“I need some help with a student of mine,” Marvin said. “I need to know her opinion of me.”
“Are you sure that’s ethical?” Trey asked.
“Ethical?!” Marvin blurted out, almost in amusement. “Since when did we care about ethics? And I’m not doing anything nefarious. I’m trying to help her.”
“I care about ethics,” Trey countered, “or at least I try to.”
“Oh, rancid unicorn piss!” Marvin exclaimed. “Just listen! Your precious ethics won’t be despoiled. I had an encounter many years ago with two very powerful mages. The mages did not survive that encounter, and now their child is in my class. I would like to know if they harbor any resentment toward me.”
“This sounds very familiar,” Trey interjected.
“Hush,” Marvin chided. “I’ve already confirmed Nora’s father is alive.”
“You’re going to need to tell me more,” Trey said.
“Why?” Marvin snapped.
“You’re asking me for a favor, Marvin,” Trey responded. “It’s going to cost you a few secrets.”
“I’m regretting more and more teaching you how to be an asshole,” Marvin said with a frown. “Very well, have a seat.”
Trey was surprised the old man caved so quickly. He eagerly pulled up a chair and sat across the desk from the dark mage teacher.
Marvin took a deep breath and began his tale. “Levi and Merida Verdant were among Grimmault’s most formidable supporters. Levi was a fire mage, and wife, Merida, was a dark mage. Their individual skills were impressive, but it was their unmatched teamwork and seamless coordination that made them a truly fearsome duo. They earned a reputation for exceptional cruelty, and even the mere mention of the Verdant name still sends chills down people's spines.”
“Similar to Skye’s parents, then?” Trey asked.
Marvin gave the young man a pained look. “No, Skye’s parents have already been forgotten. The Verdants will live on in infamy for their atrocities. You can be banished from the Coppergrove Enclave – or what’s left of the enclave – merely for mentioning them. I had no desire to recount their heinous acts; I’ll only speak of my journey.”
Trey leaned forward, already entranced by the dark mage’s story.
“After leaving Windrake,” Marvin continued, “I spent a year tracking them down, piecing together whispers and following faint trails. I finally caught them in the town of Voloma. The townsfolk had been expecting the arrival of a pair of light mages, accompanied by a squadron of null guardians, drawn by rumors of the Verdants lurking in the area. However, fate had thwarted their plans; the promised defenders had fallen victim to an ambush elsewhere and never made it to Voloma. It was just me against them, which even I knew were terrible odds.”
Marvin’s face was grim as he began recounting the battle. “After I confronted them, Levi launched a full-frontal assault, unleashing a torrent of fire magic. He put on quite the spectacle, but fire mages have never intimidated me. It was Merida I was wary of, especially since she was conspicuously absent from the fight. Having tracked them for a year, I knew exactly where she was lurking – sneaking behind me, ready to deliver a lethal strike. I noticed slight movements in Levi’s stance as he prepared to dodge whatever dark spells his wife was going to throw at my back. Anticipating his movements, I guessed which direction he would dodge and caught him off guard, ensnaring him in my own magic. Once he was trapped in my Soulbinder’s Grasp, I knew that was the end of Levi Verdant.”
“What about Merida?” Trey asked eagerly.
Marvin grunted. “I’m telling it, so let me tell it. Levi, feeling his life force slipping away, channeled his remaining energy into a desperate barrage of fire, aiming to provide his wife with a chance to overwhelm me. Merida went into a hysterical, uncontrollable rage as she watched her husband die. She became a very dangerous tempest of dark magic, charging forward and unleashing every spell she knew. I was on the defensive for quite a while, but I remembered teaching Merida at Windrake. I knew the potency of her raw magic, but I also knew about her control issues. Her weaknesses were very similar to your own, Trey.”
“Are you turning this into a lesson?” Trey asked.
“Yes I am,” Marvin responded firmly. “If you are going to make me tell the whole story, then you will learn something from it.”
Trey rolled his eyes, but did not want to deter Marvin from finishing the tale.
“I could sense her wavering,” the old man said, “the cracks in her composure beginning to show. She was losing herself in the frenzy; I knew it was only a matter of time until she made a mistake. Finally, after expending massive amounts of energy, she cast a costly Phantom Legion spell, giving me an opening. I summoned a Darkveil and threw a necrotic dagger, striking her lower torso.”
