She made it back to the Mage dormitory without running into anyone. Her classmates were still in the common building. She hurried upstairs to her room where she closed the door and leaned back on it before slipping down to the floor. She tucked her knees up to her chest and crossed her arms over them, lowering her head to rest on top.
Her head was spinning and felt so disconnected from the rest of her. While her body had its own desires, her mind wrestled against them, begging her to see the logic of the situation. Her mind had always been her greatest strength - it tapped her mana, controlled her magic, helped her lead her classmates to high praise. The problem was that when it came to Athone, she didn't want to heed it. She'd leaned into those desires and had allowed herself to react to him, cutting off her fears and doubts. But they all came flooding back to her now.
She tried to pin the moment things between them had shifted. They had gone from childhood friends to something more, something foreign to her, all within the span of a few months. Was it the freedom the Tower offered them? With no duty or responsibility other than to their studies, they’d allowed themselves to cross over a line. Was it the way he watched over her, always the first to react and help her? Was it the comfort of him knowing nearly everything about her and not being frightened or awed by it? Or was it to hurt her brother and get back at him for not telling her about Tessa?
Her stomach rolled at that thought and she moaned, leaning her head back to bang against the door.
“Open up,” Rose demanded from the other side. Of course she was here.
She pulled herself to her feet and opened the door. Rose stood with both of their satchels around her shoulders but dropped them to the floor when she saw her.
“What now?” her grey eyes worried over her face.
“Nothing, it’s nothing to wo-”
“Bullshit,” Rose pushed her way into the room and stood before her. “What happened? Why was Athone so upset?”
At the mention of his name, Velaya couldn’t stop her cheeks from flushing a brilliant red and Rose’s body froze, watching her closely, before she burst out into an uncontrollable laughing fit.
“Rose please,” Velaya groaned, only serving to fuel Rose’s laughter. She’d heard her laugh before, but only in brief spurts. This time she was completely out of control, as she doubled over and her voice echoed through the room.
Velaya could only watch before Rose’s laughter broke down her own barriers and she found herself smiling. When Rose regained some function and looked back up to see her smiling, she lost it all over again, and this time Velaya joined her.
It was a while before the two of them were able to breathe normally again, and Velaya wiped the tears from her eyes.
“Well, I needed that,” Rose said, the amusement in her voice still thick. “Although, I think perhaps you were the one who needed something more.” She winked at Velaya before throwing her hands up to block the pillow that was flung at her.
Rose cradled the pillow in her lap as she sat on the bed. “Tell me everything.”
~~~
Their last week of classes before the winter break flew by in a hurry. Velaya was thankful for the onslaught of assignments and late night study sessions, if only because of how easy it was to avoid Athone.
The two of them hadn’t been alone in a room together since. She made sure not to linger behind when her classmates decided to turn in for the evening. She knew she was being a coward and that Athone was looking to speak with her but she wasn’t ready to address what had happened between them.
It wasn’t that she regretted it. She had very much enjoyed herself during that brief and intense moment but the unknown of what that meant for them scared her. It was one thing to enjoy one another's company while at Manatide, but what would happen when they had to return to reality - to their separate Kingdoms? Whatever they’d been tiptoeing around wasn’t ever going to be sustainable. They couldn't afford such luxuries. She’d determined it was best not to continue travelling down that unknown road.
As her classmates left the Tower after their final lesson Friday afternoon, she requested they try to hold off the celebration until she’d returned. She had a final lesson with the Archmagus before the break. Otto had said he could make no promises and earned a playful smack from Ingrid. Velaya was still smiling when she knocked on the Headmistress’ door.
“Come in.”
Velaya pushed the door open and stepped inside the office before halting. The Archmagus was seated at her desk as usual, but she was not alone.
A very tall and slim elven man stood next to her. He had a long white beard that trailed neatly down the front of his golden armoured chestplate, finished with a deep red cape that was clasped at the shoulders. A long sword was sheathed at his hip. His face was wrinkled, but an elegance shone through his opal eyes. He was old. Very old. She had never met him before but would know him anywhere.
“Archmagus Barret,” Velaya said, bowing.
“I believe Sentinel Barrett is more fitting these days,” he said kindly and offered her a smile. His voice was soft and higher pitched than she expected but somehow it still demanded the attention of those within the room. Or perhaps that was the aura that seemed to emanate off of him. Velaya had been so preoccupied with wanting to enjoy her week off that she hadn’t registered the way her mana had lept when she’d approached Ena's office.
The current Archmagus’ face was impassive, but her eyes were fixated on Velaya’s - a violent storm within that sent off warning bells.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Velaya said politely.
She had read so much about him and had spent many days wondering what it would be like to finally meet. Prior to coming here, she’d always regarded him as a hero figure. She never would have anticipated she would feel the coolness of fear sliding down her stomach, as she did now.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
She reached into her mana pool and drew in an abundance of Dark magic, but no more than enough to catch their attention, and pushed it towards her shield, ensuring it was fully alert.
“The pleasure is all mine, Your Grace,” Barrett said, offering a bow of his own.
Velaya stood with her hands clasped in front of her. From the outside, no one would suspect the war that was raging within her. Her mind was begging her to turn and flee, but she employed every ounce of her learned court protocols to remain with her feet planted just inside the door.
“Miss Rosemore, or simply Velaya, is more fitting for me here,” she challenged, keeping her tone as light as possible and offered him a smile. She didn’t miss the slight tightening around his eye or the twitch of Ena’s lip.
