If someone would've told me a few weeks ago that I would be sitting down with Tobias Kurt and Wyatt Thompson, my top two nominees for most punchable face, and having a nice brunch with the two of them at Wyatt's house? I would've laughed in their face. It was actually pretty nice at the Thompson residence, Wyatt had this whole minimalist vibe going, not too much color, some floating shelves and plants here and there. What really tied the place together was Wyatt's personal touch, he had a schematic of his primary casting focus on the wall over his work desk. A real renaissance man that guy. Toby and I showed up to his place after our little scuffle, but we were soaking wet and Wyatt told us to "piss off" until tomorrow morning. So here we are, with our surprisingly gracious host who provided a nice little breakfast spread of biscuits and jam. Toby kind of just said "Good morning, oh look, food!" then started chowing down while Wyatt gave me a look awaiting an explanation.

I went over what happened before we showed up the afternoon before. Wyatt's eyes showed interest once I mentioned the various examples of shaping skill Kurt showed during the fight. He jotted some notes down on a pad at his side of the dining table. Kurt just kept stuffing his face, I'm not entirely sure he was even aware we were talking about him.

"You seriously can't seem to catch a break huh? Well, it's good that you meatheads didn't get hurt." Wyatt noticed me giving him a look, "No lasting damage, anyway. So you want to bring this guy into the fold with our little... uh, what are we like a militia? Yeah that works for now."

I nodded. "I don't really want to stop there either when I think about it. I think we should have a meeting with Travers now that he's had some time to consider everything that's happened. After hearing Toby here spill his guts about how powerless he felt after what happened to that class... I feel like everyone who's sticking around has a right to know about what's going on, and the risks they're taking by continuing to come to class."

Wyatt took a moment to mull things over, then he pulled out his sending switch and messed with it for a bit. "Well I don't really know what you want to come out of this, but l agree the conversation needs to happen. Especially seeing as how you seem to have thought over this for a while. I just tried sending to Hank but he's not responding. The feedback I got felt like he was busy, maybe we should check in on teach?"

We grabbed our things and started to head over the Travers' Manor. Hank an Alice lived in a huge place on the south end of town. The Travers family, having been one of the founding family lines of Arcton city, have always had the head of their family reside in that place. The other houses were left pretty empty over time. The Strauss House was rumored to be the most regal by far, their head Rohan Strauss only accepting personal meetings from other house heads.The Strauss family head disappeared after a previous maiden crusade, leaving the northernmost home abandoned. The Tinworth line left their home on the west end a few decades ago, the matriarch of their house, Tania Tinworth, deciding to pack things up and run a business making enchanted items and custom casting focuses. Wyatt's folks and their research was funded by the Tinworths, the Thompsons being a satellite family of the Tinworth line. Finally, the Copia Clan was the most magnanimous of the four major founding families, the master of the house was chosen by the other members of the family, which consisted of blood relatives as well as adoptive family members. Whoever was thought of as the most fit to lead, whether or not they had a remarkable capacity as a magian artist, was chosen to represent them and direct the future of the house.

Hank was an only child, and his wife Trisha passed away giving birth to Alice years ago. I used to offer to come over and hang sometime with Alice but Hank forbid it. After some time though I figured it was just because Alice doesn't like me much, having the hots for Wyatt and all. This was gonna be my first time going to their home, with Wyatt in my company I'm sure Alice won't protest too much while we try to get the conversation started.

We arrived at the front gates of Travers Manor, Wyatt having tried to send for Hank a few more times at this point with no results. I hesitated once I actually got to take in just how large the house was, you'd think they'd get lonely with all of that space between the two of them? Toby gave the place a quick up-and-down before blowing raspberry at the gates. "I've seen way nicer joints than this, I feel older just looking at this place. No one makes houses out of bricks anymore." He made his way to the gate and began to mess with the front latch in the center, the padlock seemed to be giving him some trouble. "C'mon you ancient piece of-" With a noise that sounded a corn kernel popping, Kurt was gone without at trace.

"Oh, damn. where'd he go?"

Wyatt shrugged, "I figured there would be some security measures in place, after all we weren't invited."

"Then why did you let him get that far?!" I scratched my head trying to think of where the ward might've sent Kurt.

"One less variable, plus I've been around Tobias before at school. He's more dense than you on occasion and dealing with Alice takes... tact."

I cross my arms, Wyatt could never just be up front with people. He could've just told Toby to head home for the day while we handle this! Ah, well if he's safe wherever he is I guess it was funny to watch. I better keep my guard up with this guy until I'm more confident I can get a read on him. "So, what's the plan?"

