Chapter 2

The Academy

Meredith wasn’t sure what to say. She knew her mouth had long since fallen open, staring at the boy that had traveled with them, but words weren’t coming out. Emil didn’t look happy, either, glowering at Lacardia’s president.

He waited a moment, and then confirmed Eddie’s words. “Yeah, mom and dad are two of the highest figures in Lacardia’s government.”

“Wait…but you…how…what?” Meredith was finally finding her voice again, spluttering out words with no coherent meaning to them. Emil didn’t look at her, keeping his gaze on the president. Her head was swirling, the new information crashing against the thoughts already in there. She didn’t know much about Lacardia, but Emil’s status was apparent, and it made her scratch at her head with tremulous fingers.

“Why didn’t you tell us?” Eddie asked, his voice echoing across the plaza.

“Didn’t want to.” Emil stepped forward, hands in his pockets and feet on the ground. He didn’t look to either of them, instead bridging the gap between both himself and the president. Parradyne lifted his chin a bit, watching him with appraisal. None of the Guardians moved at all, either in their own discussion bubbles or otherwise watching the scene with unexpected fascination. “My past is mine.”

“Yeah, until a president outs it,” Meredith said under her breath. Emil ignored the comment, standing right before the president. Meredith turned her body with a frown and stared after him, his profile rigid, yet looking like it wanted to flee. Things started to make a little more sense.

“I hope you know I’m not here to stay, Mr. President,” Emil said. His voice was overtaking the noise in the plaza. “You can tell that to my parents. I’m here because I’m granting a favor, not to return to their side.”

“That’s none of my business,” the president spoke. Meredith watched the pair, harsh lines setting in on both of the males’ faces. “Long as you don’t interfere with your parents’ work, the duration of your stay is irrelevant to me. I’d assume you wish to not have them informed?”

“I couldn’t care less.” Whether Emil had planned on a longer conversation or not made little difference, because he spun around and began to disappear from the plaza. “Later, Mr. President. Hope negotiations go well.”

Meredith blinked as Emil waved to the president, but didn’t stop his movement. Eddie flicked his own eyes back and forth, attempting to figure out which direction he should approach. He decided to follow Emil, aiming for one of the streets out of the plaza. Meredith wrinkled her nose, still watching the president as he shook his head.

“That boy…so unruly…” he said with a sigh. The president ran a hand through his hair before addressing Marcus once more. “My apologies on the interruptions. It was an unexpected visit. Son of a colleague, and one I know quite well.”

“No apology necessary,” Marcus said. His hands were placed behind his back as he bowed. “That said, shall we recommence?”

“Ah. Yes, of course.”

Meredith remained where she was, watching the two leaders converse with narrowed eyes. Part of her hoped to glean more information about Emil’s still-mysterious connections to the Lacardian government, but with the president remaining tight-lipped, that looked less likely every second. If she hoped for any information, it meant prying it right out of Emil, himself. That was even less possible.

She sighed, realizing she had to get moving or risk losing her path to Lacardia Academy. Huffing, Meredith hitched her bag on her shoulders and faced the direction that her companions had departed in. The both of them had all but vanished from view, but neither had disappeared from the range of her spontaneous magic. The two moving lights indicated their presence, so long as Meredith focused, and she moved that way, for the exit from the plaza.

“Mera, hold up!”

Her feet slowed, but didn’t stop. Meredith’s head turned to her brother, running away from his defensive squad to catch her. “Can’t stay, Ray. Don’t you have a leader that needs guarding?”

“Marcus can handle himself for a few seconds, at least,” Raymond said, pushing up on his glasses. Meredith grinned over at him, her steps continuing to take her forward. “Look, I’ll be in Lacardia until negotiations come to an end. No idea when that’ll be, given all the interruptions, but let’s get lunch. Catch up. Maybe call mom and dad. I mean, assuming everything goes well.”

“Goes well?” Meredith paused for a second to tilt her head, but her brother didn’t answer. A shout from Emily, near the now-retreating leadership, had drawn him away.

“I’ll check in on Lacardia Academy when I have a chance. Hope you’ll be there!” Ray offered a wave and flapped his robes around to chase after his squad. The hum of the skyships began to fill the air again, the ones they rode in on rising. The warm air washed over her as they went to find new parking spaces, while Meredith remained puzzled over her brother’s words. Surely she’d find a place to stay at the Academy.

Meredith shrugged and then picked her speed up once again to join with the boys.

