Walker took a seat as Hayward placed down a bottle of whiskey and then poured it into the two glasses that were on the table.
"So what do we do now?" he asked. " if it returns it will be bad news for us Hayward."
"Does he even have a plan Adam?" he sipped from his glass.
"He always has a plan, be patient," Adam answered,
Hayward laughed, "I have had enough of the deity you keep speaking of."
"Don't speak that way Hayward," Adam warned, trying to keep a calm tone but he was scared of the outcome."You're here because of him." he continued
Hayward chuckled, "Because of him huh, so I owe him my life. Pathetic utterly pathetic indeed."
"Don't speak like that my old friend, am simply here for a simple request."
"And what is that," he asked.
"The girl who chaos possessed I want you to send those elves of yours and get rid of her. I have had enough commotion this week." Adam said as he grabbed his glass and drank in some of the whiskey.
Hayward put on his reading glasses. "It looks like you don't want to get your hands dirty.",
"Indeed, I don't. Chaos was after something but you know what. I don't give a dam because you have an idea about it,"
Hayward suddenly choked on the whiskey after hearing that.
Walker glared at him to prove that he realized something, "Isn't that right my old friend?" he continued
Then savored more of the whiskey.
Hayward now recognized that he was being threatened by the president. "you're right walker I do have an idea about it but I don't expect you to intervene in my life."
"I won't, as long as you don't force my hand." he was clear with his words, and his face even made it clearer to Hayward.
Walker stood up, "Well, It's time for me to go Hayward." He passed his hand on his suit to clear the fault lines that forced themselves on him when sitting.
Hayward looked anxious from hearing Walker's words.
"Don't worry Hayward. I won't be spilling anything anytime soon. It was nice doing business with you."
He then walked out of the office. And stopped by the ripped-off door. "And for the door...… am sending the cheque.". Then proceeded with his departure.
Hayward picked up his book and resumed his reading.
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Scarlet opened her eyes from a deep slumber. She was in her room and her head was aching like someone had hit her with something heavy.
Lifting herself, her back was also aching and her memory was vague about what had happened to lead to this but knew that Rachel attacked with some strange magic at the library.
Her room door was then unlocked and her aunt walked in holding a bowl of chicken soup.
"Hey, cupcake brought you some soup," she said with a loose smile on her face.
Scarlet stared at her more clearly and noticed that her aunt was both scared of and worried about her. She didn't look as she usually does every morning. Indeed something was off with her mood.
"what happened?" Scarlet asked, she was serious.
"What happened?" her aunt played as if she didn't have an idea of what she was talking about. "What makes you think that?"
"You're acting weird. I just thought maybe something happened."
Scarlet looked around seeing the binding charms and runes that were imprinted on her room walls.
"Something I may need to know," Scarlet continued
Miranda knew that she was now at checkmate so she had to talk.
"Alex dropped you here two days back. You were gravely injured so I panicked and cast the fastest recovery spell I knew. On casting you did something I have never seen in my entire life as a mage." she sat right next to her.
"You self regenerated right before our eyes," she said, "and after that, I engraved these charms to stop you from growing any stronger with that mysterious power of yours."
Scarlet wanted to doubt but Miranda spoke with an alarming tone. Her grey eyes stared directly at her with only dread.
Scarlet was now shaking. Had she been marked like in the stories or it was something greater?
And maybe that's why Chaos was after her. She knew about self-regeneration but that was forbidden magic only lords could wield, so that confused her even more.
"You're little showdown with the heretic destroyed the entire library by the way. You lucky no one saw." said her aunt
"My god, miss Rachel."
"Is dead," Scarlet frowned
"she was found dead in her apartment yesterday morning. Forensics say it was murder."
Scarlet was hurt by the news and couldn't speculate what had just happened Miss Rachel didn't deserve it.
"What attacked you is an entity called Chaos. I wouldn't say it's evil but it's bad news. It was drawn to your power after you used it a while back. My best guess would say at the university interview."
Miranda stood up. " I engraved more charms To protect you From her senses."
She placed the bowl of soup on the reading table. Then walked out of the room. Leaving Scarlet alone wondering what's next for her. Why is this happening even before she starts university?
Oh shit…..she had school on Monday and she hadn't yet even received her key to the school as she was told. Maybe they found out she was at the library or maybe she didn't do the test on Friday.
Am so screwed right now.
She complained, resting her palm on her forehead.
What was she to do now?
she began to brainstorm. she then looked around and noticed it was just morning and it was a Sunday. Maybe there was still time for her to receive hope. Mr. Hayward was impressed she couldn't give up now.
*
*
*
*
It was finally Monday morning. And Scarlet still hadn't yet received her key from the university. She walked down the stairs effortlessly as if she didn't have energy in her body.