“You threw a dagger?” Trey asked skeptically.
“Yes, a dagger,” Marvin repeated. “The most effective mages are both wise and humble enough to understand just how useful artifacts and even mundane implements can be. It baffles and infuriates me how many arrogant fools know all about null guardians, and yet still insist that spells and mana must define their approach to… well, to practically everything.”
Trey considered making a coy observation about how infuriating it was to be a null guardian mage who couldn’t learn spells, but he decided to let the old man have his moment. “Did your attack work? Did the dagger end the fight?”
“No,” Marvin replied. “The poison on the necrotic dagger worked slowly, and her Phantom Legion spell was an absolute bitch to fight off. The battle continued to rage fiercely for nearly an hour, but eventually, I managed to wear her down enough to deliver the final blow – though not before we had ravaged most of the town in the process. I thought that was the end of the Verdants. It wasn't until I arrived in Windrake a couple of days ago that I learned they had a daughter. I caught sight of a talented fire and dark specter honing her skills on the campus grounds. Given her magical prowess, affinities, and striking resemblance, it was clear who she was.”
“Dana?” Trey speculated.
“Yes,” the dark mage confirmed. “From my interactions with her, it seems she’s deeply ashamed of her family’s legacy, but the situation is complicated. I killed her parents. I’m famous because I killed her parents.”
“You want me to figure out how she feels about you?” Trey asked.
“Essentially,” Marvin replied, nodding his head. “I need to know how to make her feel comfortable around me. Should I avoid the topic altogether? Do I address it up front? Is offering an apology the right move? She’s a gifted young mage, and I want to help her move beyond the dark shadow cast by her parents. Society has punished her mercilessly for their sins.”
“Too bad you didn’t adopt her, too,” Trey said with an undertone of spite. “Then she wouldn’t have even known who her parents were.”
Marvin frowned at the boy’s remark. “What’s that supposed to mean?” he protested. “I’ve raised you to forge your own identity and become who you truly want to be. You are the master of your own fate.”
“I would still like to know more about my parents,” Trey replied coldly. “I know Skye feels the same way.”
The dark mage grunted. A thoughtful, but worried expression crossed his face. “I both hope and fear that you’ll understand soon enough,” he said.
Trey let a disgruntled sigh escape from his mouth. “I’ll figure out what’s going through Dana’s mind,” he said, even though he was sorely tempted to punish Marvin’s turbidity.
“I appreciate that, Trey,” Marvin said sincerely, “and I’m glad you’re concerned about ethics. That wasn’t a luxury I always had, but maybe you’ll have a chance to walk a better path.”
“Anything else?” the young man asked.
“Keep working on this Nora girl, too,” Marvin requested. “Just because you got the motive wrong doesn’t mean there isn’t danger there.”
Trey nodded, then took his leave. He headed to the library, located in the Elspy, where he was determined to research something that had caught his attention in the Introduction to Magic class. After scanning through several books, he decided to call it a night and headed back to his new room.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
Nora was waiting for him. “What did Professor Kalo want?” she asked.
“I guess there’s not a lot of null guardians attending his dark magic class,” Trey answered. “He’s trying to recruit students. Poor guy.”
“Trey,” Nora said in a serious tone, “be careful around Professor Kalo. He has a mysterious past, and I don’t know why he’s chosen now to come back to teach at Windrake, but I have a bad feeling about it.”
“If I didn’t know better,” Trey teased, “I would think that you care about me. He seems harmless… well, he is a bit of a cranky asshole.”
“Dark mages can be deceiving,” Nora warned, but then her cautionary demeanor evaporated into a smile. “Do you want to see my new puppy?”
“You didn’t!” Trey exclaimed.
“You’re right,” Nora said with a hearty laugh. “I didn’t – but you should have seen the look on your face.”
“You’re going cause me more stress than all my classes combined.”
“Maybe,” she replied, “but it will be worth it.”
There was a long, silent pause before Nora bit her lip. “So… your bed or my bed?”
Trey pursed his lips. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Nora.”
