Celie managed to kick Mason in his nuts. He still held on but jerked his leg and let out a groan.

Without drawing attention, I kept my arms at my sides. I focused mana into both of my arms and tuned it to sweep Mason from under his feet with my Wind Manipulation magic.

-3-

“Gahh!” Celie’s kicks and punches began slowing down as her body started giving out

-2-

“You disgrace!” he snarled.

-1-

*woosh*

“AH!”

*gasp*

It worked. Mason let go of Celie as he began to fall backwards, as I manipulated the wind behind his ankles and thrusted it towards them.

Celie was on her knees, and Mason was ready for round 2.

“I’m going to kill both of you!”

I never used my magic to kill anyone until now. I didn’t think I had enough intensity to do so. I was terribly mistaken.

I compiled the wind around me and thrusted it at Mason who was reaching for Celie. He flew further than he did last time and nearly hit his head on a rock.

His men stood back at the wagons and watched along with the maids and servants.

I was ready to land a wind strike from above when a thin, weak vine wrapped around my ankle from behind me.

I forgot that he could manipulate plants, and it wound up being a fatal mistake as he closed a great amount of distance.

I raised my palm and threw a small gust of wind at his chest. It wasn’t enough to do any damage, but it was enough to make him stumble backwards.

My wind was too fast for him to dodge at such a distance, but my mana was significantly drained from all the exercises and magic I’ve fought him with.

I kicked at the vine but there was no effect. It kept creeping up my leg and gripping me ever so tightly.

Celie was still on the ground panting with her eyes closed as tears formed in her tear ducts.

She couldn’t help me this time. Even if she could, there was no time for her to run wherever she did last time and get her swords and then come back.

I was nearly drained of all my mana until…

*woosh*

*smash*

The doors behind me swung open violently. Fletcher and Miss Mary were standing confused from all the noise.

“Now what is-” Fletcher was interrupted by a gasp from Miss Mary. Fletcher shifted his focus between me and Mason as he asked “What the hell happened?”

Mason withdrew his vines and walked up ever-so-calmly to them as if nothing ever happened.

“Lady Celie was just showing me her magic and then suddenly that fool attacked me!” he pointed at me

“Wh-”

“Now, Jiro, how will you explain yourself?” I explained everything up until the part where Mason wrapped vines around my leg as the man himself came up with one of the worst proposals I’ve ever heard.

“Just ask Celie! She’ll tell you what happened.”

All eyes turned to Celie who was on her knees, gazing with her dry eyes between her thighs.

“He…”

“Well? What is it?” Miss Mary urged.

“Jiro… he…” There was a brief silence. “Jiro attacked us…”

I gasped along with Miss Mary.

WHAT! What is she doing? Did she just…

Now all the curious eyes turned to me as I was left speechless and betrayed.

Manson dug his knee in my back as he pinned me down on the dirt.

“Celie! What’re you talking about? I was helping you!” I cried.

Celie did not respond.

I was absolutely bewildered as to why Celie would lie. It didn’t make sense to me. I thought no reason could’ve justified this.

Miss Mary quickly called over one of Mason’s men who had his hand on his brown leather dagger sheath attached to the side of his belt.

I thought I was screwed until Fletcher called the servant back, and approached me.

“He is my responsibility. After all- I brought him here.”

“No. His beheading seems most appropriate.” He looked into the crowd of his men and maids and servants. “Don’t you all agree?” The crowd gave an immediate nod.

“Sir Mason, with all due respect, Sir Chalot has given me the privilege of having a personal assistant.”

“Fletcher, you've had that privilege ever since you were promoted to his butler. Why would you want one now?” Mason shook his head. “In fact, why are you trying to help this rat? Are you having a little romantic play with this child as well?” Sir Mason teased. Fletcher did not respond, and his sincere face grew darker as the conversation continued.

“If he were to do such a thing again, you can have both of our heads.” Fletcher proposed.

“Why would I want your head?” Mason asked, and my discomfort grew as the seconds passed.

Can you just let me go already?

Mason sighed and finally stood up with his final words being “Fine, but one misdeed and I will have both of your heads.” He turned around and finally left. I pushed myself up and immediately faced Celie who refused to look at me.

“Why-”

“I don’t have to answer anything to you. Your job is already done. I don’t need you.”

We were a terrible match. I felt stupid for thinking we could have been friends.

“Don’t mind her, Jiro Nakajima. You’ll be working for me now, so there’s a few things I must teach you.” He opened the door for Celie who was leaving her room. “I must also measure you for the proper attire for a personal assistant.”

I didn’t want to go through any of this, but I followed him as he led me into his office.

He had a fat long desk with a thick cushioned chair positioned behind it.

The room had a new car smell, and he had 3 windows on the wall behind his chair.

He sat down and waved me to sit in one of the frail wooden chairs sitting across from him.

His desk was well organized. He had a large open notebook in the center of it, and next to it was a quill sitting in his inkwell.

To my left were shelves with a few books, and to my right were two portraits of an elderly man and a young woman.

“Well, pardon me. This may be my fault.” He coughed into his hand as he opened a small drawer to his right and pulled out a book.

I didn’t want to respond with a “Oh, it’s alright” because it wasn’t alright.

Everything was shaping out to be terrible.

I didn’t want to be a personal assistant. Yeah, it’s better than dying, but I wanted to become a mage.

Fletcher sighed as I sat there for a few minutes looking around the well-lit room and giving quick glances to the outside sky which was starting to turn dark.

“Uh… Mr. Fletcher?”

“Mister? What’s that?”

“Oh… nothing…” I rolled my eyes. “What should I address you as?”

“Fletcher will do it. You’re not really going to be my personal assistant. Though, I still need to measure you and get you a uniform.” He scratched his ear and then looked up from his book into my eyes which immediately strayed away from his. “I suppose you should try to escape after you recover, though. I’d even help you.” He suggested.

“Hm? You’re fine with that?” I gawked at him.

“Yes… after all, you’ve already taught Lady Celie how to use magic. Though, I would much prefer you to stay and instruct her so she can build on her mana potential…” His voice faded as we heard footsteps approach the door, and he immediately turned his attention back to his book.

“Oh…”

I didn’t want to instruct her, and I would’ve agreed to him helping me escape, but I wanted to know why she betrayed me.

My curiosity lingered and grew inside of me the next few days. I had this feeling that she didn’t really want to betray me.

She usually gives me a mean eye when she talks down on me, but she refused to look at me when she lied and basically told me to screw off.

Knowing this, I was ready to investigate in my new black down-collar jacket and gray-striped black pants.