Seventeen was deep in thought as he walked towards the headmaster's office.
(Oi, watch out for that pillar)
He moved aside to avoid the pillar, 'Prime, do I really need a co-worker?', he asked in his mind.
(To be honest. You do need someone to share your duties as a teacher and take over for you when you are absent on certain days)
"Hm. You are right.", Seventeen said as he knocked on the door to the headmaster's office. "Please enter.", the headmaster's voice came from inside. Seventeen opened the door and entered the room.
He saw Leonard Zephyrus sitting on his chair and looking tired. The headmaster smiled, "Hey there Seventeen."
"What happened to the energetic man in the entrance ceremony?", Seventeen asked with a raised eyebrow as he sat opposite Zephyrus. "Well, even though the captains came for the ceremony, it doesn't mean their squads are having a day off, and doing paperwork is a huge drag."
"I've only known you for a month headmaster but I already know one thing. Who made you a Cardinal in the first place?", Seventeen asked bluntly.
"Haha, you don't mince words. Do you Seventeen?"
Zephyrus sighed, "I wish I had a body like yours, one that doesn't age or get tired.", he is the only one in this world who knows what Seventeen truly is.
He still remembers that day a month ago.
*******
It was a normal day for Zephyrus. The evaluation for the entrance exam was almost over and he met a new instructor candidate.
He entered the office and crashed into his chair. He took out a pipe and started smoking when a sheet of paper caught his eye.
He picked it up and saw it was just the list of appointments he had for that day. A name on the list caught his eye. He called his secretary via a sound stone. Sound stones occur in pairs. When magia is given to one stone, the other glows and emits a musical hum.
His secretary, a young elven woman entered the office, "You called headmaster?", she asked. Zephyrus nodded, "I would like to take that appointment with Mr. Seventeen.", he said. His secretary nodded and left.
After a few minutes, someone knocked on the door, "Come in.", he said. The door opened and Zephyrus saw the most handsome man he had ever seen enter and stand in front of him. The young man bowed, "Thank you for taking your time to meet me, headmaster Zephyrus. My name is Seventeen"
'This guy is polite.', Zephyrus thought. He nodded and gestured to the seat opposite him. Seventeen sat down. "Pardon me for asking this. But why is your name a number?", Zephyrus asked. Seventeen looked at him and smiled, "You will soon know."
"Okay.", Zephyrus was puzzled, "So why do want to see me?", he asked. "I heard you are looking for an instructor.", Seventeen said as he kept his hands on the table.
"Ah. Well, I am sorry to say but we already got one."
"But don't you need two instructors for each class?", Seventeen asked. "How did you know that? Are you a former student?", Zephyrus asked back in surprise. Seventeen shook his head.
"When you say it like that, we do need someone.", Zephyrus said, suddenly remembering they need one more instructor. He asked, "Do you have any qualification papers?" Seventeen shook his head.
"Then how can I know if you are what you say?", Zephyrus was starting to get annoyed.
"You can ask any questions and if you want I can release my presence for you to evaluate.", Seventeen offered. Zephyrus was intrigued. He didn't feel the young man's presence when he entered the office. 'He was probably using an enchanted item to suppress it.', he thought,
"Very well. But be warned. I will only ask the toughest questions.", he said.
And so Zephyrus asked the most difficult questions and was surprised by the answers Seventeen said without skipping a beat. Soon he ran out of questions and out of breath. 'This guy is a damn genius.', he thought. He looked at Seventeen, "Can you release your presence?", he asked.
Seventeen nodded and a colossal presence almost flattened Zephyrus into his chair. The whole office shook. Unknown to him, everyone in Crystalis city felt this massive presence and even the ground started shaking a bit. He released his powerful presence to counteract it but for only a few seconds.
Before he could think of unleashing his full presence, it stopped and he could breathe again. "Oh my goodness. That was terrifying.", he said. Seventeen tilted his head, "but I only released 50 percent."
"50 percent?", Zephyrus squeaked. What surprised him the most was that this young man can fully suppress his colossal presence without the aid of an enchanted item. Such a thing was unheard of.
He sighed, "Damn, you are indeed powerful and smart.", he smiled, "You are hired."
Seventeen smiled widely, "Thank you, headmaster. Also, I would like you to meet someone.", he held out his hand. "Uh, who is it.", Zephyrus was puzzled again.
"My creator."
"Your what?", Zephyrus asked as he reached out and touched Seventeen's hand. Immediately he felt his mind leave his body and found himself in a vast white space.
"Where am I?", he asked as he looked around. "You are in his Mindscape.", Seventeen appeared beside him out of nowhere. "Whose Mindscape?", Zephyrus asked. He couldn't believe a Mindscape this vast and endless can exist.
Seventeen just pointed in front of him. Zephyrus did a double-take when he saw a tea table laden with cups and a teapot surrounded by three chairs a few meters away. He was pretty sure there was nothing there when he first came.
Sitting on one of the chairs was Seventeen. No, this person is different from Seventeen. Zephyrus has a feeling that those purple eyes can see everything. Possibly, even the future.
