"You know, I think that Clare likes you." Briar Rose pointed out to Kael as they left the party venue with Magi Arthur Pendrag following behind.

"Clare? Yeah, she's a cheerful girl." Kael nodded.

"No, I mean 'likes you' likes you." Briar clarified.

Kael eyed her dubiously. "Now I'm starting to wonder what you had in that drink you were holding earlier."

"You know I don't drink at parties. Too much mischief going around." Briar shrugged. "I held several drinks that are now the dinner of some unfortunate potted plants back at the venue."

I feel sorry for the plants." Kael quipped.

"And what about me?" Briar rolled her eyes.

"I know you. If you're anything like me, you can deal with it on your own." Kael shrugged. "After all, we're Madame Rothema's monster students: the Briar Duo!"

"Haha, great! Sounds like something one would say while striking a stunning pose, don't you think?" Briar laughed.

It was Kael's turn to roll his eyes. "You and your imagination. Clare is just a good person whom we are barely acquainted with. What makes you think she could like someone like me?"

"Well, for starters, you really are a pretty boy. And it's not like it's impossible. After all, you do have noble blood running through your veins." Briar pointed out.

"Yes, but for how long?" Kael sighed, and glanced at Briar, who understood and raised a sound barrier to prevent eavesdroppers. He ruffled his hair in frustration.

"She doesn't know any better, but you and I both know that I am a potential disaster in the making. I have no idea of my lifespan, reproduction, or even whether I can advance in levels like you. As the first of my kind, I have no idea whether I'll simply cease to exist tomorrow. You do understand that, right? As it is, living with a girl's memories in a male body isn't exactly the most comfortable fit either. And only you, Thales, and Madam Rothema are aware of my situation. Other magi would be willing to kill to get their hands on me. Therefore, regardless of whether anyone likes me or not, until I know exactly how much of a hazard I am, I'll need to keep them at a distance."

"Che...But I want nii-chan to become happy too...." Briar sulked. She had never had an older brother before, but she had instantly accepted Kael the moment she met him. He was close to her in a way that no one else could understand. For, as of now, he was the only person to share her deepest, most intimate secret. 

"While I appreciate the sentiment, this is something I decided for myself." Kael inclined his head and smiled kindly at Briar. "Please respect my decision."

"Then, let's have a bet." Briar insisted.

"A bet?" Keith asked.

"Ten years. If, at the end of ten years, you have not found someone whom you love dearly, then I will never say a word about this again." Briar offered.

"If you can go for ten years and we discover there is no difference between you and any other man, then there should be no problem in living your own life. No need to stick with me forever. Twenty-five isn't too late to marry., after all."

"Are you sure?" Kael asked. 

"You know me. Am I?" Briar returned, raising an eyebrow. "As the one who brought you here, I feel responsible for you. Sure, we have the same starting point, but I made you different from me for a reason. You were never meant to be my spy, or my shadow, Kael. From that day, you were your own man, with your own thoughts."

"Maybe." Kael admitted. "But how are we gonna explain this to mom and dad?"

Briar sighed. "Indeed, quite the problem." She dispelled the sound barrier. "Regardless, I am going to have to explain things. Do you think I should send them a letter?"

"No. Best to talk face to face. Some things cannot be understood by mere text." Kael  advised.

"See? Only you understand me so well!" Briar laughed.

"Oh?" Kael looked down the path ahead of them. "Looks like we have company."

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"Hmmn?" Briar also turned her head to look. It was Council-mage Syrel, out on a walk as well.

"Master Syrel." Kael greeted with a slight bow. "What brings you here?"

"Ah, just leaving, I see?" Syrel noted.

"Yes. We've got a long trip home after all. It's best if we rest beforehand." Kael responded.

"We've met before. Ah! Is this your sister, here? A pleasure to meet you! My name is Master Syrel." He held out a hand for a handshake.

"A pleasure to meet you too. Forgive me for not shaking your hand. I've been dealing with some rather toxic concoctions tonight. Is there something you wished to ask my brother?" Briar asked, also bowing her head a bit.

"Well, by all means, he is welcome as well if he is proficient. But, no, I was actually hoping to speak with you, really." Syrel admitred.

"Is that so? I'm not sure what you wish to speak about, though." Briar encouraged him softly to get to the point.

"Ah, well, have you heard from your brother that the council has discovered another ancient ruin?" Syrel asked.

"I'm afraid I haven't. I'm sure it must have slipped his mind in all the excitement we had today." Briar replied, finally understanding why he wished to speak with her. 

"This is because of my duel with Lyra, wasn't it?" She added.

"Yes, indeed!" Syrel smiled. "I couldn't help but notice that you had done really well on your ancient language exam. In fact, it was as if you knew how to properly speak the language!"

Briar tilted her head. "Is it necessary to know how to speak the language?" She asked. 

"Not really. But the Magician's council is formally inviting you to come examine the ruins as a guest translator. If you could speak it, things would go much faster." Syrel replied.

