"Who does?"
Well, I had a much bigger reason for it.
Aster prodded my shoulder as he spoke. "So, how does it feel?"
"How does what feel?"
"Being ranked number one?" He sat on the edge of my bed.
"I don't know. How does it feel to be under me?"
"There were so many other ways you could have said that. But no, you had to be a dick about it."
"I did." We smiled at each other. Our conversation was cut short as a female mage came over to us. She was elderly and had a calm feeling about her. She reminded me of my mother with her smile.
"How is everyone?" She asked.
"Great. And you?" Aster replied.
"Fine... thank you."
"Ignore him, he has no filter or thought process," I said. "When can we leave?"
"As soon as you want. Especially that one." she pointed at Aster.
I laughed. "You just aren't welcomed anywhere."
"It’s a natural talent." Aster stood up and jumped up and down. "Good as new."
"Same." I also stood, but still felt uneasy. What had that lightning done to me? If I hadn't been healed, who knows what would have happened? Tye might have made good on his promise to kill me. That, and I didn't want anyone looking deeper into me.
We left the ward and went to our rooms. On the way up, people continued to congratulate me. I just smiled and nodded my thanks. That’s when I saw the bastard. The mage from the captured group who thought it would be a good idea to scream out and give me away. I walked up behind him and tapped his shoulder. He turned around and I hit him straight in the nose. He fell to the ground clutching it as blood rushed out.
"What in Lumos was that f—" He looked at me. "You're right, I deserved that."
I lunged at him again but pulled back at the last second. He winced.
"Wait." I turned to face Aster.
"What?"
”I decided I’m not hungry." I stepped over the young mage and continued to walk.
Aster laughed at the mage and followed behind me. "Potions have that side effect. We should still eat." I ignored him as we continued to our room. Aster didn't even mention the punch or food, he just followed along. We walked into our rooms and began to change out of our worn clothing. I finished first and walked to my bed. Before I could even lay down, a knock echoed through the room and a note slid under the door. I walked to it and crouched down.
"What’s that?" Aster asked.
"Don't know. Somebody slid it under."
"Well open it, you ninny."
I threw the note at him. "Don't forget who the seven is here."
"I’ll challenge you anytime, anywhere, princess." He laughed at me and opened the letter. His smile faded. "Great."
"What?"
"It’s an ominous warning." He handed the note over.
-We aren't done yet. Not even close.-
"I can only imagine who this is from," I said.
"I wonder. Could it be number three?" Aster suggested as he sat on his bed.
"I think so, good sir. The only problem is to find out how he will exact his revenge." I threw the note over my shoulder, then another knock came at the door.
"Really? I don’t want to be number two anymore,” Aster grumbled and stood up to answer the door. “We just got back and haven't had a moment to ourselves." He swung the door open, immediately backing up to make way for Jovanni, who simply nodded as he entered the room, shutting the door behind him.
"I’d like to offer my congratulations on the match. It was something to see."
"I'm glad I could entertain," I said. Dammit! Aster was rubbing off on me.
"And that you did. As for you, Aster. You also showed great potential. I see Noah is having a positive influence on you."
"I like to think it’s the other way around." Aster smiled.
"Of course, you would," Jovanni answered. He started to walk around our room and look up and down at everything. He would push papers out of the way just see what was underneath. I was just glad we had picked up the room before we were kidnapped and almost starved to death. "However, I don't want you to get discouraged at my next announcement, Aster. In fact, it’s mostly because of your help that I'm asking Noah about this."
"And what is that, sir?" I asked as he walked in front of me. He put his hands on my shoulders and it took a lot of energy not to jump back. "I am here to offer you a sponsorship." I glanced at Aster with wide eyes.
He smiled at me. "Remember, that’s because of me," Aster added.
"Not to sound rude or ungrateful, but the trials aren't over yet," I said through swallowing.
"This is true. But there is nothing that states I can’t offer you a sponsorship if the trials are still going on."
If I accepted, he would be paying for my school next year. Another goal I had to accomplish.
"Don't forget this comes with mentorship as well. So, I would be teaching you to reach your full potential. I’m the only seven on the council, I remind you. Now, do you accept?"
I looked to Aster, but he shook his head no.
The only problem was, I had no other choice. "I accept. And I thank you for this great honor."
"Excellent. Then, I’ll leave you to it. Now, the sponsorship won’t officially start until after the trials, but let me give you a word of advice. You have a target on your back now. That’s the way it is for those at the top. I wouldn't take those ridiculous leathers off if I were you. And unfortunately, don't travel unless...” Jovanni looked Aster up and down. “He is with you."
"Sir, admit it. You are warming up to me." Aster said through a smile.
"Like a cold bath," Jovanni admitted.
"Thank you, sir... I think." Aster looked down with squinted eyes.
"Well, good luck. Go celebrate. You deserve it. I’ll show myself out." He left the room, leaving us to the silence.
Aster was the first to speak. "You know he didn't really have to show himself out. The door was right in front of him. It’s not like we would be walking him anywhere."
