Alice sat in her team room on a break, she had just gotten done with her lessons for the day and she wanted to relax. She wasn’t in a terribly good mood that day and it was due to several things.

The first was something that had been hanging over her for days. Her father, someone who remained so distant and uncaring toward her, appeared out of nowhere and suggested that she stop attending Cylas at once. This was very strange for a variety of reasons, the first being that he had barely even considered her existence for nearly her entire life. Though he never claimed anything, it was plain to the world that he put much more time and energy into his “Favorable” children.

Another reason was the nature of the “request”. Regardless of how he felt about her, attending Cylas was not something that came lightly. To try and get her to leave went beyond uncaring and approached malicious.

The last reason was his reasoning. On the surface he seemed to imply that he thought it was unsafe being there while the specter of Arch Mage White hung over it, nevermind the fact that Alice had befriended the charge of the high magister who employed White. However, that was only the surface. From the way he spoke he didn’t sound convinced of his own words. Not exactly like he was lying, but that there was more to his request than he let on.

Alice refused, because of course she did. She worked too hard to leave so suddenly, and doing so would shame her dear teacher’s name.

That was one thing, but there was another thing that was bothering her.

Andromeda by this point could be considered a friend. There were some things that Alice considered a bit strange. Her worth ethic was somehow both unhealthy and awe inspiring, her complete and total lack of interest in social standing, and her own lackadaisical nature towards her own life, all of these were difficult points to grasp, but she was a friend in the end. Very pleasant to talk to, interesting, and a breath of fresh air compared to the many stuffy mages she had known in her life.

This is why her conversation with Andromeda earlier that day was concerning. She had always had a habit of not delving deep into her personal thoughts, but she wasn’t cagey about talking about her reasoning for things. If she was going to do something, she would give an explanation. That was until earlier.

Out of nowhere, she said that she was leaving the college. Not leaving her education, but literally leaving to head to Skysea Adalay.

Now, you would expect that between friends one would give basic information. Why are they going, why so suddenly, how do they expect to go, things like that? But no, Andromeda was mysteriously unwilling to speak about it to anyone. Not her, Albert, Rigur, or anyone else she might be willing to talk with.

Her door opened. Her father, Veyner Magrisal, walked through the door. Beside him was very obviously a Medea. The flow in her body was a telltale sign.

“Father? I thought you had urgent business to attend to?” Alice asked.

“Plans have… Changed. I have someone who would wish to speak with you.” He said. His voice was shaking, something she thought was impossible for him. He seemed almost afraid standing where he was. He was not a man that Alice ever knew to change his mind on anything. The only exception was sending her application to Cylas.

“What was it that she wished to talk about?” Alice asked. It was genuine curiosity as much as it was trying to learn more.

“Nothing of much importance Lady Magrisal, simply a few questions about a fellow Cylas student of yours.” The woman said.

“Isn’t the attendance of Cylas a closely guarded secret? What makes you assume that I am a student there, much less know any who attend?” Alice asked.

“It was Lord Magrisal who informed me.” The woman said.

“I beg your pardon?” Alice asked.

He would not do that, as much as he lacked care for her, he understood the reasons for the secrecy. He would not willingly give that information up. Then she noticed it, his flow was weakened and slow. Specifically on his arms and legs. If someone is injured, their flows slow down. The flow of mana through the body is dictated by the health of the person. The healthier and happier they are the better it flows, and injuries do a lot in reducing happiness and healthiness.

In this case, his flow resembled someone who’s arms and legs had been removed, then reattached.

“Me and Lord Magrisal had a small disagreement on the sharing of information. Fortunately he came to understand my side of the argument.” The woman said.

Alice sighed and placed the cup she was holding in the palm of her hand. Then it shakily levitated off her hand and down to the table. Had it not been nearly empty she would have shaken the contents out onto the floor and her dress.

“I see, tell me miss, do you know much about telekinesis as a form of magic?” Alice asked.

“Only a little, I'm afraid my knowledge of mage work is limited. Why do you ask? The woman said.

“As my teacher has informed me, Telekinesis is much more difficult when moving the subject slowly.” Alice said.

“That is an interesting note, but why do you bring it up?” The woman asked.

Then she was suddenly, violently, thrown from her seat and through the nearby window.