Kael sighed for the umpteenth time as boredom wore him down. To keep himself busy, he had created a Rek crystal, disintegrating and knitting strands of raw Rek. Reaching into his space pouch was almost impossible, as he was chained down like a rabid dog. Just as he was about to issue another string of curses, the iron door of the dark room opened and Fiona appeared with a bunch of keys.
"Is it seven days already?" he asked expectantly.
"Have you gone mad already?" snapped the longhaired girl.
It was not new; that a person runs mad from solitary confinement in a mage's prison. Quite often, the victim does not feel okay for some weeks after his release.
"It has been only two days," continued Fiona, not waiting for Kael's eyes to become clear. "And you're lucky Master Wayne pleaded for your release."
'That's right,' thought Kael, 'we are his apprentices after all.'
"How about Ashviel and Kyra?" he asked her.
"Your girl is fine, and your brother," said she, "let's just hope he survives. And as for Nerghall, a due punishment awaits him at Devil's Jaws."
"What's Devil's Jaws anyway?" Kael asked. He had heard the term a couple of times in the past, and had been ill at ease at its every mention.
"A super-maximum security prison at the dome," said Fiona, freeing his hands and legs as she spoke. "Believe me; you don't want to spend a minute there."
She led him out of the cell and into Master Kaicho's garden and then headed to the infirmary where Ashviel was being cared for.
When Ashviel woke up, the first sound he was conscious of was a suppressed gasp from Kyra.
"You're awake," she said loudly. Fortunately, the room was empty but for the two, as the nurses had left him for about dead.
"Kyra," he said, sitting up. He removed all the bandages in his skin, and even though his wounds had not healed completely, his scars were all gone.
"You were unconscious for two days, and now you have woken up with no injuries," said Kyra.
"That's absurd," he agreed. "So, should I lie in bed for some days more?"
"I don't think that would work, besides..."
The infirmary door opened and Kael and Fiona entered.
"Ashviel!" Kael exclaimed and rushed to meet him.
He solicitously helped him up to his feet, despite his own poor state.
"Thanks to Master Wayne," said Kyra to Kael, "you are now released."
"Released?" Ashviel asked.
"Your brother went a little wild after you swooned, and we had to hold him in a cell. Good thing you are all together now, because your Master wants to see you," Fiona said and left the three together.
The thought of having to meet Master Wayne made Ashviel uneasy, as he feared that getting too close to the mage could reveal him as the apotheosis. He moved out nonetheless, proceeding with Kael and Kyra to the mansion.
As they went on, he thought about his second encounter with his Valkyra. Having the Valkyra does not make him immortal, even if it grants him exceptional healing powers. Even if he was able to call upon it, it does not guarantee him a win in a fight.
He then pondered about the reason he went into the Damnation Plane in the first place. 'Could it have been facilitated by his unconsciousness?' he wondered. That would make sense, he thought, before remembering that his encounter with Edward had left him unconscious, and he did not visit the Damnation Plane at the time.
Then again, he remembered Kael asking after he woke up at Blue Beard's place if he had gone into the plane. That could only mean that Kael knew that there was a possibility of him going into the damnation plane when unconscious, and that Kael had known for a long time ago. That was not fair, he thought. How much more about him does Kael knows and does not reveal?
He stopped abruptly as they reached one of Capricorn's busy streets. "Hmm Kyra," he said, "Would you mind getting us some buns in that store, please."
"Of course not, neither of you has eaten in two days now," she said and left them alone.
Immediately she was out of hearing, Ashviel turned to Kael.
"Kael, tell me," he began, "is there something — anything — that I should know?"
"What do you mean?"
"Did Master Frentor tell you anything about me?"
Kael went silent and Ashviel's voice intensified. "Did he tell you anything about you-know-what?"
A long silence ensued before Kael finally talked.
"I do not rightly know if I am to say," said he.
"What do you mean you don't rightly know?" Ashviel went on.
Kael looked away once more, and as he made to walk on, Ashviel dragged him back.
"Talk to me, Kael; is there anything I must know?"
"I assure there isn't," said Kael, albeit his eyes showed some doubt.
Ashviel was about to ask for the last time when someone came close to them. They turned and found Kyra with Roxanne, who was rolling a barrel across the street.
She looked tired, and appeared to have been moving the heavy barrel over a long distance.
"Didn't fancy meeting you on the streets again," she said.
"Me neither," said Ashviel.
"So, where are you rolling the thing to?" Kael said.
"To one Master Crans," said she.
"You're a courier?"
"It's better than doing nothing," she said. "Moreover it pays well for a weed. Kyra said you are now apprentices to Master Wayne."
"Yes."
"Lucky you then, apprentices in just three days."
"You know Roxanne," said Kyra," you could have just entered Capricorn from one of the smaller gates, instead of entering as a weed."
"I know," she said, "but I wanted in as a member, and not just a petty worker."
"All right then, I guess we'll see you around," said Ashviel.
"And oh, my apartment is just here," she said and they exchanged addresses.
Ashviel did not bring up the damnation issue again, and in minutes, the three of them arrived at their Master's mansion.
Master Wayne was awaiting them at his backyard. The doorman, Hik, led them inside, begrudgingly as ever. Ashviel later learnt that Master Wayne was, like most master mages, a bachelor, having the company of only his students. It was not surprising to find that most married mages had been married since their fledgling, novitiate, or knighthood days, as their social status become relatively elevated when they become masters. A male master would therefore want to marry only a female master, but most female masters would prefer a grandmaster or an archmage. This, among many others, had contributed to the increased bachelorhood of mages.
Master Wayne was crouched over a pool in his backyard when they got to him. Zyair, his knight was away, and the slow-moving master appeared to be distraught.
"Two days, and you land yourself in trouble already," he said without turning back to look at them.
"I can explain," Kael began.
"Needless," said the master, getting up.
"Master Kaicho told me you showed considerable fighting skill against that boy you fought," he said to Ashviel.
"I guess I did," he said, not knowing exactly how to respond.
"That's great," said the master, "because you will need lots of that with me."
That afternoon, the three of them began training with Master Wayne. Even though the master was slow in almost everything he did, they were still able to learn greatly from him. He specialized in wind Rek, and was evidently the one that taught Zyair the swaying leaf techniques among others.
Master Wayne closed the class by asking them to take accommodation in his house, but they of course declined again, which was a practical decision, because staying too close to the master could make them troubles.
"You three are a weird band," said he.
"How so my Lord?" Kael asked.
They were becoming accustomed to the use of the title 'Lord' when speaking to Master Wayne. He was among the few masters that had such appellations to their names, as most Lords were grandmasters and archmages.
"Never mind," said Master Wayne, "everyone is weird in his own way."
He walked them to the front of his house, and then bade them goodbye after telling them that their safety under him in Capricorn Prime was all assured.
True as the master's intentions were, it did not take Ashviel a long time to doubt the guarantee.