I rolled my eyes. "Listen, I'm sorry I didn't take your advice. but I need this sponsorship badly."
"No need to explain yourself to me. I get it. Just please let me say I told you so when it all goes bad."
"You’ll have the first place in line."
He patted me on the back. "Congrats," he said as he embraced me.
"It sounded like you might be getting one, too."
"Was there any doubt?" He said as we pulled apart. He walked over to his clothing hanging up. Aster finished getting his mage robes on and we headed out into the city. I was going to eat a meal fit for kings. We went to our usual place because we knew the food was excellent and the ale was better. Luckily, there were very few at the Arbiter and we could immediately order our food and drink.
After we were finished talking, Elise showed up and hugged us both. "Congratulations! I never had a doubt."
"I had a couple," I said.
"So, what are the latest rumors about us?" Aster asked Elise.
"All the sevens are furious," Elise replied taking a sip of Aster’s ale.
"What did I do?" Aster said pulling his ale back.
"Well, apparently you were the only seven who wasn't made a hunter," Elise said. She started to look around for the barkeep.
"Wait, what?" I said.
"Yes. So, when Tye made that agreement with you, he lowered all the rankings of the sevens." Elise filled me in further. She waved down the barmaid and ordered a drink of her own.
"Great...that’s what Jovanni meant."
Aster rubbed his head. "What else?" Aster asked.
"Well, you’re also being framed as school heroes." Elise put the cup to her mouth and drank.
"Huh?" I asked.
“You were the only ones to touch the bell. Nobody has touched the bell in thirty years. Jovanni was the last." My eyes went wide as I looked to Aster.
"I'm getting really close to that ‘I told you so.’,
” Aster said holding up his ale in congratulations.
"I know. I need another drink." I finished mine and ordered another.
"Make that two," Aster said.
"Three," Elise added. We all ordered another round. After we finished, the other mages started to show up. Each congratulated me on a job well done, even the one who screamed at the end.
“Seven… I’d just like to say I’m sorry about what happened. At the trial, I mean. The short mage who I had punched had his head down, looking at my feet. I lifted his chin.
“It's fine. Just remember who your allies are at the right time. If that was a real situation you could have gotten everyone killed.”
“I know, I’m sorry.” He handed me some copper. “For another round.”
I rubbed his head and pushed him past me. “Go drink. That’s what this place is for.” He didn’t say anything else. I met up with Elise and Aster just as Aster was talking.
“…And that’s how I saved him.” I let out a huff of air.
"Elise, would you do me the honor?" I asked ignoring Aster.
"Why, I would love to." She replied.
I needed to let go so I went onto the dance floor, even Aster joined us. We started twirling and laughing. The longer the night went on, the more ale we drank. Aster and I were exhausted. School life had been nothing but non-stop madness. If it weren't for Aster, this would have been a lot harder road to travel. I looked at him, silently thanking him for everything.
When he noticed, he called out, "To Noah, the number one seven!" Everyone cheered and clinked glasses. The night went on and on. Elise left first and tried to convince us to follow. We politely declined and continued our escapades.
We finished our last ales and left the fine restaurant late into the night. I danced around in the street on the way back. There were a few travelers, but no one else was dancing like a fool.
I stumbled to a stop and threw my hand on his shoulder to stop him from walking as well. "Thank you," I told Aster.
"You’re welcome. But what on Lumos for?"
"Everything!" I screamed into the air.
He ran closed the distance between us and put a hand over my mouth, laughing. "There is nothing to thank me for, my fine young friend."
"Well, what do we do from here?" I asked.
"To be honest, I have no idea. I'm not used to this type of attention...Okay, I'm used to the attention, but not the positive kind." I smiled as I jumped from cobblestone to cobblestone.
"We can’t get too happy. There’s still one trial left."
"Easy for you to say. You already have a sponsorship." Aster grumbled.
"I do, don't I?"
Aster stuck his tongue out at me. "Ha, ha, ha.” He mocked. “Don't you worry. I'm going to get mine as well."
"I have nothing but the utmost faith in you."
"You better." I jumped to another stone but slipped.
Aster caught me. "Easy there."
Laughter filled me as he brought me closer so I could regain my footing. Looking up I could see his breath meeting the cold night's air. He was so close.
"What?" he asked as I swallowed.
I closed my eyes and kissed him on the mouth.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Sponsor
I was the one to push away first, but his hands gripped tighter on my arm to do the same thing. He held me at an arm’s distance away. His hard breathing overtook the sound between us.
What had I done? I was so scared to open my eyes, but I knew I had to.
His eyes were wide, matching mine. Aster’s mouth slightly opened and closed looking for the words I couldn’t find either.
I tried to speak, but my mouth wouldn't let me. I tried to run, but my legs wouldn't move. I was shaking under his grasp. But it wasn't fear of him finding out my secret.
It was the fear of rejection. Fear that he wouldn’t take me seriously anymore.
A tear fell out of my eye, and that was the kick I needed. Before he could open his mouth, I broke his grip. I pushed him away and ran. I ran faster than I’d ever run before.
"Noah!" he screamed, trying to chase after me. "Wait!"
