At the very end of the library, there was a wall. No bookcases lined this wall; instead there stood a pair of gates embedded in it. The black metal contrasted starkly to the gentle white sheen of the wall.

Cuff stood, eyes wide open, staring at the pair of ornate gates.

Fern turned to face him, grinning at his face.

"It really is quite the sight," he said, walking towards Cuff. "Behind these gates, is a demon," he said, his face beginning to turn serious. "It's important you remember this; You can not, ever, trust a demon," he said, staring into Cuff's eyes.

"Ok," Cuff answered, looking away. "But why?"

Fern resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Because it's a Demon. Look, I know you didn't grow up with a magical background, but you've heard of the stories of Demons. Well Demons really are like that; except much worse. The reason I'm stressing this now, so imperatively, is because Isaac seems incredibly amiable, to a degree," he turned toward the gate, "it's what they do, it's how they work, and the moment you show weakness they will tear you apart," he continued, growing agitated and louder with each word.

Running his hair and taking a few deep breaths he turned toward Cuff again.

"Sorry, but some of us know this from personal experience," he started at the bookcases on the far wall, growing pensive.

"You've met Lilith?" he asked, still staring at the bookcases.

"Yes, why?" Cuff answered.

"Her entire village was destroyed by Demons," he said, staring at the bookcases still, silence reigning.

Cuff looked down at his hand, still pulsing a gentle blue, a slight chill running down his back. Everything destroyed. He could hear it, he could hear the screams. The noises -

"Cuff?"

Cuff looked up to find Fern staring at him strangely.

"So you'll remember, to never trust a Demon?" Fern asked, staring into his eyes.

"Yes," Cuff nodded, staring back.

After a moment Fern nodded and sighed, walking toward the gate. "You know if it were up to me this wouldn't be happening, but seeing as it is we might as well get on with it," he said, and placed his hand over the center of the gate and closed his eyes. There was silence for a moment, and then a blast of air pushed Cuff's hair back. Something in the air shimmered, pulsing slightly, and then suddenly exploded into colour. A wall of symbols and colour adorned the air in front of Fern, whose hand glowed blue, becoming brighter and brighter until suddenly the wall of colour shattered and dissipated. Fern turned to Cuff as he opened the gate, "a simple barrier to prevent anyone who shouldn't be here from getting here."

Cuff nodded, amazed. Goosebumps running along his skin. He still couldn't get over the fact that magic was well and truly real; and how beautiful it was to see.

The two walked through the open gates into the room that lay beyond. The gates clang shut behind them, as their footsteps stopped. Cuff was surprised to find the room was relatively small, and effectively a mini library. The small square room was covered in books, from head to toe.

"It's like a personal study," Cuff muttered, looking around.

"It is a personal study," a voice echoed out in front of him, dark smoke slowly taking a humanoid shape. It floated in front of Cuff, like the shadow of a person. Wisps of black smoke drift about.

"Welcome brother. Fern," it turns to Fern and nods.

Fern rolls his eyes at the smokey person, "still one for dramatics I see," he says, walking about and looking at the spines of the books.

"When you're bound to one place for eternity you're forced to find ways to entertain yourself," the voices echoes around the room, drifting over to Fern.

"Oh? I thought knowledge was enough?" Fern said, eyes drifting over to Cuff, who was trailing after Isaac.

"It is, and more. That said, knowledge is not the only interesting thing in this world," Isaac said, turning to Cuff.

"How impolite of me to not introduce myself," the voice echoed around the room, the shadowy figure floating higher.

The room began to grow dark, and the shadows length. The large candle in the center of the room went out, the smoke rising and swirling around at the ceiling, flowing faster and faster. A voice boomed all about.

"The Great Demon, Isaac, greets Groundskeeper Cuff," the smoke at the top swirled into a dense ball, and then exploded out into colour. Isaac descended slowly toward Cuff. Fern, next to the bookcases snorted.

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"Stupid theatrics," he said.

Isaac ignoring Fern looks straight at Cuff. "Or should I call you Owl? Or maybe brother?" It said, floating inches from Cuff.