"Me?" Briar asked. "But surely those in the Magicians Council are far more advanced in the study of the ancient language than I. What could they possibly need me for?"

"They say that, but they really just want to make sure you know your place." Syrel shrugged. "As they're somewhat at odds with Madam Rothema for the time being, they want to examine you to make sure you haven't been 'corrupted to a dead end path' or 'taught to disdain their elders'"

"Is that so? Well you can tell them this: Respect is received when respect is given. If you do not respect me as a fellow artisan of the same path, or even as a fellow human being, then why should I care a rats ass about giving respect to you? I know the origin and meaning of these golden eyes. And Rothema does too."

Syrel laughed. "Good! Good! Respect is recieved when respect is given, huh? That cannot be more true! But what do you mean about your eyes? They are a strange color, to be sure..."

Briar made a somewhat troubled face. "Well, let's just say that the kidnapper earlier today is quite invested in gathering those whose eye color has changed to gold."

"Changed? That is strange. What did they look like before?" Syrel was surprised.

"They were a lovely shade of soft sea green." Kael interjected. "Both of ours were. We came down with the hades fever when we were both five. It turns out we had taken a hit for Laura, as it had been meant for her instead."

"Hades fever!? I thought that was already..." Syrel's eyes widened in alarm.

"Do you know something about it, Councilmage Syrel?" Briar asked, her eyes searching his expression.

Syrel looked at her with a somewhat apologetic expression.

"We thought we had gathered the last strains of that twenty years ago! It's a sort of foreign mana that came from a falling star that caused the death of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands. And you're saying it's hades fever, really?"

"How do you know who had hades fever if they all died?" Kael asked.

"The corpses....all had golden eyes..." Syrel admitted. 

"Well, Councilmage Syril, I hope you understand what I mean in my message, then?" Briar replied. "It's not that I hate the council, but I'm really afraid that once I accept their invitation, I will be mistaken for an experiment instead of a human being."

"We, we could extract it for you-the mana, that is!" Syrel offered.

"It has been ten years since then, and it has neither threatened my life since then, nor caused me any problems. For what reason should it be extracted? Can you ensure that I'll even be able to keep my eyesight once you are done meddling?" Briar replied, less softly.

"I think your council members have meddled far enough in me and my sister's lives." Keith said sternly. "Just because she doesn't hold a grudge doesn't mean I don't. Unless your council can give us an explanation for how a foreign mana that was 'completely gathered' could be weaponized to hurt children, we do not wish to have any further contact with your council. Don't get me wrong. We are the victims, here. Not the council. It is already generous of us to give you a chance to explain. Rothema is also aware of this, so even if the council should try to capture us, there'll be hell to pay."

Syrel winced, visibly crestfallen.

"But, taking into account your relationship with Madam Rothema, I feel out of all the others, you are the only one we can trust to speak about this. If the council wishes to contact us, we will only speak to you."  Briar added.

Syrel grimaced. "That isn't exactly the most comforting, but I'm glad you can consider me to be a decent human being, at the very least." 

"A decent human being is what we should ever be, regardless of occupation." Briar sniffed. "But the fact that it's become a compliment for you, seems to speak volumes about the council at current."

"They're usually pretty decent, unless they're in the middle of their research." Syrel tried to defend.

"Only decent when necessary? Some itches should never be scratched. Likewise, curiosity can be a dangerous thing when placed above decency. Remember that." Kael warned. "Remember it so that something like what happened to us..."

He paused, a sad expression on his face, but continued. "...never originates from your own hands. I don't want Madam Rothema to be disappointed, especially by those she considers her friends."

Syrel looked at the siblings, who stared at him with golden eyes, awaiting his answer.

"Fair enough. You have my word, and my cooperation." Syrel agreed. Once he returned, he would definitely look into the matter of the star mana being leaked to the outside. Such a grave matter had earned the animousity of two young rising stars, and lost their trust. How could he not look into it?

"It looks like you pass, for the time being." Briar nodded.

"I look forward to the results." She said as Kael led her past on the way to Rothema's house.

Syrel sat down on a nearby bench, trying to gather his thoughts together. There had only been a limited amount of councilmage members that were in charge of gathering the star mana. But, as for the culprit, was it a subordinate? Or a superior? Syrel clenched his mop of curly brown hair in his head. If it was the former, then he would be able to expell them from the council for good without repercussions. But if it was a superior...then he, himself, might be expelled, or even worse.

Two pairs of feet stopped in front of him.

"Yo there, young'un! Care to explain a few things to me?" A somewhat gravelly voice sounded from above.

Syrel raised his head up to see who it was, then froze.

"A-Arthur Pendrag!!?" He barely squeaked out in excitement. "They told me you were dead! Who- where- why- how? How are you still alive!?"

"A long story short, I was saved by that young'un Kael. That's why I couldn't help but overhear what you were talking about earlier. What has happened in the council while I was gone?"