Marvin scowled at the young man in front of him while he parsed the information he had just been given.
“I’m glad my life is such a joke to you,” the older man said, noting Trey’s smirk, “but could we please discuss why there is a deranged mage on campus who intends to kill me?”
“She actually seems pretty normal,” Trey said, “but I don’t know why she wants to kill you. I didn’t dig that deep.”
“You didn’t dig that deep?!” Marvin once again threw his hands in the air. “What’s the point of smuggling a mind mage onto campus if he’s not going to protect you from a literal assassination plot?”
“You’re the one that told me to be careful with my magic,” Trey countered. “Besides, she’s not why we are here. We should remain focused on our true purpose.” The young man had finally suppressed his smirk, all the better to torment his cohort.
“No!” Marvin exclaimed. “We are figuring out why this girl wants me dead.”
“I guess I could look more into it,” Trey offered, “but I would want something in return.”
“Ha!” Marvin snorted. “Are you really turning this into a negotiation?”
“I want fire magic lessons,” Trey requested confidently.
“I taught you how to do fire magic,” Marvin argued.
“You’re not a fire mage,” Trey said. “I want to learn from a fire mage.”
“You just want to spend some private time with Bree,” Marvin said, eyeing him suspiciously.
Trey merely shrugged. “Isn't it convenient that she is already in the secret circle?”
“She is NOT in the secret circle,” Marvin insisted firmly. “She doesn’t know you are a mage. She doesn’t know about Skye. We can’t reveal any more to her.”
“That will be kind of hard to do if she’s teaching me fire magic,” Trey said.
“Which is why she won’t be teaching you fire magic,” Marvin said, standing his ground.
“It’s probably for the best,” Trey said. “We wouldn’t want anything to distract us from our mission.”
Marvin shook his head. “I can’t believe I’m bargaining with my life with an eighteen-year-old.”
“I learned everything from you, old man.”
Marvin frowned and stared daggers at his young partner in crime. “What if we ask Bree for private lessons in fire magic techniques? We could claim that you are interested from the perspective of a null guardian. You could ask questions, even go through the motions, but not do any magic.”
“I don’t think that’s going to work,” Trey said with an unconvinced expression. “She doesn’t look stupid.”
“Do you want your magic lessons or not?” Marvin challenged.
“Magic lessons without actual magic?”
“Take it or leave it,” the dark mage said resolutely.
“... Fine.”
“I’ll coordinate with Bree,” Marvin assured him. “In the meantime, you need to figure out what’s going on in this girl’s head.”
“That’s my specialty,” Trey remarked with a confident smile.
“What type of mage is she?” inquired Marvin.
“I’m fairly certain she’s a light mage,” Trey said. “She used her magic to catch me when we were running. I ended up having to do ten extra laps because she cheated.”
“I would expect nothing less of someone who wishes to kill me,” Marvin replied wryly. He glanced at the young man. “You look exhausted. Let me get off your bed.” The dark magic teacher vacated the couch and retired to his room.
Trey’s eyes scanned the living quarters, appreciating the luxurious feel of the room he stood in. No expense was wasted on the faculty suite, where magic and comfort intertwined seamlessly. He had entered the suite through a polished wooden door, which was accessible from a public corridor on the fourth floor of the Arcane Citadel.
The front door opened into a spacious office, where the walls were lined with shelves filled with ancient tomes and peculiar artifacts. In the occasional gaps between the shelves hung portraits of notable faculty members, their gazes wise and watchful. A grand oak desk stood as the focal point, positioned deliberately to face the door. It was topped with a disarray of parchment, quills, and glowing crystal inkwells. A plush armchair upholstered in rich forest green fabric promised to lull future occupants into an afternoon nap, while two smaller chairs sat tucked away on the other side of the desk, ready for visitors. Enchanted lanterns hung from the ceiling, casting a warm, inviting glow throughout the room.
In a nook behind the office, an inconspicuous door led into a more private living room, where Marvin had left Trey. The room was cozy and intimate, adorned with a plush sofa, a rocking chair, and a decorative coffee table. In one corner stood a sturdy wood-burning stove; its cast-iron surface was polished to a gleam, though its interior lay dark and cold for the moment. A neat stack of seasoned logs rested beside it, promising warmth when the chill of the season crept in.
Just off from the living room, the bedroom awaited – a serene sanctuary where Marvin could escape the pressures of teaching and administration. The bedroom was a retreat, with gentle colors and soft textiles creating an atmosphere of tranquility. Adjacent to the bedroom entrance, a doorway led to the bathroom, which seamlessly blended elegance with functionality. Polished granite tiles lined the floor, and a sleek clawfoot bathtub took center stage, promising rejuvenation after long days. The Arcane Citadel afforded the luxury of running hot water, transforming simple hygienic tasks into pleasant dalliances.