Her feet crossed the threshold of the plaza, on to a street lined with various bricks and designs, like some sort of architectural marvel. As soon as they did so, the seeming sound barrier around the plaza broke and all the noises of Lacardia besieged Meredith. Crowds of people now became visible, with some men in robes or suits running towards the plaza she had left. Others went about their day, carrying all manner of magical artifacts. One man with vials of some putrid-colored liquid nearly ran in to her, but Meredith dodged to the side of the road.

Clearly, she decided, she needed to get her bearings. With her feet firmly on a patch of grass off the road, Meredith took in all of Lacardia that she could.

Like the Metropolis before it, Lacardia was busy, with plenty of people walking back and forth, filling the streets with noise and activity. Despite that, it felt very different as a whole, because these weren’t just people living their daily lives in a huge city with towering skyscrapers. These were all magic-users of some sort, and Meredith felt it showed. From the zipping hover-machines that were hardly mechanical, to a giant cauldron in a square to the north that bubbled with the aroma of delicious food. There were more people with vials, and even hawkers that held magical tools from a hammer to talismans.

Beyond the people, every marvel she’d witnessed from the sky had become more real, now that she was on the ground. Of particular notice, and one that caused Meredith’s tongue to hang out a little, was that further down the road appeared to be a whole section devoted solely to food, including a flowing fountain of chocolate with strawberry bubbles floating around it.

While she had no sight of Eddie nor Emil, Meredith wiped at her mouth and figured it was as good a rendezvous point as any. She dove into the crowd.

It was nowhere near as thick as those in the Metropolis, but the crowd slowed Meredith’s progress, the smell of food tantalizing her further. The closer she got, the more distinct flavors there were. There were also more souls.

None were quite as distinct as the one she’d momentarily conversed with before leaving the Metropolis, but they were all definitively souls, judging from the balls of light present. They swirled around her, some having different properties or colors from others, but all the same thing. The more Meredith walked, the more she could see different hues of different souls on the edge of her periphery. There were some that were rough around the edges, or taking different shapes. Many were on the move, but some remained still.

Surrounded in that sea of souls, Meredith pulled herself to a stop. Unable to turn off the sight of them, she took it all in, the air rippling around her unconsciously. Her fingers trembled.

The magnitude of souls pulsing around her made its impact, and she could sense just how many people there were throughout all of Lacardia. With her newfound magic, an entirely new world had opened itself up to her in the scariest of ways. Most didn’t notice her stopping in place, or her trembling figure from the realization, but there was a definite change in the earth beneath her, and a tree on the side of the road began to bend inwards. Meredith looked to it with wider eyes, trying to make her breathing even, before she reached up for it.

An unconscious thought existed in the back of her mind, of the tree moving on her own command. There was a sweet little voice and its branches began to grow, her own fingers stretching towards it, focusing on it without realizing.

“Mera, there you are!”

Meredith blinked with Eddie’s voice. Her hand retracted and her focus was lost. The tree snapped back up, some leaves raining down upon her, and the whisper faded into the dull roar of the crowd. The souls dimmed in her eyes, like a flow she couldn’t control. Meredith sucked a breath in to regain her bearings and looked to Eddie, now standing with her in the middle of the road. He wasn’t quite alone, the sulking form of Emil leaning against the chocolate fountain. He was playing with his magic to force the bubbles together, but the frown on his face spoke to his agitation.

She watched him a moment longer before glancing to Eddie. “Was held back by Ray.”

“Figured. Didn’t expect to see you talking to trees, though.” Eddie’s grin told her how cheeky he was being, and she rolled her eyes at him.

“Yes, they were whispering the truth of the planet. Let’s go.” Eddie had no qualms about blazing that path forward. Meredith followed at a slower pace. She looked back to the tree, softly swaying in the wind. Its soul was still present, but dimmed. It wasn’t like the sword on her waist, but more like her own vision of the souls was being obscured from view, fading away like the tide. Still a lot of work to do…

“How far to the Academy?” Eddie asked of Emil. Meredith tore herself away from the tree and rejoined her companions with full presence of mind. She couldn’t focus on the multitude of souls around her. That would come with practice.

“You see the large building over there? Looks like a castle?” Emil said, voice ringing outward as he pointed. Meredith looked up and saw the building of which he spoke. It was still covered up by numerous other buildings, people and magical constructs, but the turrets and fancy windows made it one of the more easily recognizable buildings in the country. “That’s Lacardia Academy. It’s still a bit of a walk, so let’s get moving.”