Wyatt clapped his hands together and summoned his weapon of choice, this one was new. It was teal in color and looked like a plain handle with grooves for each finger, and a slot on each end facing the same direction the knuckles were intended to. " Well, our first step is getting over this gate. I figured I'd squeeze in a lesson for you too while I'm at it."

"Let's get started then."

Wyatt nods as he points his new tool over the edge of the gate towards a tree in the front yard. He squeezes the handle and some raw-looking magis like his force bolts, jets out of each end before molding itself around the branch. With a tug, Wyatt zips over the gate and past the tree. He does a quick tuck-and-roll when he hits the ground. The way he mutters to himself while dusting off his shirt tells me he over-shot it.

I whistle, "Woah, nice toy! So you got one for me?"

"No, we're built too differently. What you're gonna try is a more brutish approach."

"Got it, smashin' and bashin'" I focus my magis into my hands, If I'm right about this my affinity should let me ignore the transport ward while I deal some discrete property damage.

"Wrong again, we don't have time to see if you can pull that off and we don't want you to somehow be more unwelcome. You know that thing you do? Where you screw up a firebolt cast and your arms explode?"

My stomach churned at the thought. "Yeah?"

"Cool, you're gonna do that with your feet, and time the explosion with your jump."

He can't be serious. I waited for him to start laughing and present his real plan. He just stared at me, deadpanned. "Bro, really?!"

He just looked down at his watch before heading to the front door, "I'll give you five minutes to find your balls before I go in on my own. Sound good?"

I tied my shoes together before bolo-ing them across the gate at Wyatt's feet. Then I rolled up the legs of my pants to my knees. "Only some complete wacko would come up with such a violent technique just to get a boost."

He waved at me as he picked up my shoes. "Yeah you used to do it all the time!"

I winced as I started to feel my legs bubble and curse under my breath. "Oh, great. Yeah I just love my little adventures with Wyatt."

* * *

Tyson continued his bellyaching until his legs stopped steaming, then he finally starts putting his shoes on so we could continue. “Don’t expect me to be doing that all the time. You do know I feel that entire process when it happens right?”

I pretend to examine the door for more wards. While he was gathering the courage to jump over the gate I had already lightly laced my eyes with some magis to scope things out. I’m confident there’s nothing else to worry about… but Alice lives here, and despite his recent failings as a guardian for the student body, Hank was very thoroughly security centered with his thinking. No, if we’re going to make any further progress into this place we should approach like we were invited. Shaking my head at how much deduction I went through just to come to this conclusion, I ring the doorbell.

A ring resonates throughout the front yard, overwhelming our ears a bit. I wince while Tyson drops his last shoe to cover his ears. After a few rings, nothing but a gentle breeze greets us. Tyson gets up and whistles a tune, “Damn, this place is a bit ritzier than I expected it to be. The people have a bell tower for their doorbell?” he remarks pointing at a spire on the northeast corner of the roof. “Weird, I kinda felt like the ringing was coming from everywhere instead of up there though.”

I put up a finger and shoosh him to stop him from rambling, something was off. “You ever get that feeling of being watched?”

He shook his head, “I thought that’s just a thing people said in stories to sounds like they’re cool and hyper-aware or whatever. You telling me the genius Wyatt Thompson is spooked? You see any stiffs floating around or something?” He started laughing at his own joke, like the moron he is before his face dropped. “H-hey uh… Alice?”

I whipped around but it was too late, I pulled into a black hole unable to free myself from the clutches of my childhood menace. I expected to feel a crash but I just felt the plush surface of her comforter. She… brought me to her bed?! My heart started beating out of my chest as I scrambled to get off the bed. “Alice listen! We grew up together and this is just way too weird! We haven’t even gone on a date and we’re both still really young and, holy shit your dad isn’t home, is he?! It thinkyoushouldreallythinkthisthr-!”

I stopped to breathe and take in what was happening as she buried her face into my back. She was crying softly while she squeezed my chest even tighter. I calm down and try to get a handle on the situation. “Alice what’s going on?”

“Daddy’s shut himself in his office since a few days ago, Li-li got hurt and my friend Becca, Daddy tried to keep me out but I’m just as good as he is when it comes to jumping from place to place. I snuck into the classroom, because I had to see what happened with everyone. Wyatt, she had these… thorny roots coming out of her eyes and mouth… it looked unbearable! Daddy knows why this happened and he won’t tell me anything! He won’t even talk to me anymore and I, I just wanted someone to hold me for a minute. You don’t even have to do that, just be here for a little while. Please.” Her voice wavered with that request and I couldn’t say no to her after that, so I turned around and just… held her for some time. After a while she had fell asleep in my arms without so much as another word. I hate to admit it but I felt my face get hot when I realized how nice it felt to embrace her like this.

