! I chose a few good mages from the army who were getting on in the years and a few younger ones who were less bloodthirsty, and they have helped, but eventually, I always have to step in. I don’t want to give up. I won’t give up. Leonard entrusted this to me, and I’m honored. But...”
Amelia’s hum continued, gentle and patient. Her fingers didn’t stop, coaxing more from Jean without force.
She continued in a trembling voice. “But sometimes I wonder... when do I get to do what I love? When do I get to focus on my own studies? It’s not that I don’t want to be there for everyone—I do! But there’s always something more I have to take care of. The kids, the Academy, Council politics... it’s overwhelming.”
The confession hung in the air. Amelia didn’t interrupt, knowing very well that Jean didn’t often show this level of vulnerability. Instead, she listened, still cradling Jean’s head while her thumb traced soothing patterns across her temple.
“And I know it’s important,” Jean added after a pause, her voice quieter now, as if trying to reassure herself. “I’m proud of what I’ve built and won’t abandon it. But it feels like there’s no room for me in all of it, only for Archmage Franklin. I don’t want to be just that. I can’t.”
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Amelia’s humming trailed off when Jean finally fell silent. She waited a moment before speaking, letting Jean’s words settle.
“You’re perfectly right to feel that way,” Amelia said softly, her voice laced with understanding. “You’ve taken on so much—more than anyone should have to. And I know it’s not just the Academy. It’s the orphanages, your duties to the Council, and the weight of knowing Leonard trusts you with all of it. That’s a heavy burden for anyone, Jean, even someone as capable as you.”
Jean opened her eyes, surprise flickering across her face. “You... you know about the orphanages?”
Amelia smiled, her fingers still moving through Jean’s hair. “Of course I do. You’ve warded them heavily, true, but I don’t need my shadows to know what you’ve been doing. I know you, Jean. You’re the kind of person who would take it upon herself to make sure those children are safe after taking them here, and once you saw what the average conditions were like, you couldn’t leave it alone, even if it means overextending yourself.”
Jean let out a small, awkward chuckle, clearly caught off guard. “I thought I was being clever with all the protections. Didn’t think anyone could see through those.”
Amelia’s smile softened. “I would have known even if Leonard hid them from my sight. I already know who you are. You’re brilliant, Jean, and so very dedicated. But you’re also human, and that means it’s okay to need space to breathe.”
Jean chuckled again, but there was a warmth in it now—a quiet sort of happiness born from the feeling of being understood. She shifted, sitting up slightly and looking at Amelia with gratitude. “I didn’t realize how much I needed to hear that.”
Amelia brushed a stray lock of hair behind Jean’s ear, her expression gentle. “You’ve come so far. You’ve done amazing things, and I’m proud of you for all of it. But don’t be afraid to tell Leonard when you’re carrying too much. He may be great, but he doesn’t always understand what it means to be mortal, no matter how much he tries to convince himself otherwise.”
Jean laughed softly, shaking her head. “You’re right about that. Sometimes, I think he forgets that not all of us have infinite power sources at our fingertips.” Her smile lingered, the weight she had been carrying seeming just a little lighter. After a moment, she leaned back against the sofa, looking at Amelia with renewed curiosity. “Now that you’ve said what you wanted to tell me in the first place... can we finally talk about the fight between the Great Slitherer and the Deep One?”
Amelia laughed, a light, musical sound. “Ah, yes. I was wondering when you’d bring that up again.” She gave Jean a playful nudge. “It was quite the spectacle, wasn’t it?”
Jean’s eyes sparkled with excitement, all traces of her earlier worries momentarily forgotten. “It was amazing! The power they wielded and the way they manipulated the fundamental concepts at the basis of their powers! I’ve been putting together a thesis about Ascended beings and what existing as an immortal being means, thanks to Leonard showing me some things, but this pushed my research ahead by years! I might even manage to finish it before I become old and stooped.”
Amelia rolled her eyes, ruffling Jean’s hair, “I think you have more pressing things to worry about. For example, don’t think I haven’t noticed you play around with those girls!”
Jean’s shriek of indignation was all the reward she needed to justify sending a shadow to track teenage gossip.
----------------------------------------
“Lady Amelia, welcome back.”
Command suited Gerard. His hair was slightly grayer than it had been before the campaign, but it gave him a dignified look that she was sure was all the rage among the nubile young ladies of Treon.
“General. I stopped by to tell you that the situation in the Scales has been handled. As we expected, drawing out the Deep One so close to the shore caused some damage, but our preparations were sufficient to handle the worst of it.”
Gerard nodded, placing his pen back in the inker and stopping to give her his full attention.
“The Great Slitherer responded to the provocation as we expected, and we managed to complete the crossing of the Stepchild while it was busy. The next offensive is ready to start.” Having to report to a man who was ostensibly her inferior annoyed her slightly, but Amelia had learned a few lessons herself during this campaign. Power and skill weren’t as absolute as she once thought. Sometimes, weaker people were better suited to handle specific operations than stronger ones.
That didn’t mean the chain of command should be upended, but it was enough for her to tolerate having to explain herself to Gerard. He had proven himself loyal and capable, after all, and having him here to handle the southwestern lands meant she could concentrate her efforts north.
“That is good. I admit to some trepidation when you ordered us to send our only Seer into the jaws of such a monster, but it has worked out perfectly. Even from here, we were able to observe some of the battles, and it was a wake-up call. Treon needs to be fortified much better if we want to ever consider it safe.”
Oh, how cute. He thinks he can plan around an Ascended. Well, it’s better than despair and uselessness. If he puts all his efforts into preparing the city for the Elemental King to attack, he might be ready once Garva cleans up the Death Pass and finally brings its armies to bear here.
“That will be an arduous goal to achieve, but I trust you’ll prove your worth once again,” she replied instead of voicing her thoughts. See, Leonard, she could be diplomatic when she wanted.
“That said,” Gerard said in a noticeably less pleasant tone, “I would request that you first run these operations through me. And ideally, that they do not include risking the lives of good men and women without a reason.”
To say that Amelia was shocked would be an understatement. It had been a long, long time since someone aware of her power had talked to her that way. Many had made veiled threats, thinking themselves safe behind the protection of social mores or a noble title, but no one had dared order her so directly.
She barely resisted the impulse to turn the Expert who reached too far into a smear. Despite her best efforts, the room became noticeably darker, and fog misted Gerard’s breath.
To his credit, the man managed to maintain his composure. He remained silent, waiting to hear an answer.
For but a moment, Amelia thought about giving in to her darker instincts before her rationality reasserted itself and her expression lost some of the inhuman frigidity. “I will respect the chain of command as the Grand Marshal has decided it. Everything I do is for the Revolution. Remember that, Gerard Dortmund.” Shadows pooled at her feet, bypassing every ward that had been placed around the room.
“Everything.”