With a clap of his hands, Emil broke the bubbles, the scent of strawberry invading Meredith’s nostrils. Her tongue slipped out a bit, eyes drawn to the chocolate fountain. Emil wasn’t observing of that as he stepped away and began to leave the plaza of food marvels. Not wanting to be lost again, Meredith followed, but dipped a finger in the chocolate to taste. Sweet and perfect were the thoughts she had, and then she and Eddie were away and following after Emil.

“Lacardia isn’t a large country,” he was explaining once they were out of the crush of the crowd. Souls flickered around Meredith, but she calmed herself and their appearance dimmed, reverting to a normal vision. Her head was starting to hurt, though. “Back in the day it was a decent size, but the shrinking land has more or less reduced it to an island state that can be traversed in a day. At the center are the three major areas: Government, Commerce, Education. There are some settlements outside the main city, but they’re mostly full of researchers these days, studying the desertification.”

“You know, I wondered before how you knew so much about magic, but you were hiding a lot more than I expected,” Meredith said to him. Emil picked up his pace.

“The commerce area has a lot of different attractions and there’s no doubt you’ll use them during your stay at the Academy. From the market we just passed through, to the magical forge and even the special Development Sector. They play with a lot of magic toys there. That’s how that chocolate fountain came to be.”

“You gonna tell us the history, too?” Meredith’s lips brought themselves into an amused expression while Emil halted. Eddie bumped into her as she also stopped. The dirty-blond looked back to the girl. “Just saying. You’re sort of stalling to avoid mentioning the inevitable.”

“Mera, is now really the best time?” Eddie asked, tugging on her arm. She stood fast, staring at Emil. “The Academy’s really close, so maybe we should-”

“You said your parents tried to force you into things; you never mentioned they were two of the most powerful people in Lacardia.”

“Because I’d prefer if they weren’t,” was Emil’s response. He took a step closer, near enough to Meredith and Eddie to practically be touching. “How to talk, what to study, what to do. They decided all of it. I didn’t. I left.”

“And now you’re back…because of us?” Eddie asked. Emil’s nose wiggled with discomfort and he looked away. He wasn’t wearing a scowl, but Meredith was sure that he was internalizing it.

“I’m back because I feel like I owe you a favor. You’ll need my recommendation to get in the Academy.” Emil’s footsteps turned and once more started walking the path. They followed. “I hate the Baroné name and the expectations it places on me. There’s not much more to it. The Corps isn’t a much better option, but at least doing the trials allows me to do things the way I want. That’s all you need to know about it.”

“If you say so…” Emil’s jerking head told Meredith that was all he was going to say so about it. She sighed. There was more he obviously could say, but was choosing not to, and Meredith felt no need to pull at that thread. She had enough to be dealing with. “So, the Academy…is there something more we should know about it? Ray mentioned something and you saying we’ll need your recommendation to get in sort of makes me wonder.”

“I don’t think Eddie’ll have a problem getting in,” Emil said. That brought a spring to Eddie’s step, but a scowl to Meredith’s face. “I’m more worried on how I’ll sell you, to be honest.”

“If you’re going to put it that way, maybe I don’t want your help.”

“No, it’s…” Emil sighed. He pulled at his scarf a bit, his fingers wrapping around the frayed edges. “Soul Magic isn’t exactly common and you’ve just started using it. I’m not sure how that’ll play with the faculty, but if I can prove you have potential, we stand a chance at getting you in. They’ll trust an alumnus. I think.”

“Even a prodigal alumnus?” Emil’s lips twitched. “I’m going to guess you left the Academy on short notice, too. And Vivian?”

“Vivian? Yeah, I wouldn’t mention her to any of the students here, especially A-Class. They sort of hate her,” Emil said. He finally chuckled, adding his usual humor back to his demeanor. “As for me, I’m not sure where I stand. Lacardia Academy isn’t like a lot of other schools, but most don’t know that.”

“How so?” Eddie asked. The trio’s footsteps didn’t slow as they transitioned areas. Gone were the cafés they had passed by, replaced with the clanging of hammers and billowing fires of many colors. Meredith sniffed at the air, recognizing the smell of mechanical parts and metals. It wasn’t quite the scene of the garage back home, but it was familiar nonetheless.

