Velaya’s relationship with the Archmagus had changed in the weeks since they’d revealed to each other they were both Omnimages.

Before Velaya had left the Headmistress’ office, Ena had tested her balance again and was happy to report that it was finally aligned enough for her to resume her regular training. She was no longer required to take additional lessons with Magus Tessa but was encouraged to maintain her shield and to keep feeding it mana.

She was also relieved of her Sunday morning duties in the infirmary, to which Velaya had pushed back on, stating she didn’t mind helping Magus Ossacus or Mograg. It wasn’t exactly the truth. The real reason was so that she could keep a close eye on their clinical trials. Ossacus had remained tightlipped about it, but Mograg was happy to feed her tidbits of information. From what she’d gathered, they were no closer to discovering a cure. However they had been able to find a means to keep them sedated and stable enough to not risk their lives again. As far as what that method was, Velaya didn’t know.

The Archmagus had only narrowed her eyes at her request to stay on, but did not question it further. Instead Ena and Velaya focused on her training and utilising her talents as an Omnimage. She’d been able to draw and expel two schools of magic without completely taxing herself and was working on adding a third. Unlike their first few months, Ena had not cancelled a single one of their lessons since, even though she often appeared tired.

Velaya was also permitted to use her Elemental magic again but the Shaman Magus, Tytus, had still refused to let her participate in the practical lessons the rest of her classmates did. As frustrated as that made her, she suspected it had to do with Tytus, Ena and Barrett’s strained relationship. It was something she often wondered about but didn’t bring up to the Headmistress again. Thankfully, her Elemental magic was still years ahead of her classmates, so she wasn’t missing much. At least, that’s what Rose had to constantly remind her of.

Her relationship with Magus Tessa, on the other hand, was cold, and strained. Neither of them had mentioned her brother again, and with her no longer required to take additional lessons, Velaya hadn’t bothered to approach her alone since. It was clear that whatever was going on between Tessa and Doriel wasn’t something either of them were willing to broach.

Meanwhile, the weather had fully turned and a light snow dusted the ground. Additional layers of clothing and scarves and gloves were included within the student’s wardrobes.

Velaya sat with her friends around the fire in the first-year common building, talking excitedly about their plans for their Yuletide time off. The students were given a one week break from studying and the Gate to Moongate City would be opened, allowing them a chance to step away from the island, should they wish to. Mage students in the later years, who had mastered teleporting, would often leave to head home, but many non-mages and first and second-year students would stay on the island or spend time in the Ayradora capital. Some students’ family members were planning on travelling to Moongate to meet up with them, while others simply lived too far, such as all those from Bellaurose or Elyzeme on the Western Continent.

“Well in any case, those of us who are around need a good night out, full of revelry,” Lime was saying, braiding Velaya’s hair. She was seated on the couch with Velaya perched on a pillow on the floor before her.

“Couldn’t agree more,” Otto said from a chair across from them. “Athone, it’s your city afterall, any recommendations on where to go? Ideally somewhere with plenty of ale and gambling.”

Velaya kept her head still but her eyes travelled over to where Athone sat on a couch next to Lilian and Victor. She had to work hard to contain her smile. While nothing more than a fellow pupil at Manatide Tower, outside this island, and especially in Moongate, Athone would be the Crown Prince again, even in the Tides - which they were not permitted to change out of as they were still under rule and studying at the school. If he had visited those establishments in the past, he’d likely done so undercover. It would be poor taste for a Prince to be seen gambling in seedy taverns. Though she didn’t doubt that he and her brother had done so before, it was unlikely he’d be willing to do it during their week off.

Sure enough, she caught him shifting in his seat. Something she was certain no one else noticed.

“I know a few places,” Emilie said, unknowingly coming to his aid. “There’s a good one not too far from my parent’s bakery actually.”

As the conversation continued around them, he caught Velaya’s eye and offered her a small smile - his cheeks more pink than usual. She returned one of her own, before she caught sight of Lilian watching them and averted her eyes back to the fire.

A little while later, Jessica arrived, brushing snow off her overcoat and carrying a handful of sealed letters.

“The post just arrived,” she said, and began handing them out. “I grabbed them for you.”

“Thanks Jess,” Velaya said as she took the letters offered to her. Lime had finished braiding her hair and for a while the group was silent as they each read their mail.

Velaya had two pieces. On one, she recognized her mother’s handwriting, and the other was familiar but not one she could place. She opened that one first and realised it was an invitation from Queen Eloyese for her and her friends to join them at Castle Valreale during their winter break.