Her aunt was already in the kitchen making breakfast.
"Oh, there is the great A Student I have been waiting for."
Her aunt tried to sound so sarcastic in her speech to make a point
"I know I look like crap. And this was in the mail for you." she picked up an envelope and handed it over to Scarlet who grabbed it and tore it open fast. There was a golden key and a letter that read:
Dear Scarlet Raymond, we are taking the pleasure of Bolton University to congratulate you on joining the magic division. The curriculum will go according to how your guardian "Principle Hayward" sees fit. There is a key that you will use to get onto campus grounds. Attempt to lose the key is punishable by suspension.
Thank you so much...
She closed the letter and picked up her key. It looked very old made of pure gold and had something that looked like an eye from the top. "Is that supposed to get you to the school?"
"I guess so."
they both stared at the key's details maybe it's like a dungeon key."
Miranda suggested talking tea from her cup.
"You know once you open a dungeon you can't leave till u finish the entire thing." Scarlet rejected it.
"Any way you cant know if you don't try and it's bad luck to be late on your first day." Her aunt was strangely calm. Ever since they talked yesterday. This was their second conversation. And that made scarlet less worried she almost thought her aunt feared her.
"Cool,"
Scarlet put out her hand and then held the key and pushed it in mid-air as if she was pushing it into an invisible keyhole. Cracks appeared in mid-air like breaking glass but in a shape of a door. Scarlet took a step back watching the door from in the air till it was complete.
Miranda walked towards it "Magic door to another dimension." she slowly study the entrance, "Pretty authentic. Am impressed." then backed away turning to Scarlet who had her mouth wide open still impressed by the door's appearance.
"You look just your mom when she first saw me do magic," she said staring at her as if she were someone so familiar to her. Miranda never spoke of her late sister since she never wanted to show how sensitive she was but she missed her the most. After the accident, she couldn't believe that it was only her five-year-old Scarlet who survived which was mysterious but she made it her life obligation to raise her as a way of respecting her sister. But it was now twelve years later. she was no longer as strong as she used to be wrinkles on her once beautiful face and scars of wounds she couldn't heal. Scarlet had grown into the best version of her sister smart, funny, and beautiful. If only she was alive to see herself.
Scarlet then walked through the door that made her appearance at the very entrance of the university. It vanished right from behind. Scarlet looked around and it was just as she imagined green grass trees and fresh air passing through her brown hair and the sun touching her skin.
The other students started to appear each followed by a bright light which was doors. Some already conversing as if it were normal to come to school that way. And from above two angelic-like figures landed down together holding hands.
"Oh my god, nightmares." Scarlet had never seen one in real. Her eyes spread wide amazed by what she saw. They both had white hair that matched their wings and pointed ears like those of elves.
"Kyle and Kendell. Brother and sister."
She was pulled from her trance. It was a boy looking straight at her. This made her feel nervous. "Sorry to interrupt your trance thing is I thought you were going to stay in the compound looking like a creep." he was so direct with his words. His hair was all curled up, eyes so blue Scarlet couldn't stop staring at them, skin perfectly white.
"I---I-----am-----so----so---sorry." her voice was breaking due to her nervousness. He sneered
"I guess you're not a people person. I am Jordan and you must be Scarlet."
"WAIT! how did he know my name?" She was surprised
"I can read minds," he replied abruptly
"Stop, you can what?" she gasped with amusement.
He laughed and answered,
"Yes. Oh no that's supposed to be a secret." he tried to sound so ironic to make her laugh but she didn't.
"Am not going to laugh. Such doesn't work on me," she said,
"Then at least you can save me with is a walk to the hallway." he sounded so charming and full of energy she couldn't turn that down.
"Please keep out of my mind." She warned him as they both walked through the compound
"Don't worry I can only do that when I touch a person or an object that belongs to the, in this case, I touched your bag." Scarlet tried to understand his power but something was still missing it couldn't be so plain perhaps he was a telepath. she had heard about humans born with gifts something like a superpower.
"But I don't depend on magic. This, it's not more than a party trick to me," Jordan bragged.
"Don't depend on magic! I thought this is a magic school."
"Oh you don't know yet, newbie I guess." he raised his shoulders.
Scarlet scoffed, "Wait, don't know what?"
"There are magic types and strong type mages. Like me am more of a strong type mage, unlike reaching for the lanes like magic types, we strength types don't since they flow within giving me strength-related abilities."
"So you are super strong. Or something else," she asked
They had reached the hallway, "Sorry newbie I prefer to keep my powers a secret. So till we meet again." Jordan laughed,
"Yeah sure," she said, locking her hair behind her ear.
Jordan gave her one last gaze before they parted in different directions.