“The Academy doesn’t work on, say, a graduation system. There are certain things you’d want to learn, classes to excel in, in order to do a job in a specific field or whatnot, but there’s no real ceremony,” Emil explained. His finger was in the air, as if he was a teacher, though it only brought the area they were strolling through into sharp relief. Meredith caught sight of the workers on the fringe, hammering swords and axes, or fashioning magical cannons. It was an interesting look into the world of magical forging, and a reminder of her second goal, but she paid little attention so as to keep up. “You pick your classes and your teachers. Your age decides your ‘year’ so to speak. After that, it’s up to you. Fail enough and they boot you out, though.”

“Talk about cutthroat,” Meredith said. The clanging was now fading as they moved into a place lined with storefronts. The road to the Academy felt ever-long, but she could see the turrets moving closer. Fireworks shot off to the west, but Emil ignored them like an everyday occurrence. “But that’s no different from the trials. I just hope I can learn something.”

Emil made no comment on that, but his near-scheming smile told her it was going to be a challenge. Her gaze sliding to Eddie, she could tell he didn’t look daunted in the least. This was his field, and he would excel at it, perhaps even decide on what he was looking for.

The trio fell to relative silence after that. Emil had little to speak of, having said just enough for Meredith to put the pieces together on how the Academy and his own departure worked. He now led a silent procession down the streets of Lacardia, to the gleaming castle that came closer by the minute.

Areas changed in appearance, going from storefronts to what looked like mini-laboratories filled with robed individuals, many of which were her own age. As a sign that they were closer to the Academy than further from, it made Eddie bounce with excitement. Meredith pulled him in to make sure he didn’t stray, keeping her eyes trained on the castle while they walked through the obvious education sector.

Emil said nothing, leading them along without a single glance to the side. Mutters and whispers filtered through the air and into Meredith’s brain. They were unbidden, and hardly on the lips of the individuals spouting these things, but there was no doubt that Emil’s presence had turned some heads. He ignored them all and after some more walking, they reached the edge of an elaborate garden.

They had arrived at Lacardia Academy’s campus.

“We’re here! We’re here! We’re here!” Eddie cried with infectious enthusiasm. Emil laughed and Meredith rolled her eyes. However, she still sucked in a breath and looked at the campus with a sense of awe. She really couldn’t blame him.

The Academy was, by and far, the most impressive thing she’d seen in Lacardia. It may as well have been its own city with how many buildings there were. A river wended its way through the campus, across beautifully manicured lawns and flower arrangements the likes that only magic could create. On the sides of the campus were far less elaborate buildings, yet each had their own distinct flairs of personality, as if fashioned after one of the elements. Other, smaller buildings dotted the landscape as well, and to these, Emil chose to explain.

“The ones furthest from the main building are the dormitories, with each hall having a separate ‘class’, so to speak,” he said. His hands were fiddling with his scarf, retying it around his neck. Wind gusted over the area, chilling Meredith, but she made no move to cover herself any further. “Those small buildings are where some different magic classes are held, typically of the advanced variety like forging or more…arcane stuff. Things that the main campus may not be helpful for.”

“And the castle is the main building, right? It’s huge!” Eddie said, now on his tiptoes.

Meredith felt that Eddie had a point. The castle that housed Lacardia Academy was easily the most striking building she’d ever seen, gleaming in the bright sunlight as the wisps of wind caressed its large stature. The path that had led there stretched right up to its double doors, statues lining the path in a silent invitation. She took a step forward and felt a sudden tremble inside. Unbidden, a grin split her face.

There was a large soul here.

“Emil, is there a magic core inside the Academy?” Emil’s lopsided grin gave it away. Meredith looked at the castle, feeling that thrumming soul of the magic core inside, along with the magical souls of many other individuals. They were all of a different color and size, but each had to have belonged to the teachers and students. There was one that dwarfed the others, no doubt that of a magic core…and another. The sword on her waist flared bright for a moment.

There was something else. A soul just like the one inside the blade. An answer to a question was inside that building.

Knowing it, she took a step forward…and was promptly knocked on to her backside by a blast of wind.

Meredith’s body reacted in an instant, feet planting themselves on the ground as she flipped upwards and reached for her sword. Eddie was also defensive. Emil was decidedly less so. If anything, he appeared…bored.

It wasn’t too long before he caught Meredith’s quizzical expression and then pointed upwards, towards a particular turret of the castle. She followed the finger and soon found the source of the wind that had hit her. Only, it wasn’t wind at all, at least not in the conventional or even magical sense.

