This should be enough for now.

  Sellitha got up from her bed and put out the fire on the slab of stone in front of her. She had been spending a lot more hours of the day meditating lately. After gaining Authority over fire, Sellitha had a much easier time making progress. Earlier, she often had to spend a lot of effort caring for the fire in her fireplace in order to have an abundant source of fire mana around her. But now, she barely had to spend any effort and could have a fire burn indefinitely, even on plain stone.

  This, along with her thirst for power, made her spend almost double the amount of time meditation from before. Even if pushing fire mana to her core had a diminishing result the more time she spent on it, due to her weakening Will, she found it hard to pull herself away. She could feel that it wouldn’t be much longer before she advanced to Silver.

  A few months more. But I’ll definitely succeed before my second year. I can’t fall behind Adion. Now that I have Authority over fire, there aren’t any excuses.

  Sellitha left her room and noticed a note left on the dining room table. It was from Felicia. She and Lastia had gone to the Old Library to study.

  Should I also go? I don’t have any plans until the evening.

  She had made plans to meet up with Adion at the House of the Scrolls later. But she didn’t know if he would show up early.

  I’ll just train on my own before he shows up. I don’t feel like being inside.

  Everyone she knew, even the ones with fire cores, was having issues with the current weather. Every day was scorching hot, and most people preferred to stay inside until the sun went down. But Sellitha really liked it for some reason. The unusual fierceness of the sun was making her feel closer to fire.

  I wonder what kind of concepts are required to have a fire burn as hot as the sun.

  Sellitha grabbed her bag and packed a few books to have something to read while resting between her exercises.

  But just as she was about to leave, there was a knock at the door.

  “Who is it?” Sellitha called out, walking to the door.

  Wait? A Soul mage? And it feels familiar…

  Sellitha stopped in her tracks, a sinking feeling in her stomach.

  No one answered her call, but the door slowly opened even without Sellitha unlocking it.

  “It’s me, little Sell,” Mephina said with a sigh as she walked inside, closing the door behind her.

  Mephina!?

  “What are you doing here, Mephina?” Sellitha asked nervously.

  “The family has found out about you and Adion,” Mephina said, walking inside and taking a seat on the couch.

  “What about me and Adion?” Sellitha questioned.

  “Do you really need to lie to me?” Mephina asked, “I have known about your relationship since the start. I would have just hoped you could have been a little smarter. How can you have been so careless?”

  Sellitha felt cold despite the heat. Sweat was gathering at her temples due to nervousness.

  “What has happened?” Sellitha asked with a shaky voice.

  “I’m not sure about all the details, but the Hesfym family sent their people to the Amyss family a few weeks ago,” Mephina explained, “They had enough evidence to make your parents and the elders convinced.”

  “Evidence? That’s impossible! What kind of evidence?” Sellitha questioned. She really had no idea how anyone could possibly manage to convince her family about her and Adion.

  “I don’t know all the details, but they have someone here who has caught you two multiple times,” Mephina said, looking at Sellitha with a disappointed frown, “I’m not sure if it’s someone from the Hesfym family. It’s probably someone from the Shields. But they have managed to convince Lord Hesfym of it. If it turns out that their accusation is wrong, they were willing to pay 500,000 Vastro coins in compensation. As you can understand, we had no choice but to believe them with a guarantee like that.”

  How can they be so sure? The only times Adion and I have acted like a couple have been behind closed doors.

  “Well, so what?” Sellitha questioned nervously, “I’ll just deny it. It seems like it’s just their word against mine in the end.”

  “You forget that your word is easy to see through,” Mephina said with a smile full of sadness, “You will be brought in front of the family and questioned about this. Even with your aura control, it’s impossible to fool our Soul mages.”

  “What do you mean by ‘brought in front of the family’?” Sellitha asked.

  “Lady Lerretha was sent here along with Dorello and I to take you home. I volunteered to come along because I knew you wouldn’t come along easily,” Mephina said.

  “You’re right about that,” Sellitha said, her anger flaring, “I’m not going anywhere with you. So you can return to my family and tell them that I won’t return before my graduation.”

  “Haah,” Mephina sighed, “I knew you would refuse. But Sell, it is impossible for you to stay. I could perhaps make up some excuse if I came here alone. But you know Lady Lerretha will take you by force if she has to. It would be better if you came along peacefully. There is no need to cause a scene. And there is still time before you have to marry Lord Hesfym. But if you struggle now, you will be under close watch and not easily trusted. It will be a lot harder for you to make any moves to solve this once that happens.”