I slid her off me with some sleight of hand and let her rest on some throw pillows she had lying around. I took some time to look around. I expected something a little more colorful, but I’m impressed. Her room had a sort of nebulous, space theme to it. To my surprise she even had a work desk like me. Some of the spells she was theorizing were going way over my head so I put her notes down and decided to stop snooping. It’s time to get back on track.

I made my way to the foyer and let Tyson inside, as expected, no wards on the door from the inside. He gave me this shit-eating look and just stood there while I held the door for him. “So… how was that?”

“Get bent.” I hissed as slam the door as we start searching for Hank’s room.

“I’m just saying she wasn’t looking too great, and you were gone for a while.” He threw his hands up as he gawked all around the interior. “I would’ve made my way in on my own but I didn’t want to risk pissing Alice off or ending up like Kurt.”

The house looked normal enough, it had some antique furniture throughout the halls. Upon further inspection, you could make out traces of the same glyphs Hank had etched into his gloves he used when he sparred with us. Looking at them for too long gave me chills. After some wandering we made our way to what seemed to be the master bedroom.

Tyson didn’t waste any time barging in, he gave the door a quick two-taps and strolled in like he owned the place. “Yo, Hank. We’re dropping in to discuss… Hey. HEY! What happened to you?!”

The titan of a man that was Hank Travers was laying before us in bed with a fresh burn scar on his chest, his right arm in a sling, and his left gripping a teacup albeit not as steady as it usually would. “Afternoon boys,” He strained “Don’t be alarmed at my current condition, I’ll be better within a few more days. Until then, the academy is to remain closed. Now if there are no more questions, I’d like to get back to rest.”

Tyson advanced, now towering over Mr. Travers. His was riddled with confusion and desperation. “No Hank, we’ve got a lot to discuss. Was there another attack right under our noses? Who did this to you?!”

He gave a half-hearted smile before replying, “A very concerned student who wished to prove their capabilities regarding the defense of their fellow peers. During my assessment of their abilities I… I made a grave miscalculation and paid for it. In my throes, I dealt the student considerable damage as well, leaving the city with two less defenders. I don’t know whether it was my pride, or denial that I could be overwhelmed so easily by someone who hadn’t even graduated or been formally trained for more than a year, but because of my inability to yield I’ve put us in quite the position.

Tyson and I looked at each other in disbelief. Not only did a student score a hit on Travers, but they maimed him. I couldn’t think of anyone I’ve ever met with that level of skill or power. Tyson looked deep in thought, but then he shook his head and continued.

“Well maybe your geezer ass has learned its lesson! I’ve been thinking about this since Kurt came to me the other day. He wants in by the way and I’m vouching for him. We should hold an assembly for everyone and let them know what’s going on because they have every right to know. Those who want to pitch in and help out can get trained with us!”

Travers let out a sigh and grimaced at the thought. “Tyson, an announcement like that would send the student body into a frenzy. Not only that but this would offer any sympathizers with our enemy, such as the treacherous Buchanan, an opening to destroy our cell from within.”

Tyson stood his ground, “Hank that’s stupid, you and I both know that you, Wyatt, and myself are going to need help if we’re going to defend the city on our own. We need every volunteer we can get. With or without your permission I’m spreading the word.”

The teacup in Travers’ hand burst into shrapnel as he slammed his fist into his nightstand, breaking it in two. “That is unacceptable! I WILL find another way! I will not put anymore of you children in danger! The only reason I came to you in the first place is because of your-!” He paused, realizing what he was about to say to his student.

“I’m not human, right? So, I’m expendable, so what if I have a quick memory wipe, or feel every ounce of pain as I approach death. In the end, it’s just a reset for me, right? How many times have I been killed since you started using me, Hank? I wanna know. How many people have I been?!” Tyson’s voice cracked as he begged Hank for an answer he didn’t really seem to want to know. It was getting hard to watch. After our talk at the park about his past with me, I just assumed tha the had thoughts like that behind him.

“Tyson… I-“ Hank started before a familiarly obnoxious beeping started going off from Tyson’s pocket.

Hank’s face grew pale. “Please, not now.”

Tyson and I each looked at the pocket watches Hank gave us when we started his path. There were four large blips to the north. Tyson took a breath and ordered, “Get Toby in here, Hank, now.”