“What are you talking about? It’s a fantastic idea. I’ve seen the way you look at me; I know you want to. Get over here and paint my insides white.” She discarded her shirt as she spoke, revealing a pair of very tantalizing breasts.
“I don’t think I’m ready,” he said.
“Ready?! You’re pitching a tent right now.”
Trey glanced down at the bulge in his trousers and frowned, wondering if he could use mind magic on himself. “I don’t want to break your heart, Nora,” he admitted.
The blonde stared at him with an incredulous expression, and then burst out laughing. “Break my heart?! You’re hilarious!”
She calmed down enough to look at Trey with a sly grin. “Honestly, I don’t even care about you with other girls. This is just for fun. You’re hot, I’m hot, and someone decided to make us roommates. Let’s just make the best of it – no broken hearts.”
Trey smiled weakly at her. “It’s not about other girls, Nora. I know things. It would be best if we remained platonic for now.”
“You know things?” Nora’s voice was teasing, but she had a skeptical look on her face. “Come on, Trey. I know you like girls. I know you’ve been sneaking looks at me all day. Don’t overthink this.”
“I’m sorry, Nora,” Trey said without budging.
Nora’s smile slowly faded and she began shaking her head in disbelief. “I guess I shaved down there for nothing.” She mixed playfulness and disappointment together expertly.
Trey groaned out his regret – though still not enough to make him change his mind. The conversation stalled, and the two reluctantly platonic roommates silently prepared for bed.
Their room featured enchanted sconces, much like those in the strategy room. It was symmetrically laid out, with matching pairs of beds, dressers, and desks occupying both sides. The washing and latrine areas were communal, a downgrade from the luxurious faculty suites in the Arcane Citadel.
When Trey returned from washing up, he found Nora already in bed, though it was clear she wasn’t asleep. He turned off the lights and climbed into his own bed, laying in silence as he stared at the dark ceiling, struggling to find sleep himself.
Suddenly, Nora’s voice sliced through the heavy darkness. “You sure know how to destroy a girl’s confidence.”
Trey sighed, got up, and shuffled across the room to her side. As his eyes adjusted to the dim light, he saw Nora lying there, her face etched predominantly with confusion, but also with some vulnerability. Leaning down, he pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. “I’ll make it up to you. I promise.”
Once he was settled back in his own bed, she spoke again, her voice missing its usual cheerful buoyancy. “I don’t understand, Trey.”
“I know,” he replied softly. “I both hope and fear that you’ll understand soon enough.” He realized he was echoing the exact words Marvin had shared with him just hours earlier – a reminder of the complexities they were all navigating.
***
Trey awoke the next morning, but remained motionless in his bed, dreading the awkwardness that awaited him when he finally got up.
“Hey, Trey,” a feminine voice called from across the room.
Trey squeezed his eyes shut tighter, silently insisting he was still asleep.
“I know you’re awake.”
Trey continued to play dead for a moment longer until a pillow suddenly hit him in the face. Groaning, he sat up and blinked at his roommate. “Good morning, Nora.”
The blonde girl wore a thoughtful expression as she regarded him. “I’m really sorry about last night, Trey,” she said earnestly. “I shouldn’t have pressured you like that. I honestly thought we were on the same page. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
He could see the sincerity in her eyes and felt a twist of guilt for avoiding the conversation. “It’s okay,” he replied. “I’m sorry for making it complicated. I don’t hold anything against you.”
Nora breathed a sigh of relief. “You know,” she said, “by rejecting me, I will only want you more. It’s girl logic.” A smirk formed on her face as she tested their relationship with some humor.
Trey raised an eyebrow. “What if that’s my master plan all along?” he responded, a playful grin spreading across his face.
“Won’t work on me,” Nora replied. “I don’t follow girl logic.”
“But you just said–”
“You’re so gullible, Trey,” Nora stated. “Come on, let’s get some breakfast before physical training.”
Just like that, a semblance of normality was re-established between the two of them.
***
Trey followed a line of guardians as they ascended the stairs leading to the tower overlooking Guardian’s Keep. Upon reaching the top, the small group promptly began their descent. Usually, Trey would have preferred going down rather than up, but with the weight of the armor strapped to his body, descending felt more difficult than climbing. His steps had to be more intentional to avoid toppling down the stairs.