After washing his face in a pristine porcelain sink, Trey returned to the main room, settling on the sofa and quickly surrendering to his fatigue.
***
Trey was used to doing push-ups, but he was not used to doing push-ups while fully armored. The weight of his plate armor made him feel like he was moving at a fraction of his normal speed. He struggled to complete the twenty required before he could rest, then looked at the row of similarly armored classmates doing the same.
When he had shown up to physical training, he had been confused when Frye had ordered them to suit up. The reasoning proffered had been sound, but Trey couldn’t help but wonder if the instructor had simply woken up on the wrong side of the bed.
Frye whistled to get everyone’s attention. “Stand up and form a line.” With the three years of guardians in attendance, around thirty of them stood at the ready, bracing for whatever challenges lay ahead.“I want everyone to jog five laps around the perimeter of the training field. No breaks, no slack!”
The first lap was not particularly difficult for Trey, but it wasn’t long before the full weight of the armor began taking its toll on him. His legs began to ache under the burden, and as he pushed forward, the air around him seemed to grow thicker and more stifling. With each step, he felt the heavy metal pressing down on him – not just on his knees, but on his hips and shoulders. He endured through the fifth lap, noticing he was one of the first to finish in his class, but had still lagged behind many of the squires.
He only earned a small breather before Frye was replaced by a sour-faced Karl. “Glad everyone is already in armor,” Karl called out. “We can immediately begin weapons training.”
Several trainees let out groans, which were met with a scowl from Karl. “We will be working on our halberd skills today," he announced. "Everyone grab a halberd and a partner."
There was a large stack of long weapons near the small wooden office. Nora quickly caught up to Trey as he trudged over to pick out a weapon. "I hope you suck at fighting,” she said, “because you're my partner today."
"Actually, I’ve trained with halberds since I was kid," Trey replied. "You are in for a world of pain."
"Really?!" Nora asked, cocking an eyebrow.
Trey couldn't keep a straight face. "Nah, I've never held a halberd in my life." The blonde gave him a playful shove.
They arrived at the office and he plucked a weapon from the pile, noticing how heavy the long handle made the halberd feel. To him, It felt like most of the weight was at the front tip, which had a large metal ax attached to the end.
“Listen up!” Karl shouted at the returning students. “I’m going to teach you the fundamentals of fighting with a halberd, and you can be assured that I will not be repeating myself.”
The weapons instructor hefted his own halberd in front of him, planting the butt of it in the ground. “The first thing that you’ll notice is that the halberd’s weight is front-loaded, which allows for powerful strikes, but requires proper technique to maintain balance and control. To wield this weapon, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart for stability. Keep your knees slightly bent and maintain a low center of gravity to enhance mobility. Use an overhand grip on the top of the handle and your dominant hand positioned about halfway down. This allows for better leverage and control while executing different techniques.”
Trey didn’t particularly like Karl, but he had to admit that he was knowledgeable. “You should familiarize yourself with the different parts of the weapon,” the instructor continued. “There’s the blade for cutting, the spear tip for thrusting, and the hook for grappling. Each part serves a specific purpose in combat.”
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
Karl scanned the crowd, daring anyone to divert their attention from him. “Learn to utilize the blade's sharp edge to deliver strong, sweeping cuts. Aim for angles that unleash maximum force, targeting the opponent's limbs or head. The spear tip is excellent for thrusting attacks. Use quick jabs to maintain distance and catch your opponent off guard. Finally, the back hook can be used to entangle an opponent’s weapon or limbs. Practice using it to control your opponent's movement and create openings for strikes.”
The weapons master moved on to demonstrating different techniques, calling special attention to his expert footwork. Then he ordered the class to split and begin sparring.
Trey and Nora picked a spot, and they both set their weapons in the dirt while they adjusted their armor. They took their weapons up, and Trey started by trying to test Nora’s reach with a thrusting attack. The blonde moved swiftly out of his range and then countered with a powerful swing. Trey barely managed to dodge the blow, but noticed Nora had overextended. He took the opportunity and swiped her feet out from underneath.
The blonde warrior quickly rose with a frustrated grunt, glancing over at Trey with a scowl on her face. “What are you smiling at?”
“I was just thinking that this isn’t usually how I sweep a pretty girl off her feet.”
“You’re lucky these weapons are blunted,” she responded, a smirk returning to her face. “I won’t be able to cut through that thick head of yours.”
“Which thick head are you referring to?” Trey teased. “I might have a preference about where you aim that thing.”
The two continued their sparring, exchanging both halberd strikes and playful banter. In stark contrast to the push-ups and running, Trey barely noticed the time pass. Karl eventually gathered the class back together and proceeded to demonstrate the proper techniques for caring for their weapons. Once they were all released, Trey returned to Marvin's suite to clean up, then ate lunch in the cafeteria. After finishing his meal, he led Nora to their History of Magic class.