“Come on, Felix, you gotta do better than that if you want to hit all of me!” a voice yelled out, but Meredith didn’t take her eyes away from the initial sight. A boy was floating, wings of air stretching out from his back and feet, though his back was to them, preventing her from seeing his face. Blinking with surprise at such a sight, Meredith moved along to see that the boy wasn’t alone, joined with another who populated one of the castle’s towers with many copies of himself.

“Flight Magic, Division Magic…welcome to Lacardia Academy,” Emil said. The boy with wings suddenly surged forward, the buffet of wind less powerful this time as he aimed for the one who had made copies. He whipped his wings out, sending air at the copies, each of them vanishing. Meredith nodded her head, impressed with the display…at least until the flying boy lost control and hit a turret, causing him to fall to the ground. He stopped himself before impacting, though, and his feet lightly touched to the grass. “And now you’ve met A-Class.”

Now that he was on ground level, the flying boy heard Emil’s words and looked in his direction. There was a second, just a moment, in which they stared at each other. Meredith took that moment to observe his windswept brown hair and stockier stature, but it was the only moment she got. Seconds later, he was flying forward and immediately socked Emil in the face. “Emil, you asshole! You owe me a fight!”

Emil flew back, but stopped short of hitting a wall, floating back over with a sigh. “Nice to see you, too, Felix. I see training hasn’t much improved.”

“Shut up!” Felix snapped, aiming another punch at Emil, but missing this time. The other boy from earlier had now landed on the ground, his copies having created a chain to bring himself to their level. “Gravity is nothing like flying.”

“So, I see you’re still holding a grudge.”

“You’re damn right I am!”

“Um…” Eddie vocalized, unable to get words out. To this sound, Felix turned and his expression softened. With the flip of a switch, his stature straightened and a smile bloomed on his face.

“Ah, my apologies for such crassness,” he said, bowing low. His companion was now walking over, his darker skin quite obvious in the sun, but Meredith was more focused on Felix. “Not a good first impression for prospective students. Felix Lawers, A-Class, President.”

“Oh, you’re president now? Can’t say I’m surprised, though I’d have thought you’d fix that temper,” Emil said. To Meredith, Emil sounded like he was straight-up taunting the boy. Felix’s face twitched, but he otherwise restrained himself. “Ah, well, it’s been a while, Felix. Good to see you doing well. You, too, Conrad.”

“Emil,” the dark-skinned boy said, placing a pair of glasses on his face. He looked rather dismissive of the dirty-blond, as well as his other surroundings. To Meredith’s impression, he looked utterly aloof, something his glasses emphasized. The boy, Conrad, moved his gaze along, bored at the sight of Eddie. Then he saw Meredith, and suddenly she found him right in front of her. At least, a version of him was right in front of her. “And who’s this? Quite a striking beauty, you are, miss.”

“Meredith…” she answered, eyes narrowing. She heard Emil scoff at the same time as Felix, which caused the latter to twitch again, but Conrad paid no mind. He reached down to clasp her non-sword hand, pressing his lips to the top. Now, she felt her own eye twitch.

“A pretty name for a pretty woman. What’s brought you to our humble-aagh!”

“Pipe down, Conrad, or you’ll get in trouble,” Felix chastised his classmate. He pulled the boy’s ear and yanked him away. “Again.”

“Was only paying a compliment,” came the responding wheeze.

“Ignore him, Miss Meredith and…” Felix’s question was clearly directed at Eddie. Her best friend immediately supplied his name while she surveyed both of the students. The two before her looked completely contrasting in looks and personality, and she couldn’t quite wrap her head around it, especially with Conrad waggling his eyebrows at her. Eddie was better at it, clasping Felix’s hand to shake it. “Well, good to meet you. Judging by your arrival here, you’re friends with him.”

“If you want to call it that,” Emil said.

“Tch.” Felix let go of Conrad now, and didn’t look at Emil. “Anyway, welcome to Lacardia Academy.”

“Glad to be here,” Eddie said. Meredith could feel the energy radiating from him and put a hand on his shoulder to calm him. Emil floated across the air to join the two of them, slinging his arms around them.

“I want to recommend them for admission. Short-term. Eddie here is one of the best elemental mages I’ve ever seen, and Mera is…” Meredith couldn’t blame him for his pause; she wasn’t sure how to explain it, herself. “Well, I think they’ll both benefit from it. What do you say?”