But he would never catch me with his ankle still healing. More tears streamed down my face. What had I done? What had I done! I just lost my first real friend because of a stupid kiss. But, that wasn't all that I might have lost.
The realization kicked in as I rounded a corner leading to our room.
I might have jeopardized everything. My family's safety, my place here at the school, and the sponsorship I just earned. I passed our room and kept running. That would be the first place he would look for me. Even if I couldn't hide from him forever, I could certainly try. So, I ran to the only place I could think of. I ran up a set of stairs leading to a different level of the academy. Running down a hall, I stopped at the door before me.
“Should I really do this, this late?” I mumbled to myself.
I knocked on the door and it slowly opened. I pushed my way in, closing the door behind me.
"Ah, Noah. What can I do for you?" Councilman Jovanni asked, putting down his book.
"I'm sorry to intrude like this. I just didn't really have anywhere else to go." I walked deeper into the room. Books lined the wall and there was a small fire going on the opposite end.
He took his spectacles off and placed them on his desk. He was still dressed in his mage robes, even though it was late. "What happened?"
"Aster and me. We got into a fight of sorts."
He stood and walked towards me. "Have you been crying?"
"Yes, sir but only from him punching me in the nose."
"Ah, I see." He placed his hand on my back and ushered me farther into his office. "Here, take a seat. If I may ask, what was the argument about?"
I sniffled. "A girl."
He let out a laugh. "Ah, young love and jealousy."
"Sir?"
"It’s the oldest argument between friends. I’m sure it will pass in time. Now, would you like some tea?"
Just like that, the conversation was over, but I needed more time to think. More time away from Aster to figure out how to deal with all of this.
"I would, but that’s not the only reason I came, sir." Jovanni went to a small table and poured another cup of tea.
"What else could there be?"
"Well, I was curious about the next trial," I said, bringing up the first thing that popped into my head.
He looked at me with a faint smile. His fingers tapped the white container of tea. "In regard to..."
"What it is?"
"Now you’re asking too much, Noah. But I like your boldness." He lifted an eyebrow. He gave me the tea he poured.
"If you can’t tell—” I sat down on the small couch opposite of him.
"It’s not if I can or can’t, but maybe I want to see how resilient you are. If I tell you now, you will have more prep time than the others. That’s a pretty unfair advantage, wouldn't you say?" I brought the warm, steaming tea to my mouth. It tasted of jasmine and mint.
"As Aster would say, if you aren't cheating, you aren't trying." I couldn’t help but smile.
"More advice I’d ignore from him. But I will tell you for the sole purpose of seeing what you can do. Who knows, it might be a grand show. You haven’t failed to disappoint yet. I expect to be amazed, young seven."
"I will try my best, sir." I set the tea down on the table between us.
"I hope so." He stood and walked over to his bookshelf and pulled a book down. He blew the dust off and handed to me. "Here."
I took the book and flipped it open. Nothing on the pages made sense. "I’m sorry sir, I can’t read this."
"There are few who can. It’s the language of the demons."
I dropped the book. "This is forbidden, sir."
"It is." He strolled over and picked up the book. "This is a catalog of known demons and their rankings. Now Noah, why would I give you this?"
"To set me up?" I asked, trying to be
funny.
He barely cracked a smile. "No. It’s to prepare you for the next task. You will be summoning and controlling a demon."
I sat back in my seat. "Holy shi—”
"Indeed. We had to have special permission from the king in order to do this. The ceremony is, after all, forbidden.” How was I going to do that? I’ve never heard of any type of ritual happening without magic.
"Sir, can it be done without magic?"
"If it can be, then it is unknown to me. I'm afraid you are going to have to show your powers, after all. Shame. I heard there was quite the bet going around. I should have placed a bet myself.”
My hands went through my hair. I had to think this out. If there was a way, I would find it. If not, well, worst case is my summoned demon would break the pact between summoner and demon and kill everyone in sight.
Jovanni turned to a page in the book. "I want you to summon this one.” He stopped on a crinkled page and pointed to a picture. “Think you can manage that?"
"What is he?" From the picture, it looked like a spider with the body of a man. Different weapons were in each of its hands, and a stinger was where his backside should be.
"It’s a Garnog. A class five demon."
"Wait, a class five? Sir, that’s too dangerous."
"For some. But not for you. Not for the number one student. And not for a seven who is receiving this information with plenty of time to plan." One of his eyebrows lifted.
I couldn't do this. I have no magic, I wanted to scream in frustration. Maybe I should just tell him. But he didn't give me time to. "This is what your mentor said. Understood?"
"Yes, sir," I said in acceptance. I might as well tell Aster everything, considering we were all going to die. "Speaking of which. Why did you choose me? As a sponsee, that is."
"You are intriguing, and you have proved yourself more than most. True, I could have gone with Tye, but there are several sevens like Tye. There are none like you. You haven't used your magic yet, and you haven't lost in anything you’ve done. So, I guess you could say I'm impressed. But enough of this. You need to get some rest."
The Prisoner of Fate Page 11
