“Mana is destructive by nature. Do you really believe demonization happens just because there is too much mana in the body and therefore it goes out of control? No, living beings were not meant to control mana, and that is why they have a limit on how much they can control,” Cordelia scoffs. “Let me tell you a secret. The magi language that you speak of was originally called spritzenguang, or the spirit language.”

I open and close my mouth. What does that make me, the descendant of the result of an experiment that went against nature? This world is really much too complicated. My head begins to hurt.

“As the name implies, spirits were the original users of magic. Humans didn’t have magic. The only ones who could use magic were sages, who communicated with the spirits, but there has not been a sage since that traitor came to this world.”

“That traitor?” She doesn’t elaborate, so I don’t ask further. “Why are you telling me this?”

She looks me in the eyes. “Do you think demons can get around magic jamming?”

I think before answering, “If that was true, you wouldn’t be here.”

“Correct. Only spirits could get around magic jamming as the ones who could use magic by nature, but here you are, trying to get around it.”

Saying I feel attacked is an understatement. “I have cast active and dimension spells before. I’m sure with a bit more time, I could cast a gem spell as well.”

“What you are doing, what Natasha’s life’s research was about, it is against nature.”

And demons aren’t? I hold my tongue, waiting for her to continue. Even if my body is now beginning to go through puberty doesn’t mean that my mind is that of a child’s.

“Going against nature has drawbacks.”

“It’s the only way to find her quickly. If we scour the Eastern Mountain Range, who knows how long that would take, not to mention we risk alerting the demon faction.” I idly kick a pebble on the ground.

“I heard your dream is to become a Great Sage.”

I freeze, and then slowly turn my full attention back to her. “You mean to say I should contact the spirits?”

“If the spirits can change the mana to better suit magic using your langauge, jam stones would be ineffective, no?”

“I’ve never even heard of spirits. Where am I supposed to find them?”

“That’s for you to find out. You speak the spirit language better than anyone here could. You can probably reestablish the connection with the spirits.”

I flinch at the sudden sound of a yell and then porcelain shattering, and Cordelia raises her brow at me. Before she can speak, I raise a finger to my lips. “You said he would help. He hasn’t even seen the girl outside of class!” For the office not even being his space, this fake Price spends a lot of time admonishing others in it.

Detaching the gem from my ear, I say, , and the gem grows to the size of my palm as porcelain shatters once again. Cordelia glances between me and the gem before settling her gaze on it.

“It’s only been two days. Give him time. Besides, didn’t you give her the assignment to find that mage?” It’s that familiar voice again.

“That doesn’t mean she should be able to shake him off like this. Isn’t he supposed to be very capable?”

“With all due respect, Prince, that girl is even more capable. The child may be older, but he doesn’t have the same talent. Even though he is blood related to-” A loud slap cuts off his words.

“Who cares if he is a son of that family?” the fake hisses. “He’s supposed to be the most talented of his generation, but he barely holds a candle to her.”

“Are you not afraid he will defect?”

“Donovan’s son would never be that foolish.”

There’s silence, and then, “In any case, he needs time. If he moves too quickly, it will be suspicious. The girl’s too smart.”

The fake Price sighs, saying, “Alright. He has at most a week. We cannot afford to delay any longer. Since the authorities are onto us, and the whereabouts of that mage Natasha are unknown, we need to move up our plans.”

“I agree. We have made enough progress. After all, that girl helped.”

“Oh, how’d you manage that?”

I stare at the gem in dismay. It’s only now that I realize why that voice is very familiar as he says, “I taught her personally. Getting information out of her is but a small thing.”