Trey spotted Skye and immediately took a seat beside her. Skye glanced over, her expression shifting to a frown as the gorgeously stacked blonde sat on the other side of Trey. “Who’s this?” she asked, eyeing the newcomer.
“I’m Nora,” the guardian woman introduced herself with a confident smile, “the girl who’s been testing out Trey’s endurance.”
Skye’s cheeks flushed slightly at her words.
“Don’t say it like that,” Trey chided.
“What?” Nora countered. “I beat you in a race. That means I can say it however I want.”
“This is Skye,” Trey said. “We grew up together, and she is very important to me. I don’t want to see her disrespected.”
Nora’s playful demeanor sobered up. “Understood. Skye, I apologize for my teasing. I wouldn’t want us to get off on the wrong foot.”
“That’s okay,” Skye replied. “You got Trey to admit out loud that I’m ‘very important’ to him. You can stick around.”
An elderly elven man strode into the classroom, catching the students off-guard with a mellifluous voice that emanated from his wrinkled mouth. "Greetings, students. I'm Professor Huul, your History of Magic teacher."
The professor had striking facial features that were typical of elves, the most prominent of which were high cheekbones and pointed ears. Long, dark hair flowed over his shoulders and down his back, interwoven with delicate strands of silver. His clothing was simple yet elegant: a silky, silver robe with gold accents.
“Together,” he said, “we will embark on a profound journey through the annals of magical history. Magic is not merely a tool; it is a living history that tells the tales of our ancestors – their struggles, their triumphs – and the very essence of existence itself.”
He took a moment, allowing the weight of his words to settle upon his students. “You see, magic is the unseen thread that connects us across time. Each spell cast – each incantation uttered – resonates with the echoes of those who came before us, all the way back to the Archmage himself. Yes, we will begin with the legend of the Archmage and trace the evolution of magic throughout history, to the modern schools of magic practiced today. I'm thrilled to announce that, starting this year, the Burning Covenant has been integrated into our curriculum.”
The audience rumbled at the mention of the Burning Covenant, which had been shrouded in societal taboo and controversy for the past two decades. The whispers exchanged among the students reflected their curiosity and excitement.
“There’s no time to waste!” the elf exclaimed. “Let’s dive right in.The foundation of magic is believed to have come from a primordial being known as the Archmage. He is believed to have been a powerful soul mage, with the ability to grant affinities to those he deemed worthy…”
“So, what’s your favorite food?” Nora asked Trey – quietly, and directly into his ear.
“Seriously?” Trey responded. “You barely made it past the intro.”
“I love a good steak,” the girl continued, unfazed, “grilled over an open fire, but my true weakness is probably chocolate. My life’s goal is to travel across Arestia, maybe beyond, to find the perfect conching process.”
“Conching?”
“That’s the process used to make chocolate so silky and smooth,” she explained. “Of course, the fat content of the dairy that is used is also important.”
For the rest of the class period, Trey’s attention was split between listening to a lecture on magic history and an explanation about different types of chocolate-making techniques. In spite of Professor Huul’s dulcet tones and obvious enthusiasm for the subject matter, Trey found it hard to ignore his younger, blonder, and more feminine competition.
Skye found it hard to ignore his difficulty ignoring Nora.
***
Trey managed to slip into a seat just as the teacher began the artificing class. Finding the right place had proven more challenging than he’d anticipated, as the room was situated in a building he was not familiar with. Goliam’s Sanctum was located on the other side of the Elspy, a discovery he had made almost too late.
A short man – short enough to be mistaken for a tall dwarf despite being human – stood at the head of the class. “This is the Introduction to Artificing. If that doesn’t sound familiar, you are in the wrong place.” He glanced around, seeing if he’d prompted anyone to make the walk of shame.
“This course will be taught by me, Professor Leek, and I will be guiding you through the foundational principles of artificing. You can anticipate engaging theoretical lectures, expert demonstrations, and plenty of hands-on practice. I believe we have a few null guardians attending today. I welcome your presence and your participation.”
Trey glanced around, recognizing Braun from his guardian class. The guardian initiate also spotted Trey and shifted seats. “Hey,” he said, “you’ve been hanging out with that hot blonde, right?”
Trey only nodded in acknowledgment, trying to pay attention as Professor Leek continued.
“You’re a lucky dude,” Braun said. “She’s sexy. Are you hittin’ that yet?”
It was all Trey could do to keep a frown off his face. “We are just getting to know each other,” he answered curtly.
Braun shrugged. “Ah, well, don’t take too long. Some of the other guys might want to give it a shot, you know?”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Trey responded, hoping to end the conversation. He had already spent the previous class distracted by a neighbor, and his current neighbor lacked the very allure he’d been quick to point out about the chocolate-loving blonde.