His group of guardians reached the parapets and continued on their run around the top of the wall as the next group approached, ready to tackle the two hundred stairs spiraling up the tower. After completing several laps, they still had to descend four floors to join Karl for weapons training.
A grumpy Karl awaited them in the training grounds with a wooden rod in hand and a line of large swords laid out before him. “Everyone grab a claymore,” he announced. “One of you will be left without a sword and will instead have to train with this wooden rod, signifying that you are a loser.”
Trey quickly secured a sword, and not a moment too soon. Jakob hesitated longer than the rest and was left empty-handed. “That was too predictable,” Karl remarked with a frown, tossing the wooden staff at the boy, who barely caught it. “Now, let me show you how it’s done.”
He stepped forward, holding a claymore of his own. “Watch the grip,” he instructed. “You need to control the weapon with both hands for maximum stability.” He executed a powerful overhead swing, then transitioned into a low cut. His footwork was precise and deliberate. “Every move should be grounded, ensuring balance and power.”
Karl demonstrated a series of strikes and defensive maneuvers, consistently blending grace with strength. “Remember, every swing should flow into the next. This is not just a weapon; it’s an extension of yourself.”
The instructor explained the benefits of the large swords. “Claymores offer an advantageous reach with their long blades, and enough weight to strike through armor. You need considerable strength to wield it effectively, and you do sacrifice some agility, but in the hands of a trained null guardian, a claymore is a deadly weapon. In your hands? Probably just a glorified gardening tool. Pair up!”
Several trainees were eager to partner with Jakob. Trey noticed that Nora sought out Braun. Casting a glance over her shoulder, she checked to see if Trey was watching. Meanwhile, Damien was deliberately steering clear of him. Ultimately, he was paired with Marcus, a squire a couple of years older.
Marcus was clearly better trained, and Trey struggled to even score a hit on him. Luckily, the upperclassman guardian was moderately patient and gave him a couple of tips throughout the sparring session.
After weapons training, Trey cleaned up and headed to the cafeteria. He scanned the tables for his quarry. Not finding who he was looking for right away, he grabbed a plate and filled it with food. He walked down the cafeteria aisles trying to discreetly observe the occupants. Finally, he spotted her, seated alone in a quiet corner.
Before she could protest, he swiftly took a seat near her. The caramel-skinned beauty looked up, sweeping her dark hair aside as a frown crossed her face. “What are you doing?”
“I’m just checking to see if this spot is as good as it looks,” Trey replied with a playful smirk. “We might have to keep it our little secret.”
“Did someone dare you to come over here?”
“You caught me,” Trey teased. “I’m supposed to get a kiss.”
The girl snorted. “No, I recognize you. You came with Professor Kalo. Is he paying you to be nice to me?”
“That old man?” he replied. “He’s way too stingy. He would never shell out for that.”
A hint of a smile cracked on her face. “Just tell me what he wants you to do so we can go our separate ways.”
“What’s your name?”
“He already knows that,” she replied dismissively.
“I don’t care what he knows,” Trey insisted. “I would like us to become acquainted. My name is Trey, and I’m currently getting my ass kicked trying to become a null guardian.”
“Dana,” the girl stated, a hint of mischief in her eyes, “and rumor has it that anyone who sits beside me at lunch tends to vanish.”
“Nice to meet you, Dana,” Trey replied. “Such a shame I won’t be around for much longer.”
“I will miss our lovely chats,” Dana replied, then slipped back into silence. Trey took the hint and left her alone, keeping to himself as he ate his food. Dana entirely ignored him.
After finishing, he made the motion to rise from his seat, but hesitated, looking over at the mage. “Despite the rumors of my impending disappearance, I hope to see you around.”
“And why would you hope that?” she replied without even glancing up.
Trey sighed. “Because I want to be there when you figure it out.”
“Figure what out?” she asked with a scrunched-up face.
“That you’ll never be able to convince everybody that you’re not your parents or their past. Focus on those who give you a chance in the present. They’re the only ones who matter anyway.” Trey stood up and strode off, leaving the stunned girl behind.