VI. Ghost
“Hector, what are you doing here? You’re not even an academy student anymore.”
You're supposedly dead
"You haven’t heard?” Hector asked with a grin. Caelum shook her head. "Well, you’re looking at the newest member of the Magus Council. Ah, with the exception of you of course. I was sworn in a week ago. Those bastards finally accepted me. ”
The Council declared you dead 8 months ago
“The standards must have dropped if they accepted you," Caelum sighed as she retracted her staff. The willowy youth raised his eyebrow in bewilderment and then chuckled. He brushed his chestnut hair out of his face and strode over to Caelum.
Y. ou're lying, you're not here on the behalf of the Council. I've been asking everyday about your whereabouts. Your status has always been MIA until you were declared dead.
“I would have thought you had a little bit more faith in me.” He laughed in mock horror. “I should punish you for your insolence. But I’m afraid I can’t do that. Sir Aevus will rise from his grave and haunt every fiber of my being if something happened to his precious protégé.”
Just like you did?
Caelum groaned and shook his head. “I’m not ready for this. Any of this. I haven’t even graduated yet. “
I'm not ready for keeping a bunch of gossipy children under control, much less dealing with an ambiguous mage who rose from the dead.
Hector clapped her shoulder reassuringly. “Sir Aevus thought you were ready and I trust his judgement. Besides, even if you didn’t want to take up this position, you’d have no choice. You’re the only one that Sir Aevus trusts. It's in fine print and all”
Yes, I know but what I really want to know is how much has Sir Aevus told you? You seem to know more than I do about my own mentor. Has Regina Aire been feeding you intel? Is she magically alive like you are?
"That’s not comforting in the least.” Caelum grumbled.
"At least you’re enlightened now.” Hector said with that smile that was too radiant for a dead man to wear.
Hardly. Why are you alive?
"Ignorance is bliss,” Caelum retorted and then she narrowed her eyes. “Actually, I retract that statement. I need an explanation. Why are you here instead of... I don’t know, somebody that actually knows what they’re doing?”
Give me answers
"I was the only one qualified to go here,” Hector replied.
Lies. You're declared dead.
Caelum shot him a quizzical look and Hector only grinned. “They dispatched their more experienced aero magi to take care of the dragon Fulgur. The other magi are too far away to be an asset and those who aren’t are dealing with political affairs. You know, that stuff.” Hector explained. “So, when you sent that distress call, I decided to come by and pay my old friend a visit.”
I didn't send you the distress call, I sent the Council the distress call. And you're not on the Council you liar.
"What are you supposed to be doing though?” Caelum questioned. Hector shrugged.
"I was supposed to look for the student who was wandering outside of the campus but I got a call from my boss saying to drop the issue.”
Your pupils are normal, your body language doesn't indicate anything but what are you hiding? That's not a lie....
"What? No, that doesn’t sound right. He would be here right now if somebody else retrieved him. Who’s your boss?” Caelum asked.
You're going to crack
Hector sharply inhaled, softly exhaled and then said “Regina Aire.”
Caelum snorted. "I can't believe the ice queen has taking a liking to you. Even after putting up with you for 9 bloody months, she's kept you."
You both are supposed to be dead!
Hector shook his head vigorously. "That's a bit of stretch. I've just been promoted from delivery boy to work mule now."
"What an honor." Caelum responded with deadpan irony.
Those words were painful to say
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