We slipped past countless nobles, mages, and wealthy merchants to reach a spot near the middle of the dance floor. I took a moment to listen to the music before pulling Vesper close and moving in a simple, flowing waltz. It was a classic, easy to perform, and gave me a chance not only to get used to Vesper's skill level and rhythm, but also to talk.

  "You're better than I would've expected," Vesper commented after only a few steps. She had to lean close to my ear to be heard over the music, and I tried not to notice how close we came to one another with that simple movement.

  "You sound surprised. Should I be insulted?" I asked.

  Vesper shrugged one shoulder. "I just didn't take you for the dancing type."

  I laughed. "I'm not, honestly. I learned how to do it when I was younger, but Flynn insisted I needed more training if I was going to be a noble. My dance instructor agreed, and she had high standards."

  Vesper stumbled, and I pulled her closer while pivoting just in time to move us out of the way of a passing couple. If I had tried such a move a month earlier, I would've knocked someone over, but I managed the adjustment with barely a hitch in our steps.

  Her lips quirked up, and I corrected myself. "Very high standards."

  We swayed around the dance floor for several minutes, and I took the chance to glance around the ballroom. I recognized some of the partygoers from my time as an apprentice, and others, distantly, as the lords and ladies of various families, but none stood out beyond that. Not only did I not see any old friends or teachers, but more importantly, I didn't see an Archmagus.

  Hopefully, Flynn was having better luck tracking down Alexandria.

  I turned my focus back to Vesper, asking, "Have you considered my proposal?"

  Vesper paused, then replied, "I have."

  "And?"

  "And I haven't decided quite yet," Vesper responded. "You've not told me much."

  I wondered what I could say to change her mind, before settling on remaining silent. Flynn could have persuaded her, but I wasn't Flynn. I had learned many things over the years, but charm and charisma were magics still outside of my grasp.

  Instead, I said, "Simon enjoyed your conversation on alchemy. If you'd like, I can reintroduce you two, and you can continue your discussion."

  "Would you, now?" Vesper asked, raising an eyebrow.

  Something in her gaze seemed suspicious, and I laughed. "I'm not joking. Simon can spend hours discussing the finer points of alchemy if given half the chance, and I suspect you can as well."

  Vesper's gaze grew distant. "Ever since...well, ever since coming back here, my training as a healer slowed. Master Lysandra often spoke about the importance of alchemy. 'A good alchemist is halfway to a healer, I believe is what she told me once."

  "I thought you had continued your studies?"

  "I have, but without a master, it's challenging. Healing isn't the sort of art you can teach yourself."

  "That reminds me. If I might pry, why did you—"

  "Use a fake name?" Vesper asked, a sarcastic edge coloring her usually soft voice. "I'm not sure, Vayne. Why didn't you share all of your secrets with a stranger?"

  Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

  "Fair enough," I allowed. "How about this, then? Ask me any question you'd like, and I'll answer it honestly. In return, you have to do the same."

  Vesper pulled away a little, meeting my eyes before replying, "Okay, but I go first."

  "Feel free," I said, spinning us as I spoke.

  "Why did you leave this place?" Vesper asked, gesturing with the hand resting on my shoulder around the ballroom. "I didn't get to know you that well, but you seemed dedicated to your training. What changed?"

  "Nothing. I still want to become the best mage possible, but I realized the world was much larger than one school. Beyond that, my particular magic required more than the Academy could provide. Aether mages are a rarity, and even the masters here didn't fully grasp how to guide me."

  Vesper's eyes turned sharp, her grip on my hand tightening as we swept across the dance floor. "You're not telling me everything."

  I should've deflected or lied. Instead, I found myself slowly nodding. "...I'm not, no. The truth is, I wanted to leave. I know I should've been grateful I could train and become a mage even though I wasn't a noble. I was grateful. But I was going to live someone else's life if I stayed here, and I didn't want that. The rest is the truth, but not the whole of it."

  Vesper searched my face, and I found myself waiting for her response. Finally, she gave a small, soft laugh. "Some honesty, at last. Your turn, then."

  I had already thought of my question. "Why did you hide your name?"

  Vesper didn't reply at first. Instead, we continued to dance, the music having slowed and grown more intimate. I didn't push for an answer, hoping she'd provide one in time, and finally, she began to speak.

  "...I love my brother, but it's difficult at times being his sister. My grandfather had dreams of restoring our family name, ambitions he pushed onto us. Arenius was quiet, withdrawn, yet brilliant, and I couldn't measure up, but that didn't earn me reprieve. There were expectations. When my grandfather passed, I saw a chance to do something else. Something for me. So, I took it."