“... A muffling candle is adequately complex,” Professor Leek said, “involving several stages of creation, but is easy enough to be our first project. Today, I will explain the theory and the crafting techniques behind each stage. Tomorrow, I will demonstrate how to make it in front of the class, and the following day, you will begin your own journey.”
***
After dinner, Trey returned to the faculty suite, where he found Marvin studying in his office. Immediately upon seeing the young man enter, the dark mage set down his book and looked expectantly at his novice spy. “Please tell me you have more sufficient intelligence than yesterday.”
“I did learn more,” Trey said. “I believe she wants revenge.”
“Revenge?!” Marvin scoffed loudly. “For what?”
“You killed her father,” Trey stated.
“Who’s her father?” the older man asked.
Trey only shrugged in response.
Marvin’s face scrunched in confusion. “I haven’t killed anyone in a long time.”
“Marvin, I literally saw you massacre a room of dwarves a couple days ago.”
“Is she a dwarf?” the dark mage asked pointedly.
“No.”
“Then I didn’t kill her father,” stated Marvin, as if the case were closed. “And, might I remind you that you killed half the dwarves?”
“You took care of the guard in the hallway,” Trey countered, “which means you killed the majority of them.”
The dark mage ignored the boy’s sass. “We need more information, and we have to protect her.”
“Protect her?” Trey questioned.
Marvin sighed. “Yes. If she gets discovered, guess what’s the first thing the headmaster will do? He will check to see if any other mages are hiding amongst the ranks of the null guardians. I’m surprised it hasn’t happened already. We can’t risk our whole operation on her amateur assassination attempt. I need you to get close to her.”
“I’ll talk to her every day,” Trey offered.
“More than that,” Marvin said thoughtfully.
At that moment, a knock sounded on the door, prompting Marvin to leave his desk and check who might be visiting him. “Ah! Jeffers, come in.”
The null guardian captain filed in, glancing briefly at Trey.
“Professor Kalo,” he began, “I want to give you an update on the housing situation. We have found a suitable place for Trey to stay, but unfortunately, it will take several more days to clear out. There’s years worth of junk that has been packed into there.”
Marvin flashed Trey a brief, scheming smile. “How disappointing,” he remarked. “I hope we can find a solution so you won’t have to go back on your promise.”
“Yes,” Jeffers quickly answered. “Trey is welcome to stay in my faculty suite for the time being.”
“Nonsense,” Marvin retorted. “Trey needs to be with his other null guardians. Isn’t the new girl in her room all by herself?”
Jeffers frowned. “I don’t necessarily approve of the direction this conversation is going.”
“It seems obvious to me,” the dark mage said. “Trey needs a place to stay, and there’s a perfectly open spot.”
“Out of the question,” Jeffers argued. “I can’t pair opposite genders as roommates.”
“It certainly seems to be the most rational solution,” Marvin said. “I’m sure you’re capable of handling all the gritty details.”
“That would be very unconventional, Professor Kalo,” the guardian leader said. “I simply cannot do that.”
“Sure you can!” Professor Kalo exclaimed. “Are you not in charge of the null guardians?”
“Not only would it be poor optics,” Jeffers insisted, “but I would not want to put Trey and Nora together in an uncomfortable situation.”
“Don’t worry about Trey,” Marvin said, trying to add a hint of comfort to his voice. “He will keep it in his pants.”
“He most certainly will not!” Jeffers insisted. “You have not seen his potential roommate. You have not seen the two of them together. They’re insufferable.”
“Trey,” the dark mage called on the boy. “Promise Jeffers you won’t fuck your roommate.”
“Don’t you dare, Trey,” Jeffers warned. “I don’t want to make a dishonest man out of you.”
Marvin frowned at the challenge to his authority. “I expect Trey to be out of my suite and in that room by tomorrow night,” he said firmly.
Jeffers groaned. “I’m not promising anything, but I will ask Nora if she has any reservations. If I sense even the slightest hesitation from her, I’m shutting this idea down faster than a light spell.”
“Thank you for being so cooperative, Jeffers,” Marvin said with a pleasant smile. “Is there anything else I can do for you?”
Jeffers only mumbled inaudible curses as he left the office.
As the door slammed behind him, Marvin turned to Trey. “There you have it. Maybe sharing a room with a murderer will sufficiently motivate you.”
“Would-be murderer,” Trey said.
Marvin rolled his eyes. “Seduce her if you must, but don’t fall in love. We will have to get rid of her at some point.”
Trey almost laughed at the absurdity. “While protecting her, of course.”
“Yes,” Marvin stated, not the least bit bothered by the double-standard. “We protect her until we find a way to remove her.”
Trey shook his head at the old man, then ventured further into the suite, eager to take a refreshing bath and distract himself from everything weighing on his mind.