“Elemental, huh? He’d likely benefit from meeting the twins, then.” Felix tapped his chin as he contemplated this. Conrad was far less pensive, though he was glaring at Emil with seething jealousy. Meredith couldn’t suppress the eyeroll. “I like the idea of it, even if it comes from you. But uh…pretty short notice, isn’t it? Admissions process usually takes a while.”

“Not if you have connections like he does,” Conrad said. His tone was back to the dull and uninspired version with which he’d spoken in the first place. Even a yawn was tacked on for good measure. “He could probably convince the headmistress to let them take that for admissions.”

“That?” Eddie and Meredith voiced simultaneously. No answer was forthcoming, and no amount of Meredith’s observations gleaned one.

“You guys nailed it. Benjamin is still a teacher here, right? Same office?” Emil asked. His grin was unsettling, but Meredith refused to let herself seem intimidated.

“Yeah…”

“Great. I’ll go talk to him about it! Always did like him,” Emil said. He was beginning to float, drifting closer to the castle. “Hold on just a sec, Eddie, Mera. I’ll meet you guys inside, ‘kay? This should be fun.” With his words and a salute, he floated off towards the castle.

Felix sighed, reaching up to rub at his temples. “And there he goes, as usual. Never thinks about anyone else but himself.”

“The prodigal student, ladies and gentlemen,” Conrad said with another yawn. “So, are we just going to stand around?”

“Of course not! Prospective students should always have a tour of the Academy! Meredith, Eddie, if you’d be so gracious as to follow me!” Felix said. He moved like a soldier as his body pivoted and began to walk towards the double doors that served as the true entrance to the Academy. With a shrug, all three of those left standing around did the same, Meredith taking time to stow her blade away. “So, why do you wish to enter the Academy?”

“Well-”

“Eddie’s a magic freak and I want to be a Guardian. Gotta get better at magic to do that.”

“Mera!” Eddie whined, looking like all the air had been let out of his balloon. Meredith gave an apologetic shrug, but little else. “Though it’s true. I’ve always dreamed of seeing Lacardia Academy.”

“Well, I hope it lives up to your expectations…and that you live up to its.” Meredith’s eyes narrowed at the choice of words. Before she could ask whether it had anything to do with “that”, Conrad had sidled up to her.

“So, Guardian Corps, huh?” he said, fiddling with his glasses. She had to admit that they did make him look studiously handsome, but she found no interest in his flirtations. “That’s cool. Is it how you met Emil? Are you two, like, a thing?”

“No,” was her point-blank response. “I’m not here to find a boyfriend, thank you very much.”

“I’m wounded!”

“You deserve to be more than that,” Felix snapped back. Conrad placed a hand to his heart in mock offense. Their movement had brought them to the entrance’s steps, and Meredith spared no glance toward Conrad.

“Felix, I’m just doing what good ol’ dad taught me!”

“Yeah, and what happened to him, exactly?”

“No idea,” came the answer with a shrug. Once more, the pretense had been dropped, the aloofness returned. “Probably dead in a ditch somewhere from using his own Division Magic to swindle the wrong person.”

“Just don’t do the same…not that I’d ever let you,” Felix said, nodding his head. His words were punctuated by the quartet arriving outside the door, which began to open the second they’d stepped close enough to it. Light poured in, illuminating the entrance hall of Lacardia Academy, students walking back and forth across it. A grand banquet hall was seen on one side, joined with a hallway, while another hall led to offices opposite the banquet area. Meredith noted all this, though she was distracted by Eddie running forth with a wild grin. “Well, welcome to Lacardia Academy. We hope you’ll enjoy the stay…for however long you manage.”

Eddie didn’t appear to recognize the potential threat in Felix’s words, too busy being enamored. “It’s amazing! It looks so much more real than on the TV!”

Meredith snorted, joining him with her own observations as she turned. “Yes, Eddie, that’s usually how things work when you’re at…the location…”

Her words died in her throat as Meredith’s eyes caught on something of striking attention. The broken blade at her waist suddenly pulsed with the vestiges of life, and she found herself reaching up to the beautifully ornate and curved staff that rested above the entrance hall, watching over it. Pulsing with life, with the energy of a soul, it called to Meredith, and she stepped closer. Felix noticed, joining her and staring up at it.

“So, you’ve noticed the Violent Staff. It’s a beauty, isn’t it?” he asked. She nodded, unaware she was doing it. “That, Meredith, is Lacardia’s most treasured artifact and one of the seven Legendary Weapons of this world.”