She smiled as she pocketed the letter and looked up at Athone again. He was reading his own, and she noticed the handwriting on the front was the same. A letter from his mother then. Yet his face appeared hard, and she could see his muscles tense below his shirt. She wanted to catch his eye but he was focused on the parchment in his hands. Frowning, she turned back to the second letter, the one from her mother.

My darling Velaya,

Have I told you how much I cherish reading your letters every week? I am relieved to hear that your studies have been insightful and that you are well. Your father and I are very proud of you. I know Doriel would feel the same.

As for your brother, I’ve received reports that he’s arrived safely. You need not worry about him. Doriel’s tasks require his full attention and I’m sure he will write to you when he can. There is so much more to say but you understand that I cannot put it into writing.

I’ve been in contact with Eloyese and am thrilled to hear that she’s invited you to join them on your winter break. We wish we could be there to celebrate the season with you, but there are matters at home that require our attention.

We are forever sending you all our love,

Mother

Some of the tightness around her chest these past few weeks loosened as she re-read the confirmation that Doriel was well.

Rose had been sitting next to her, and must have heard her sigh of relief, because she turned to look at her. Those around them had begun talking again and Velaya pushed herself to her feet and moved towards the counter to pour herself another cup of tea. Rose followed.

“Everything alright?” Rose asked quietly, as she refilled her own mug.

Velaya handed her the letter from her mother. When Rose finished reading it she smiled up at her.

“Well that’s a relief,” Rose said quietly, handing the letter back as Velaya returned the smile. “I’ve received word back from Onas and Delimira.” Rose’s voice was low. “They’ll meet with us during Yuletide break.”

“That’s wonderful,” Velaya whispered excitedly.

They had been waiting to hear back from the two alumni, and family friends of Rose, for an opportunity to meet with them and to understand the origins of the Corruption better.

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Otto, Rose, Athone, Ingrid and Velaya had met regularly whenever time permitted but it was challenging with Athone not being within the Mage class. It was getting too cold to linger outside, so they only met as a group within the common building or Great Hall. But those spaces were usually full of others and they were often interrupted. So their efforts had been slow, and they made little progress.

Ingrid had suggested that they include more Divination into their research sessions. She believed there had to be prophecies out there that would help them. Athone and Otto had been in favour of the idea, and Velaya and Rose had eventually agreed but suggested it was something her and Otto should work on together. Velaya knew that they wouldn’t locate the prophecy about her - as that remained with the Archmagus and the original was locked away at Rose’s uncle’s home back in Elyzeme. It was likely there was more than one prophecy that could provide them with information, but the topic hit too close to home for Velaya, so she’d convinced them that Rose and her would stay focused on Saeligos’ side of things - with trying to root out where His soul may be.

Athone would bounce back and forth helping each pair. He’d been able to track down a bunch of Paladin tomes, including a particularly interesting one on King Robert Trelladain.

King Robert had initially been sympathetic to those affected by the Corruption but had since changed his stance. They’d discovered that, similar to how Dark magic of the Sorcerers could be used to control demons for brief periods of time, Robert had used the Light to temporarily tame an animal affected by the Corruption. It wasn’t enough to last for more than a few seconds but it did help explain why Magus Ossacus had recruited some of the other Paladin Magi and alumni to his late night research sessions.

Velaya watched as Athone removed himself from the couch and made his way to the door. She noted the quick goodbyes he offered and the tension in his stride. It was clear that whatever he’d read in his letter from home was still weighing on him.

“I’ll be right back,” she said to Rose, and purposely avoided looking at her, as she followed Athone out the door.

He was already halfway across the snow covered yard, heading towards the Tower, by the time she caught up with him.

“Is everything ok?” she asked.

“Everything’s fine,” he said quickly, coolly.

“Athone,” she reached out to grab the sleeve of his coat, “what is it? And where are you going?”

He shrugged her arm off and didn’t stop walking. “I’m going to the sparring ring.”

Within the Tower there were multiple rooms where students could practise their combat skills and offensive magic. Velaya and her classmates had spent quite a few of their free afternoons learning from Victor and Athone on how to fight without magic and would make use of the space and the various practice weapons there.

She followed him into the Tower and up the stairs until he located a room that was vacant. This was one of the few places in the tower where the walls weren’t covered in bookshelves. The stones from the tower, with their green vines, snaked up the circular walls. There were a few windows around the perimeter and below them were benches with purple cushions. Off to the side of the entrance was a cache full of various spears, staves, swords and other weapons. In the middle of the room were a dozen different-sized training dummies, all in various states of damage.

Athone prowled into the room and dropped his coat, along with his cloak and sweater onto a bench. He grabbed a sword from the stash and began to take his frustrations out on a training dummy.