“You must excuse me for intruding on your lesson,” he continued, seemingly unphased. “The Headmistress and I had an urgent matter to discuss.”
“Of course,” Velaya said, then turned to Archmagus Ena. “Would it be best if we postpone it until after the winter break?”
“That won’t be necessary,” Barrett answered for her. “She will be here all Yuletide. You won’t need to postpone any of your lessons. Isn’t that right, Ena?” He turned to look at her and no one in the room missed the threat hidden beneath the politeness.
Ena offered him a tight smile. “Yes, I will be here.”
“Archmagus,” Velaya said coldly, and they turned to look at her in surprise. “She should be addressed as Archmagus or Headmistress. You may no longer wear the Tides but the respect of her position and the rules of the Tower demand that she be addressed as such.”
She was staring at Barrett as she said it, but heard the quiet intake of breath from Ena. Barrett did not bother to hide his narrowed eyes, or the downturn of his lips.
“You are correct, of course, and clearly well studied in the protocols of the Tower,” Barrett said, offering her a slight nod. “However, we’ve known each other for over a century. I would like to think that our illustrious history together would afford us some manner of informality - even here.”
Velaya swallowed before Archmagus Ena cut in. “Miss Rosemore, we will resume this lesson later in the week. There is much for the Sentinel and I to discuss. You are dism-.”
“Not so fast,” Barrett cut her off, holding up his hand. “There’s no reason for you to cut this lesson because of me.” He waved his hand in the air and a large wingback chair, identical to the one Ena sat on, appeared at the side of her desk. He sat. “Pay me no heed. I have travelled far and could use a reprieve for a few moments.”
Barrett did not take his eyes off of Velaya and sat with his hands folded politely in his lap, watching her expectantly. She hesitated and cast her eyes over to Archmagus Ena, unsure of what she should do.
Ena’s voice was firm, as she stood and rounded the desk to stand before it, turning her back to Barrett and facing her. “Very well, Miss Rosemore - we shall continue where we left off.”
Panic flooded through her. Ena didn’t really expect her to continue did she? They had been working on expelling three schools of magic at the same time - a clear sign of her being an Omnimage. Something they had both agreed would remain quiet.
“As you’re aware,” Ena continued, “teleporting is an advanced form of Mage-only magic that relies on you pulling in all four schools of magic. With this mag-”
“You’ve studied this before?” Barrett cut her off again.
“We had just begun, but yes,” the Headmistress said, still facing Velaya and giving nothing away.
“That is not taught until the third year, and yet you already have started? Perhaps, Miss Rosemore, you could tell me what the theory is then?” Barrett pushed.
Ena’s eyes were locked on hers, but Velaya turned to address Barrett. “A Mage is capable of teleporting themselves or providing teleportals to others. Travelling short distances is simple enough but to travel over many miles or large bodies of water, the use of Gateways can be employed to help amplify the spellpower.”
“That is common knowledge,” Barrett said. He waved his hand. “How exactly does a Mage do it? What school of magic do they use?”
Velaya knew what game he was playing. He didn’t for one second believe that Ena had been teaching her this and was hoping to catch them in the lie. “Perhaps it’s best I show you?” she offered.
With Ena’s back to Barrett, she didn’t need to hide the way her eyes widened or the concern that flashed quickly over her face.
Only Mages, who had access to the four schools of magic, could draw them all in and let them overtake their bodies, allowing them to reappear elsewhere. As long as she let the magic build within her, as opposed to expelling it, there was no way for Barrett to know she was an Omnimage.
Velaya didn’t wait for a response and reached into her mana pool and pulled. The magic flowed within her and she allowed it to grow - taking over her body. When she was certain she’d let enough into her system, she cast her mind out to the space behind Ena’s desk. In a flash of blue light, she reappeared behind it a second later.
“Impressive,” Barrett said, smiling as he turned his head to look at her. “And at only sixteen.”
“I’ll be seventeen shortly,” Velaya said, trying not to stumble at her sudden disorientating use of magic, “and I’ve an exceptional instructor.”
“Yes, I do wonder what the two of you will be capable of,” he said softly.
Velaya felt the chill in the room as she placed her hand on the Headmistress’s desk and walked back around it to stand beside her.
Ena’s eyes searched her up and down. “Your Physical magic was a bit slow on the pull,” she instructed. “You’ll want to ensure you draw all four schools equally. Being able to teleport quickly is a learned skill. In the meantime, I’d like you to focus on pulling them in together slowly. Focus your attention on the accuracy and at our next lesson we can work on increasing the speed.” She turned to face Barrett. “Have you rested enough for us to continue our conversation? I’d imagine Miss Rosemore would like to begin her Winter break.”
Barrett’s smile did not reach his eyes. “Yes indeed. It was a pleasure to meet you Miss Rosemore. I do look forward to seeing you again.”
Velaya offered him another bow as Ena moved towards the door to open it for her.
“I shall send word of when our next lesson will take place. Keep up your studies,” she said.
“Yes madam.”
When Velaya walked through the threshold, Archmagus Ena gently brushed against her as she closed the door after her.
She made it down three flights of stairs before her knees gave out and she collapsed onto a landing. With shaking hands, she reached into her pocket and found the small mana potion that Ena had deposited there. She quickly popped off the cork and drank its entire contents in one swift swig.
If the meeting with Barrett had been a disaster, at least the first time she had ever teleported was a success.