Cuff was awed when the colours exploded out. To date that was definitely the most impressive looking greeting he'd seen, even if it was a bit flashy. His awe faded quickly as he saw Isaac float toward him though, and dropped completely at its chilling voice. He tried to take a step back, but knocked his foot into a chair instead, flailed his arms as he lost his balance backwards. Just managing to recover, until his right foot slipped and he fell forward straight into Isaac, and through him.

A deep chuckled echoed throughout the room, "well, never mind that. To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?" Isaac said, reforming on the other side of the room, the candles bursting back into light.

Cuff stumbled back onto his feet, muttering under his breath, while Fern nodded at him.

"For you to meet our new Groundsman, of course," Fern said.

"That is all? A bit disappointing," the voice echoes around, "but at least he will be better than that old fool," Isaac continues.

"I thought you liked him?" Fern asked, eyebrows raised, taking a quick glance at his pocketwatch.

"I do, but he is still an old fool," Isaac snorted and then turned to Cuff. "I will be seeing you again soon, mister groundsman."

Cuff turned to Fern, "we're leaving?" He asked, still peering at the ghastly Isaac from the corner of his eyes.

"Indeed we are," he turned to Isaac, "it was interesting, as always." Fern opened his mouth to say something else, but a blue glow to his left caused him pause.

And then a terrifying scream tore through the room.

Formless power pushed everything back from Cuff, as he fell to his knees clutching at his heart. His body pulsing blue, his heart an eerie green.

"Cuff!" Fern ran toward him, the blue and green spashing against a barrier pushed out in front of him.

Cuff screamed again, more blue and green roiling out from him.

Slowly silence began to fall over the room. A deep, dark, mist slowly fell from the sky toward Cuff.

Fern paused his advance and looked toward Isaac, whose body was flared out, wisps of black fluttering around him.

Fern's brows furrowed as he watched the black mist push the blue and green back toward Cuff, and slowly calm it.

"Very interesting," Isaac's voice chuckled, bouncing around the room, as Cuff's body hit the floor, his veins pulsing blue. No more green could be seen, and no more screams could be heard.

Fern walked over and wrapped Cuff in a gentle blue glow and walked out of the room, looking back at Isaac. He remained at the back of the room, his body calm now.

"Thank you," Fern said, his voice deadpan.

Only silence answered him as he left the study, closing the gates and erecting the barrier again. He glanced at Cuff, who looked as though he were peacefully asleep. Fern sighed and muttered, his body flashing blue for a moment, and then suddenly there was a gate in front of them. Shaking his head he stepped through with Cuff in tow.

"And, where is he now?" Nathaniel asked, standing in his office. In front of him stood Fern, looking exasperated.

"He's in the hospital ward. Now, will you answer me? Why did Cuff need to meet Isaac so soon?" Fern asked, frustration seeping through his voice.

Nathaniel looked at him, and then looked away.

"Why!" Fern shouted.

"Because he can change," Nathaniel sighed.

"No," Fern shook his head, "I doubt that. Your plan is already failing, his magic.. He's already becoming Unhinged and it's been a day? Two?" Fern said aggressively.

"People can change," Nathaniel lifted his hand.

"He's not a person," Fern slammed his fists on the table.

Nathaniel sighed, scratching at his forehead. "Listen, Cuff can change. The child grew up lonely, people instictively unable to accept him. You're falling ploy to exactly what you shouldn't be! You're an archmage, merlin's beard! When is the last time you were as worked up as this?" Nathaniel said, growing somewhat agitated.

Fern took a few deep breaths and calmed down.

"Fine. Fine." He shook his head, sitting down. "You know, it was Isaac stopped and settled him," he said, a book drifting his way from a shelf.

"Hmm? Isaac?" Nathaniel muttered, his pipe in his mouth as he stared out the window.

"Strange," he frowned, pulling on his pipe. He glanced at the paintings adorning the wall, lost in thought.

The pitter patter of rain slowly began to pick up, low candlelight casting a gentle glow throughout the room. The headmaster stood frowning hard at a painting on the wall. Fern sat relaxed, focused on the book in his lap.

The tense feeling in the room washed away with the sound of the rain.

Until a certain owl crashed into the window face first.

"Stupid Owl," the headmaster scowled as he stalked to the window, scowl deepening as he saw the stamp left on the letter in the claws of the owl.