The rain is getting pretty serious outside, and I can feel the wind and water spirits having a jolly of a time.

This place is known for its changeable weather.

It reminds me, I wonder if the Sage of Water, Miranda, is still around the coast here? She never had a tower like some of us, preferring to ply the coasts in her little boat. Mad cow.

Kaede and Kali left somewhere. I wonder what they were up to?

Kiku, meanwhile, is pacing backwards and forwards, running a rut in the floor, like a husband worrying over their wife’s first pregnancy.

Violet is staring at her and getting an eye twitch.

"Mmm... Kiku... you might want to sit down." I say.

Kiku suddenly stomps over to me, and is in my face.

"How can you not care about Nii!!!" She exclaims, covering me in spittle.

Gross. I flick her forehead. She recoils and cries out.

I just give her a flat look as she glares.

"You idiot sword-brain. Of course, I care. But right now, panicking will do nothing. We must trust in Rishya."

The light coming from her was so intense that I almost vomited. It was so much that it started to suppress even my ancient thunder spirit. I dragged Kiku out as well. Too much positive light energy is just as much anathema to life as the Void, and our job as supplementary nurses was over at that point.

But considering the state of the boy and the princess, I guess it was the minimum required.

Kiku sighs.

"Um... sorry, Seria. I'm always snapping at you."

I snort, and pat her shoulder briefly.

"Following the usual pattern, next you'll be questioning why I'm forgiving you as usual." I chortle.

She looks morose and gives me a wry smile.

Violet sidles up to us, and her hand lands on Kiku's shoulder like a claw, giving her a start.

"Oi, sapling. I'm giving you a lesson. This way. Now."

"Eh wot? B-but!? Waiiiiittttt!"

She is literally dragged away, making me laugh.

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Violet is evidently trying to distract her.

Well... now would probably be a good time for a lesson in any case. The inn is dead; and given the rain, will probably stay that way for a while.

I pull out my spectacles and notes again and start some more scribing. Half an hour passes without me really even thinking about it, just copying notes by rote from memory that I've taught students a dozen times.

Hah... look at me... even I'm working for the boy's benefit.

I stare at the rain.

I rub my nose and balance my quill there briefly. I smile wryly to myself.

What a hypocrite I am. I swore. I swore three years ago.

Never again.

I can't forget the day I had to kill Alice. It was a day like this.

She was such a strange girl. Her mother brought her to me. She had survived being hit by lightning, so her entire village swore she must have been blessed by Kinah himself.

Honestly, though, I could see the fear in the mothers’ eyes. She was relieved when I accepted to take Alice away. Alice herself said nothing and didn't object. That should have been a sign.

Blonde, spindly and slender, a little malnourished, with dark blue eyes concealed by a long fringe. Almost generic. But she had the highest thunder affinity ever. I tested her five times.

It was even way higher than mine, off the regular scale of recording, nearly twenty quarts, almost lending credence to the idea she might have had the first blessing of Kinah in many centuries.

And meek. Eager to please. Reminding me of my own young self.

I truly thought I had found the next Sage.

It made me a little sad, thinking my time was clearly coming to an end. But I then realised, with a start, that I had been alive for nearly two hundred years. It hadn't sunk in until then.

The problem with unlimited potential is always, always, hubris, however.

I was so distracted by finally having a brilliant student that I was slow to realise her corruption.

Did I ever check why? Why she might have been outside in a storm in a place able to get hit by lightning? Why she looked so malnourished when she first arrived? I didn’t.

A day came where she snapped.

She never left the tower, but I could sense it. Thunder strong enough to tear heaven asunder.

I don't think anyone else in the country ever figured out why the village of Dewtonn, population 546, literally vaporised one stormy night, wiped from the map.

I think the official record says something about a forest fire. Which, indeed, also happened.

I did it with a heavy heart.

But a Sage has to be detached, a symbol of balance, learning, preservation. A mass murderer with unlimited strength and a mind for vengeance against some perceived wrong in her past is not someone I could, in good conscience, pass the crest to.

So, I killed her. The one I had started to consider my daughter.

I thrust my hand into her bosom, chanting the dispelling mantra, and crushed her spirit dead.

I will never forget the look of hate in her eyes as she vomited blood all over me. That look stayed until the light faded from them. The only one who had ever supported her… had also betrayed her.

So, I swore to myself. Never again. No more students. No more imbuements. This power is something that should die with me.

Such a hypocrite.

Suddenly, Rishya staggers down the stairs, almost falling over, breaking my reminiscence.

I leap up and stop her collapsing.

"Ahh...? Why did you do yuuuur hair in eighttt tailzz, Serrrii... hic! I did it! I'm fucking brirrianttt, aren't I, Micaaarlll..." she slurs.

She belches delightfully. The poor girl... she had to drink all the liquor?

I ease her away from the stairs. She face-plants the nearest table, and immediately starts snoring.

I let out a sigh of relief, and pat the drunk on the shoulder, making her mumble about Aria.

Another blonde prodigy, this one is. Funny how these things happen.

But you never hear of light mages going on a rampage. Probably because the light spirits only help those with true intentions of love and kindness.

I sit back down to scribe whilst keeping an eye on her.

Hmmm... doesn't this mean the boy and the princess are now alone together?

Well... no matter. What happens, happens.