  “You don’t believe that,” Sellitha said with a shaky laugh, “You are just like them.”

  “Sell,” Mephina said softly.

  “Spare me,” Sellitha said with a cold voice, “You can forget about it. You have no power here. Neither does Lerretha. If you take me by force, you will make an enemy out of the Academy.”

  “We have received permission to take you with us,” Mephina said, “You are a member of the Amyss family after all.”

  “Who gave you permission?” Sellitha questioned, “It can’t be the Headmaster, and when he finds out who did, he will punish them.”

  Mephina looked at Sellitha with a strange look, “Why would the Headmaster do that?”

  “Are you all idiots?” Sellitha asked, trying hard not to yell, “Adion is the Headmaster’s disciple. Do you think he didn’t know about us? Did you think he didn’t tell Adion that we had to end things? Did you think Adion would agree to that?”

  “What are you saying?” Mephina asked.

  “I’m saying that the Headmaster values Adion more than you can imagine, and he would be willing to make an enemy out of both the Hesfym and Amyss family because of him. If you take me by force, I hope you are prepared for the mess that will follow.” Sellitha spit out.

  “Are you serious?” Mephina asked, standing up and looking at Sellitha closely.

  “Didn’t you say I have no chance of lying to a Soul mage? You know I’m telling the truth,” Sellitha said.

  “This…complicates things,” Mephina said slowly, “But it might be a good thing.”

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  Mephina turned to look at the door. Sellitha followed her eyes but couldn’t hear anyone.

  “Are you sure about the Headmaster?” Mephina asked.

  “I’m sure,” Sellitha nodded.

  “I did think something was a little strange. But I’m still confused,” Mephina muttered, “Very well. I’ll try to talk to Lady Lerretha, but knowing her…You should go for now. The Headmaster isn’t at the Academy, so go somewhere where you’ll be safe for now.”

  “Really?” Sellitha asked.

  “I can’t promise everything will work out. But I know better than anyone that nothing will actually be solved by bringing you back. You won’t be marrying Lord Hesfym no matter what anyone says, so what use is there in trying so hard to push it through? If you have the Headmaster behind you, that will give us a valid explanation. Anyway, I have to go before Lady Lerretha grows too impatient. Get out of here.”

  Mephina walked to the door and disappeared as soon as she finished speaking.

  What’s going on?

  No time to think about it. I have to get out of here. Without the Headmaster around, I can’t be sure that anyone will stop Lerretha.

  Sellitha didn’t bring anything with her. She ran up to the window, ready to jump out of it and run away.

  But just as she arrived in front of the window, she felt herself struggling to move. Space was constricting her movements more and more until she came to a standstill.

  What!? Adion? What’s he doing?

  Sellitha calmed down for a moment, feeling assured that Adion had arrived. But she quickly felt herself getting nervous again.

  Is he having one of those outbreaks? Even with that, he can’t possibly fight against Lerretha and Dorello. And he’s going to reveal his power like this!

  “Lady Lerretha! Calm down and think about this. This will have severe consequences for the Amyss family,” Mephina’s voice rang out from the hallway.

  What? They can move?

  The door opened, and Sellitha realized something was wrong. Very wrong.

  “There she is,” Lady Lerretha’s cold voice sounded from behind her, “You have been causing quite a few problems for us, Princess Sellitha. It’s time for you to come back home and make up for it.”

  “Sell, what are you…” Mephina said in an unsure voice.

  Suddenly, the space around Sellitha eased up, and she could move again. She turned around to see Lerretha, Dorello, and Mephina looking at her.

  I have to move.

  Sellitha conjured a fire and was about to shoot it out when she felt someone grab her arm.

  “I knew you would make trouble,” Lerretha said, her nails digging into Sellitha’s arm.

  “Let’s go,” Lerretha said.

  That was the last thing Sellitha heard as something struck her head, and she passed out.

  “Did they take her?” Derfen asked.

  “Yes,” Frida nodded. She could see how the Amyss princess was being knocked unconscious and carried away. “It seems she was about to escape. I didn’t think that beast would let her off like that.”

  Why would the beast leave her alone to get away? What did she tell that beast? Frida thought to herself. She didn’t like it when her plans had surprises like that.

  Oh well, it doesn’t matter. I was prepared for her to try to escape.

  “It’s a good thing Diamond Tremis was ready for it,” Derfen said.

  “Yes,” Frida nodded. Diamond Tremis didn’t like taking orders from a Bronze mage like Frida, but she had managed to convince him that there was no way Sellitha would not try to escape. It would also be a good opportunity to test the space artifact in action. They would definitely need it later for Adion and his strange teleportation. “Now, there shouldn’t be anything that can go wrong anymore. We have eyes on Adion, right?”

  “We do,” Derfen nodded, “Should I go there now?”

  “No. Use the touban. We don’t want Adion to find out when it’s too late. The more recent she got taken, the more likely it is for him not to think straight and head straight after them. If he goes to his grandfather before moving, it will complicate things. Tell them to start in three minutes.”

  “Alright,” Derfen nodded and picked up the runic device to deliver the message.

  Frida watched how Sellitha was being carried out and loaded into the carriage. The walls couldn’t impede her vision at all.

  “They will let him know,” Derfen reported.

  “I hope they remember to be subtle about it,” Frida said.

  Then again, I doubt Adion will be able to think clearly when he hears about his precious girlfriend being taken away.

  “Why did we have to make the Amyss Princess actually be taken away?” Derfen questioned, “If this Adion is as rash as you say, wouldn’t it be sufficient just to make him believe she was being taken away? He would have no way of knowing if it was a lie.”

  “It’s an unnecessary risk to take,” Frida answered, “He will probably stop and ask someone at some point about the Amyss carriage, and we don’t want him having any doubts. Besides, it will be good to have Termeth Hesfym owing us a favor.”

  And the most important point is that this will make Adion suffer.

  “I see,” Derfen nodded.

  “Let’s go,” Frida said as she spotted Diamond Tremis coming out of the building where he had used the space artifact to capture Sellitha.

  “Are you sure Adion won’t catch up too soon? We wouldn’t want to have to make a move while still in the city,” Derfen said.

  “He shouldn’t be able to,” Frida said, “He is too far away. But even if he is faster than I expected, we will be able to make our move. It will just be slightly messier.”

  “Is Soft Soul Hedande really going to show up?” Derfen asked with slight agitation.

  He better. I have been very clear about Adion’s abilities. He can’t be underestimated.

  I’m finally going to get my revenge.

  The carriage ride was very awkward. Dersum never expected them to actually knock Sellitha unconscious.

  Just what is going on with the Amyss family? Is she against marrying Lord Hesfym?

  Well, it’s not for me to worry about anymore. I have done as I was asked, and they are all from the Amyss family, after all. No one can blame me.

  Still, Dersum didn’t feel like remaining in the carriage any longer.

  “I think I will step out here,” Dersum said with an awkward cough, “There shouldn’t be any problem leaving. I talked with the guards about your visit before you arrived.”

  “Of course,” Lady Lerretha said with a slight smile and ordered the carriage to stop. “Thank you very much for your help, Elder Kilth. I won’t forget it.”

  “I was just doing my duty as an Elder of the Academy,” Dersum said with a polite smile. But he didn’t feel like he was doing his duty.

  Dersum stepped out of the carriage and watched it continue moving towards the Academy gates.

  This feels a little strange. I should probably report it to the Dean, just in case.

  Dersum started walking back to the Old Academy, trying to clear his mind.

  But suddenly, he came to a halt. A chill crept up his back.

  What’s happening?

  He looked around in a panic, but no one else seemed to notice anything strange.

  A wind blew towards him. He didn’t know how he knew that, but he was sure of it. But no matter how he looked at it, there wasn’t any reason for a wind to start blowing.

  Something is coming…I have no way of fighting it. What’s going on?

  Dersum almost fell to his knees in fear. And then it hit him. Something so powerful that Dersum couldn’t even begin to understand it. A wind arrived that didn’t interact with anything around him, but it blew straight through his soul.

  “Argh!” Dersum yelled out as he fell to the ground in pain.

  What’s happening to me?

  He could feel his core cracking.

  It can’t be! My Oath? But I haven’t betrayed the Academy!

  The cracks spread around his core, and Dersum started coughing blood.

  This can only be the effect of a broken Oath, but…how did I betray the Academy?

  Dersum felt how his strength was leaving him. He was having trouble remaining conscious.

  I didn’t know! Please! I didn’t know!