"Is he your creator?", he asked Seventeen who nodded. The young man waited patiently by the table as both of them walked towards it. He got up and shook Zephyrus's hand with a smile.
"Welcome to my Mindscape Cardinal Zephyrus. I am Arthur Night but you can call me Arthur Prime.", Zephyrus heard a groan from behind him. "Don't tell me you made that into your official name.", Seventeen complained.
"Hush dear Seventeen.", Prime chided him. He then looked at Zephyrus and smiled, "How about the three of us talk over tea?"
*******
Back in the present, Zephyrus looked at Seventeen, "You did cause quite a stir in this city last month. I had to cook up a story about a dragon flying above the city.", he chuckled.
Seventeen smiled apologetically, "Sorry about that headmaster.", Selene left Seventeen's shoulder and perched on the windowsill of the office. She looked at her master as if asking for permission. Seventeen nodded, "Go on.", with a happy squawk she flew out of the office into the open sky.
"She's an amazing bird. You are lucky to come across a Moon Falcon. They become the best of companions if befriended. Has she started using telepathy?", Zephyrus asked. Seventeen shook his head, "She's only a month old.", he replied. "Ah. Then let's wait a bit longer.", Zephyrus reclined on his chair.
"Oh by the way.", Seventeen took out a small batch of papers from his coat, "I've read your papers. Your theory of the Forgotten Millennium is groundbreaking."
"Thank you Seventeen. It seems like you are the only one who doesn't think my theory is bullshit. The top scholars in Arken were laughing at this theory.", Zephyrus said drily.
"Well, what the papers say is kind of ludicrous. Who would believe that a thousand years of Arken's history is forgotten just to cover up an ancient war of biblical proportions? But I kind of agree with your theory.", Seventeen stated.
"What is your basis?", Zephyrus asked.
"There are three things headmaster.", Seventeen held up three fingers, "One, this planet is too big for just two continents. Two, according to the records from 4000 years ago, this planet had two moons. Now there is only one and somehow we got a ring around the planet."
"And three, no one has ever found anything left behind that dates 3000 years ago. The artifacts we now have are only 4000 and 2000 years old. In short, we know what happened 4000 and 2000 years ago but not what happened 3000 years ago. A thousand years just vanished from history." Seventeen explained.
"Very nice Seventeen. Our scholars say that a natural disaster happened 3000 years ago which wiped off a major chunk of everything. To me, that theory has more holes than my grandfather's undergarments.", Zephyrus said.
"That's a lot of holes.", Seventeen remarked. Zephyrus laughed.
"If that natural disaster wiped off a lot of things, then we wouldn't be able to use magia codes.", Zephyrus chuckled. "I've started looking for leads, not just because of your theory, but Prime and I are curious.", Seventeen said.
"Well, all the reason for you to have a coworker Seventeen."
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot why I came here.", Seventeen said. "You're starting to be more human. Looks like your soul is growing well.", Zephyrus remarked. He promised Prime to help Seventeen develop his soul.
Zephyrus continued, "Her name is Ruth Aeva, a half-elf and the second youngest of the Aeva family, about 24 years old. She's a powerful ice warlock, about high-level CAT 3. Extremely talented. She mastered all languages, even ancient ones, versatile in battle, she's practically a prodigy."
"That's a lot of achievements.", Seventeen said. "She would've gotten a lot more if it weren't for her circumstances .", Zephyrus said gravely.
"What do you mean?", Seventeen asked.
"The Aevas are a cursed family. You do know about curses right?", Zephyrus asked. Seventeen nodded, "They are enchantments that affect a person negatively, even killing them in certain cases.", he answered.
"Correct. And everyone in the Aeva family is born with a curse mark which causes their magia to go out of control. Ruth's parents died because their magia went haywire, her older sister died in an accident and Ruth was blamed for it. So she left the family with her younger brother.", Zephyrus explained.
"Sounds like a tough life. So when will she come?", Seventeen asked. Zephyrus looked at his clock, "In a few minutes I guess."
After some time, someone knocked on the door, "Come in", Zephyrus said and a beautiful young woman entered the office.
She has bright blue eyes, long amber hair, slightly pointed ears, a tall and slim figure, and skin as fair as snow.
She's wearing a white shirt under a light blue coat with snowflake designs, blue shorts, and white boots. A snowflake tattoo stood out on her left hand.
"Hello, headmaster. I hope I'm not late.", she smiled and bowed to Zephyrus with respect, who nodded. Then she looked at Seventeen and froze, recognition dawning on her face. Even Seventeen recognized her. He met her before, but in a bad way.
"You!", she shrieked, her face livid. Arthur nervously smiled, "Hey there, we meet again.", he waved his hand.
"Don't you 'hey there' me!"
Zephyrus looked at both of them in puzzlement, "Do you guys know each other?", "I think I've seen this woman somewhere.", Seventeen said.
"What do you mean you think? You ruined my work!", Ruth yelled.
"Miss Aeva. What exactly did Seventeen do to enrage you?", Zephyrus asked calmly.
Ruth took deep breaths and then pointing at Seventeen she said in an angry tone, "Headmaster Zephyrus, this infuriating man crashed into my carriage and destroyed my artworks!"