The flames were supposed to consume me. Just as they had consumed each of those warriors fighting for their land.

When Cateline opened her eyes, golden ones were staring down at her with such mischievous intent it rose tiny goosebumps along Cateline’s arms. She looked all around her, catching her breath as reality began to set in. She was not amongst those warriors, she was not amongst the mages, and she was not amongst the deceased who died to a snake-like flame. Cateline looked at Leolina once more, her eyes narrowed and her lips curled into a scowl.

“And what in the ever-living Hell was that?”

A cackle crawled its way out of Leolina’s throat, resting her hands against the table Cateline stood in front of. “Magic, Princess. Weren’t you the one who requested a more hands-on experience?”

“Magic? What type of magic?”

“Calm down, child.” Leolina sighed, turning towards the fountain and cocked her head. “That was a taste of history. I was told you enjoyed learning of your land.”

Cateline’s jaw dropped, her breath catching in her throat. Clenching at the fabric of her dress, she tried to find solace in the reality that grounded her. In the now. Shaking, Cateline nodded her head and tried to find her voice.

“How did you know him?” She whispered.

Leolina scoffed, her stare falling to the ground. “I knew of him, of his parents, and of their parents. Alleyn was a dear friend, Cateline. One that I held closely years before you were born.”

“And the battle? You two were warriors?”

“I, along with every other person who you saw in that vision, were mages. I am sure you understood that without me having to say it. Warrior is a term I do not wish to have.”

Cateline, with closed eyes, cleared her throat. Her head was pounding from all this information. “How did you do that? Put me in the midst of battle?”

Leolina remained silent, her eyes unwavering and still on the water. “I had a group of trusted allies, Cateline. They are gone now, nothing but a memory. With magic, though, memories can become real.”

The Mistress turned to look at Cateline, eyes wider than normal and her lips pursed together. “How is it possible, though?”

“Anything is possible, Cateline. Without restrictions, without heed, you can do anything you set your mind on. Such as magic, there is no book that limits its definition. I must ask a favor of you, Cateline.”

Leolina walked to the table, kneeled down on her knee, and did not blink as she bored into Cateline’s eyes. This alarmed her, for she’s never seen such a wise creature show such submissive restraint. Straightening her posture, Cateline nodded and waited for Leolina to continue.

“What you saw was my own memory, a fragment of my past, and how magic can aid us in our greatest battles. You have many memories that serve useful to me, Cateline. Many that you may not even recall—hidden beneath the constraints and ignorance of childhood adolescence. Will you help me by unraveling them? You will learn how to tap into this part of your mana along the way, of course. A give and take.”

“And what happened to that protective spell that had me nearly burned to death, Mistress?” Cateline asked, crossing her arms over her chest. She doubted the woman and her intent, but the yearning to learn magic was so strong she felt a draw to go against her instincts.

Leolina turned her eyes to the necklace once more and frowned. “Oh, do not worry, Princess. I have the strongest and brightest to fix that issue of yours. I need your agreement before I send them off, for the task is dangerous.”

Cateline felt nauseous. She knew the danger she would be putting herself in if she trusted this woman, but she felt a draw to her. As if something connected them, both spiritually and mentally. She found herself trusting a woman everybody else found so mysterious. Part of her wondered if Leolina was the one who urged her towards that portal, only to see what her father had said of her. Clearly not a memory, but with her ghost-like existence in that environment, it should be considered the same type of magic. Letting a shaky breath out, she carefully nodded.

“Alright, Leolina. I will help where I can, but you need to make sure I don’t die in the process.”

───── ❝ 𝖑𝖔𝖛𝖊, 𝖊𝖓𝖛𝖞 & 𝖒𝖆𝖌𝖎𝖈 ❞ ─────

Varin tapped his foot as he looked all around the central lobby, waiting for Thaddius to meet him so they could go. Varin had run off to find Aiora a few days prior but had fallen short of any clue as to where she might have gone off to. Not a single thing was left behind, nothing to ease the anxiety that one of his closest friends was missing.

Murmurings were heard down the hall, the Mistress and Cateline making way into the opposite side of the lobby as they conversed amongst one another. In unison, they both turned towards Varin and stared at him for a moment. Just long enough to creep him out, but not long enough to be warranted as creepy.

Cateline looked fearful, her icy blue eyes narrowed, and her lips pursed together. He took note of how she nodded to each thing the Mistress said before Leolina left, disapearing into her wing. Varin shuffled his feet before tearing his eyes away, hoping she did not walk over and cause him more unease. Nothing was going his way today, though.

“Varin,” her soft voice greeted. “What are you up to?”

What am I up to? Varin asked himself as he turned to look at her again. She stood a few feet away from him now, her hands held in front of her and her posture straightened. What am I to her, an acquaintance? Dear Lord…

“I am waiting for Thaddius.”

Cateline nodded and looked around, her eyebrows raising. “He’s not here.”

“How observant,” Varin mumbled and shook his head. “What do you want, Cateline? Surely, it is not to question me as to why my friend is not here?”

Her eyes grew wide, then tightened as the irritation overcame her. Somehow, she managed to simply shake her head and continue without much of a fuss. “I need your help. You agreed to help me, no?”

“Help with what, Princess?” Varin asked. The way he said Princess always made him smile, with the sardonic drip at the end of his tongue—it would entertain him for the rest of his days. He took her no more seriously than she took this very academy. She was only here to gain power; nothing would change his opinion of that.

“It’s nothing I can talk about here, but… actually, I am not so sure it would be safe anywhere…”

“I am so sorry, but what are you going on about?” Varin sighed.

Cateline looked up at him with a frown, dropping her hands to her side and picked at the skirt of her dress. “There have been things… happening to me. Even when I am not around the Mistress. I fear of its danger.”

“I hate to break it to you, Cateline, but things have been happening to you for a long time,” Varin said, his eyes moving past her and on to Thaddius who watched from the courtyard doors.

“I am in no mood for this sarcasm, Varin. I think I am beginning to regret seeking your help, it seems you are no help at all.”

He scoffed and returned his attention to her, taking note of her slouched shoulders and puckered pout. With teary eyes, she looked as if she was defeated and scared. “Alright, fine. I will listen to this conspiracy of yours, but it has to wait. I need to go to town with Thaddius.”

And like that, Cateline’s eyes lightened up and she sniffled, her lips tugging into the smallest hint of a smile. “Town? What is the town like?”

Varin cursed under his lips and walked past her, shaking his head. “I am sure the headmistress can gather you a bodyguard to see the town. For now, I must leave you be.”

To Varin’s surprise, Cateline stood silent and let him part ways from her. As he approached Thaddius, his eyes flickered between the two and shook his head.

“All I have to say is I do not want that little royal brat becoming a part of this trio.”

“Well,” Varin sighed and nodded him towards the back exit. “You and I might be a duo if you don’t help me find Aiora.”

Thaddius looked at him with wide eyes before following suit, chewing his ear off with questions in regards to what he meant.