  "You became Selene, the healer, not Arenius Ollais' sister?"

  Vesper nodded once. "Yes."

  I compared the person I had met years ago when I trained under Lysandra with the one before me. They shared similarities, not the least of which was their kindness, quiet demeanor, and dedication to healing, but more differences than I had realized.

  Selene was withdrawn, almost meek. I wasn't sure what had changed, but Vesper had some strength about her. Something as sturdy as good steel beneath it all.

  "I think," I said after a long pause. "I prefer knowing the real you."

  "And who is that?" she asked, her eyes on mine.

  I was going to answer, but before I could, I sensed light mana flicker near the edge of the ballroom. It was familiar, and I pulled away as I looked in the direction of the energy.

  Flynn stood there, a drink in hand and a smile on his face. But it wasn't his calm, confident expression. Instead, it was the faux-cheer he wore as a mask.

  I smiled at Vesper. "Another time, I'm afraid."

  Her jaw tightened, but she nodded after a brief pause. We wove through the rest of the dance floor, making our way to the edge of the ballroom where Flynn waited for us.

  "There you are, dear brother!" Flynn said elaborately. He turned to Vesper, an apologetic smile already on his face. "Would you mind if I borrowed your date for a few minutes? We have family business to discuss."

  Vesper nodded slowly, a faint smile on her face. "Breaking that promise already?"

  "In my defense, there is no accounting for family."

  "You called me family!" Flynn shouted, a genuine laugh breaking through his mask. "I'll have to mark the date."

  I rolled my eyes, even as I started walking away. Flynn followed beside me, dropping his drink onto a nearby table before retrieving two new flutes from a passing servant. He threw a thank you over his shoulder, handed me one, and sipped the other without breaking stride.

  Flynn led me up the stairs and onto a small, isolated balcony. It was small, only large enough for a handful of people, and he took a brief few seconds to request privacy from the couple already standing there. They left us, and the moment we were alone, I felt Flynn's mana shift.

  A faint sheen of light mana settled around us, densely woven in a pattern I didn't recognize. I could sense there was an intricate structure to it, suspecting an array of some kind, but I wasn't able to grasp more than that.

  Flynn sipped his glass, muttering under his breath, "It's a privacy spell. Should block our voices from traveling, though it won't last long. Someone will notice and break through it in a minute or two."

  "Perfect. Am I right in assuming you didn't find Alexandria?"

  Flynn sighed. "Unfortunately. If Alexandria is here, she's blending in with the crowd. Not sure how, considering she has enough mana to rip the ballroom to shreds if she wanted, but she is. That, or she didn't attend, which I doubt. She's got a reputation for not making waves, and skipping an event held at the Academy certainly qualifies."

  I tapped my fingers on my glass. "We need to get her attention, then. Make her come to us."

  "Why?" Flynn asked. "I still think we could figure this out without her."

  "Maybe eventually, but you yourself said this ritual is on a time limit. Without Alexandria's help, we won't be able to make a mind palace in time. Without that, we won't be able to handle it without recruiting more people."

  "About that. What if we recruited your friends? I know you spoke with the Helton boy, and Leon Estton is a wind mage. The others aren't compatible, but that's still two more. Three if we get Ollais as well."

  I was already shaking my head even before Flynn finished. "No. Simon and Leon are good people, but it's been too long, and I've seen them choose their family once before. I understand why, but I don't think we can trust them with these sorts of secrets."

  "And you'd trust strangers?"

  "Of course not, but I'm willing to force strangers to remain silent. I'd rather avoid that with friends, former or otherwise."

  Flynn chuckled. "I didn't expect you to get squeamish about these things. Not now, at least."

  "I'll do plenty of things to reach my full potential, but not that."

  "Fine, fine. Now, how do you get an Archmagus' attention?"

  I had considered the question several times already and not come to a good answer. Most Archmagi ignored teenage mages, unless they were exceptional in some way.

  Then again...

  "Flynn, I think I have a plan, but I need you to do me a favor."

  Flynn raised an eyebrow. "Which is?"

  "I need you to gather up as many fifth-year apprentices as possible and meet me outside."

  First, if you liked (or didn't like) the story, I'd love for more comments and reviews. Writing is a learning process and I've got a lot to learn still, so any feedback helps.

  Second, I've launched a Patreon, so if you want to read a little ahead or just support me, it'd be great if you checked it out:

  Third, I've also launched a Discord if you want to ask questions or discuss this story in general: