"Don't get mad at me for failing your people, be mad at the Mages who nearly killed you. Besides," Emeli opened her arms, "it seems you have an Ace that can help you."
"Are you talking about him?" Quincy asked.
"Of course, the amazing Alexander." Emeli replied, spinning around like she was giving a performance. "His here, might as well use him, and also his so-called lady friend."
"I take it you have history with him?"
"Let's just say, I want him for myself, I want to sink my fangs in him."
Quincy could help but feel sorry for Alexander. Emeli is one Mage you can never trust, and Quincy knew that, but at that point he decided to give in to her temptation. Quincy wanted revenge for his fallen comrades but he didn't want to draw attention.
He decided to hear Emeli out, and hoped she wouldn't screw him over. Emeli may not look it but she is more dangerous than she looks. She was beautiful, but her beauty was like a double edge sword. Her hair was darker then the night sky and her eyes… Emeli's eyes held the hopes of every man's dream, so hypnotic, gaze too long and bye-bye to your future.
…
Quincy headed back to the academy alone, he wanted to find the rest of the shadow mages by any means necessary. Even if it means getting played by Emeli. It took him a while to get there, but he wanted to give himself time to think. When he got there he was greeted by Heather and Katherine, little was said and they proceeded to the office. Both Heather and Quincy took a seat and on the Head Master's desk was the Magic bow that was stolen by the shadow mages. Katherine took the time to make tea for everyone, they didn't start talking until she was finished.
"We managed to recover the bow, but I lost most of my staff," Quincy informed the Queen, "you know this changes everything right?"
"I didn't expect the magic bow could have such devastating power." Heather replied taking a sip in the process.
"So how is Alexander? He took a direct hit from this bow."
"His awake now, and soon he will be discharged after the treatment form the Saint." Katherine answered with enthusiasm. She couldn't help herself, she was happy that he was alive and awake.
"To think he took the full force of the magic arrows power. He is truly something else." Quincy added. It took Quincy everything he had just to block two of them. If he took on a third hit, he wouldn't have survived. If Alexander and Katherine didn't intercept one of the magic arrows, they wouldn't be sitting around a table drinking tea.
"So what happened to you Katherine? You just fainted after Alexander went down." Heather asked with curiosity. It was unusual for a Mage to suddenly collapse, even if they run out of mana. They may feel fatigue but not even to fall unconscious.
"It must have been the last spell I used. It was the first time I used a spell like that… honestly I was surprised myself when I caught the shadow mage." Katherine gave a verge answer. She knew the real reason, but it was something she wanted to keep for herself. The less people that know the better.
Heather didn't press on the matter, she decided to let it go, there was no point questioning it. As long as Katherine was still alive, it didn't matter.
"Before I forget," Heather reach inside her robe, pull two envelops out and placing them on the desk, "I wanted to give this to you and Alexander."
She opened them opened them up, and inside were two letters. Heather begins signing both of them and proceeded to handing them over to Quincy.
"What is this?" her asked reading one in silence.
"Just sign it, I will explain in just a few moments."
"Huh… the King also signed it." Quincy scribbled on the first letter. "It must be serious if your son is involved. Am I wrong Heather?"
"You're not wrong there. Since the attack Valentia has been on high alert."
Quincy handed the letters back to Heather. She then handed one to Katherine.
"What is this? What am I supposed to do with this?" Katherine asked with a confused look on her face.
"You can call it an act of kindness." Heather replied. "You and Alexander almost died trying to help us."
"To be honest we forced them to fight--." Quincy interrupted. "We wanted to see what you can do and--."
"Be quite, you idiot." Heather interrupted Quincy by throwing a teaspoon at his face. She cleared her throat and proceeded. "This is an identification document to make you citizens in the Kingdom of Valentia. For one year you and Alexander are going to be part of Valentia… This document you received needs to be renewed every year, as long as you remain here."
Katherine couldn't believe what she was hearing. She couldn't help but cry tears of joy.
"So does this mean we can use magic now?" She asked Heather.
"Well you already have, don't you remember 3 weeks ago? But I will let that one slide for now."
Katherine was over joyed she couldn't wait to tell Alexander the good news. Quincy cleared his throat, interrupting the conversation.
"I know it's still too soon, but the academy could use some instructors. I lost a few instructors during the attack and I was hoping that you and Alexander could fill some of those positions?" he quested.
"It would be an honor, but I have no experience." Katherine replied.
"That's why I'm here. I can teach you everything about teaching. By next year will be ready, I could train you until then, if you don't mind?" Heather interrupted.
"Don't worry about it now. We can handle things until then, all you have to do is watch and learn." Quincy explained.
Katherine could believe it. She couldn't wait to tell Alexander the good news. Their meeting concluded on a high note, both Heather and Katherine left to see Alexander. A few minutes later Emeli popped up behind Quincy.
"Finally… I thought they would never leave." She said taking a seat on the desk.
"You were here all along? Why didn't you say anything?" Quincy asked.
"I wanted to listen in on the conversation."
"So you were hiding in plain sight, like a snake in the grass."
"I wasn't hiding, more like I was invisible." Emeli brushed her hair away from her face. "I thought I would see him here? Oh well maybe next time."
Quincy stood up and looked outside the window. Emeli noticed a slight grin on his face. He looked like he was planning something sinister, and Emeli became more interested.
"I want you to do me a favour." Quincy requested. "I need information about Alexander, Katherine and one of the shadow mages… preferably the last one. Can you do me that favour?"
"Why should I? what's in it for me?"
"Because I'm asking you nicely, besides I have a feeling things are going to get interesting."
…
Meanwhile Alexander was walking around the garden. The place he was in was like a hospital, only smaller. It was filled with Mages who specialize in recovery and healing magic. Alexander took it slow, he didn't want to undo the efforts of the mages who helped him, including the Saint. He took a sit on a bench across the garden. He sat there thinking about the battle that nearly killed him. He was lucky to survive but even luckier that Katherine was still alive.
'They never had anything like this back home. A facility dedicated to helping people, not to mention a magic academy. I would have went to one if I had a choice. Instead I get sucked in this war, The Kingdom of Valentia made the right choice and stayed out of it. Honestly make we wonder what started this whole war.' Alexander thought to himself. 'Oh well it can't be helped now. Magic has corrupted this world, makes me wonder if there is world without magic.' Alexander continued day dreaming about a world without magic, he suddenly felt a weird presence around him. Then he started to fell dizzy and before he knew it he dozed off.
…
"Again?" a man's voice echoed "You don't learn do you. Might as well give you a heads up." A laughter echoed for the voice. "You should wake up now."
…
Suddenly he felt a tap on his shoulder. Someone decided to wake him up from his nap. By her looks she was one of the mages working in the facility.
"Who's there?" He asked rubbing his eyes because he was still tired from his nap.
"Hello Alexander. Longtime, no see. How is the life of a renegade?" a familiar voice echoed in the air, behind Alexander.
"Shit… it's you. WHY ARE YOU HERE?"