Velaya leaned against the wall near the door with her arms crossed and watched. She admired the way his body and sword moved together. The grace and deadly poise he had. Even through his anger, his motions were calculated and sure. From what she could tell, he’d made no effort to draw on the Light to enhance his strength or speed, so she waited patiently until he’d finished working his mood out.

It took far longer than she thought, and by the end of it, he’d worked himself into quite a sweat. He’d been forced to undo the top few buttons on his shirt. Panting, he turned and walked back towards her, dragging the wooden sword behind him.

She maintained her casual position against the wall and fought to keep her voice even, aware of the lower tone it had taken, when she finally spoke to him, “Feel better?”

“No,” he huffed as he dropped the sword next to the others on the rack beside her.

“What did the letter say, Athone?”

“I wanted to know why my parents allowed the trials and why they didn’t bother to tell me,” his voice was low as he came to stand before her.

Velaya ignored the stir of her mana and the feeling low within her stomach that always sprung to life whenever she was near him. “What did she say?”

“Apparently she didn’t make the decision,” Athone’s eyes were locked onto her, and she could see his jaw working. “It was your mother who had brokered that deal with the Archmagus.”

Velaya swallowed but said nothing.

“You knew.” He’d taken another step towards her, and standing this close, she could see the light hairs on his chest through the unbuttoned portion of his shirt.

She shook her head. “Ena only told me recently that she did. I did not know before.”

His narrowed eyes roamed over her face, his lips were a tight line and his shoulders continued to rise and fall rapidly.

“She approved it after my first week here,” Velaya continued quietly. “Davis Leyro got his wish. Turns out nearly cutting off the King’s daughter’s head was enough to cause them to act.”

It took a second for the words to register with him, but his entire demeanour changed when it sunk in. His face softened, and his shoulders fell forward. He appropriately looked mortified.

“Gods Vel, I’m sorry. I didn’t even think of-”

“It’s fine.”

“I’m sorry,” he said again, and this time his eyes searched her face in remorse. She offered him a small smile in return.

“Was that really what this was about?” she said, unfurling her arms to wave them around, indicating the room and his intense training regime.

His green eyes darkened, but not in the way they had looked moments ago. No, this was far worse. Far more dangerous. She crossed her arms again, and clung them tight to her chest, willing them to keep her sudden, rapidly beating heart at bay. The corners of his lips raised in a suspicious, crooked smile.

“She also invited you and our friends to join us back home for Yuletide.”

Velaya raised her eyebrows, praying for nonchalance. “And that upsets you?”

He smiled fully then, and placed both hands on the wall beside her head and leaned down over her. There was no doubt he felt the hitch in her breath with his face poised so close to hers. Now she felt as though she was the one who’d just been working out. She uncrossed her arms, and placed them on his chest. The intention was to keep some amount of space between them, but she found herself very aware of the firmness of his muscles and his swift heartbeat beneath her fingers, so she lightly balled the damp fabric of his shirt within her fists.

“It has me concerned,” he whispered.

“Why?” she breathed staring up into his face, daring him.

He closed his eyes and leaned down so their foreheads were touching and their noses brushed. “It’ll make it a lot harder to pretend.”

“Pretend about what?”

He opened his eyes and pulled his head away slightly so he could stare deep inside hers. She could see him working towards speaking.

“What are you pretending, Prince?” she teased and received a satisfying huff of breath from him.

His voice was thick, “Everything. Us. You.” His eyes landed on her lips and stayed there. “The way I feel.”

Velaya could feel her chest swell. Caution be damned, she pulled on his shirt and lifted her neck. Her lips grazed over his. “Then stop.”

She did not need to pull him further, as he lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her firmly. His hands moved down from the wall and onto the sides of her face and neck as their lips rolled over each other’s, searching and wanting. She’d never kissed anyone before so she reacted to his movements and leaned into her own desire. When she felt his tongue against her lips, she parted them for him. She could feel a low moan from his chest, where her hands had splayed back out over his muscles, when he slipped his tongue into her mouth and she met it with her own.

The sound of voices from just outside the door caused them to jump suddenly and Athone pulled away, stumbling backwards slightly. Velaya’s hands fell from his chest and the two were left standing feet apart panting with flush faces just as the door opened and a bunch of third-year students entered into the room.

“Thanks for the spar,” Athone said politely. He had recovered quickly and moved to the bench where his discarded cloak, sweater and overcoat were.

The other students offered them nods or greetings, clearly unaware of what they had just about walked in on. They likely would have assumed their heavy breathing was the result of a combat session.

Without looking at Athone, she turned and fled the room, not giving him a chance to follow her.