I stared at the Archmagus, trying to think of a way to buy time without appearing rude or unreasonable. This might be the only chance I had at this kind of deal, and I couldn't risk her changing her mind. However, I also couldn't just accept whatever bargain she gave me without hesitation either.

  Before I could say anything, Alexandria waved a hand. "Think on my offer. I'll summon you in three days' time to hear your answer."

  "How—"

  The world shifted again, and I found myself back within the Academy's entrance hall. Nearby mages jumped at my sudden appearance, one going so far as to loudly complain, but I ignored them all in favor of making for the main entrance to the school.

  I reached the field outside in just a few minutes, but the crowd of onlookers had dispersed. A few still hung about, but I found no signs of Flynn, Vesper, or my friends. Worse, the remaining apprentices were of no help, reacting to my appearance with distaste laced with fear and being entirely without any useful information.

  The next best candidate was back in the ballroom. I was halfway there when I finally spotted someone familiar. Unfortunately, it was the last person I wanted to see at the moment.

  Master Julian stood with his arms folded across his chest, leaning with one shoulder against the archway separating the entrance hall of the Academy from the main body of the school. He wore a sly grin, easy confidence radiating off of him as he met my eyes.

  "Well, hello there, my wayward former student," the wind mage said. "It seems you've had a busy few days."

  I stared at him, then made to walk past the man. As I did so, he reached out and grabbed my upper arm with one hand, firm enough to stop me in mid-step but not enough to cause any real pain.

  "Let go of me," I said, turning a glare towards the man.

  Julian raised an eyebrow but did as I commanded, holding up both hands in mock surrender. "I know you've just finished kicking the collective asses of ten fifth-year apprentices, but I didn't know you wished to fight a Master next. How daring. Consider me impressed."

  Now that I had met the mother, I could see where the son had gotten his demeanor. Alexandria had the same faintly mocking tone, but hers carried with it a greater sense of maturity and confidence.

  I found the difference between the two particularly irksome.

  "I'm busy," I remarked.

  "Looking for your brother and Vesper Ollais? Or your former friends? I can help you track down either, provided you spare your old master a few minutes of your time. We haven't spoken in years, and I wish to catch up with you."

  "I'll find them myself, thanks," I said, turning to walk away again.

  I had taken only a few steps when Julian called out, "What did my mother offer you?!"

  Slowly, I turned back towards the man. He still wore a smile, but it had grown more serious. I sent mana flowing through my head, cursing myself for not considering it earlier, and just as with the Archmagus, I felt something brush against my mind almost immediately.

  Alexandria's touch was feather-soft, controlled enough that I almost didn't feel it. Her son's own efforts were clumsy by comparison, enough to tear apart the screen around my thoughts. I narrowed my eyes, immediately trying to clear my mind, and Julian winced.

  "Sorry, force of habit. Tell you what, I'll keep my magical hands to myself in exchange for fifteen minutes of your time."

  I considered him for a few seconds, weighing the benefits and downsides, then replied, "Five. And we wait until after I find my brother and Vesper."

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  "Ten, and I'll do you one better and call them here myself."

  I wavered for a moment, then nodded once. "Do it."

  Julian chuckled. "So hostile. No need to take such a tone."

  I ignored him, folding my arms over my chest and closing my eyes. As I did so, I began pulling additional Aether into my core to replenish my depleted stamina. There was no chance I'd win a fight against the man if it came down to it, but I had no intentions of walking in defenseless, particularly after what I had learned.

  Flynn arrived less than a minute later. His face was stormy, and I saw in it the family resemblance to his ducal father, but that wrathful glare broke the moment he saw me. His shoulders relaxed, and he shook his head as he came within earshot.

  "Never do that again," Flynn said with a laugh. "I was worried I'd have to mount a rescue attempt."

  "It wasn't my intention. And I doubt that would've gone well, seeing who I was meeting."

  Flynn grinned. "Oh, I know I'd have lost, but it's the effort that counts, isn't it?"

  It wasn't, but I returned his smile. "Let's save the hopeless battles for another day. Where is Vesper?"

  "She decided to retire for the evening. I was told to inform you she wishes to speak with you in the morning, presuming, and I quote, 'he didn't get himself killed being a reckless idiot.'"

  Julian cleared his throat. "Yes, yes. Touching family reunions and budding relationships aside, I did as you requested, Vayne. Now, I believe we settled on ten minutes?"

  I glanced at Julian, then returned my attention to Flynn and said, "I'll be back shortly. When I return, we can discuss our dinner plans for tomorrow. I believe we're meeting with some friends, no?"

  Flynn didn't so much as bat an eye as he replied, "Of course, but they never informed us where they wished to eat. We'll have to hammer out the details."

  If Julian noticed anything, he didn't say as much. Together, we walked the nostalgic halls of the Academy back to his office. The man entered, and I followed, only to find myself caught off guard.

  Julian's office had more than doubled in size. Gone was the clutter and mess I had come to expect, replaced instead by a massive circular platform. Atop this was an object covered in a heavy cloth, which looked to be as tall as a man, twice as long, and wide as a carriage.

  The rest, the notes and books and such, had vanished, as had the desk and chairs. Indeed, the only thing familiar was the blackboards, many of which had designs of various rune-marked rings sprawled across them.

  I examined them, trying to make heads or tails of the schematics, only to blink as the blackboards turned blank, the writing erased as if by magic. I turned, finding Julian with one hand raised, a wry smile on his face, and his mana just barely roused.

  "No peeking just yet. My research isn't quite ready for public consumption."

  "Very well," I said, tucking my arms behind my back. "You wanted ten minutes, and you have it. So, speak."

  "Right to it, then. What did my mother offer you?" Julian replied, leaning against the waist-high platform.

  "I'm not sure I know what you mean."

  "I know her magic, and I know how she behaves. She summoned you for a meeting, and I doubt it was just to sip tea and exchange pleasantries."

  "Maybe it was. I'm not sure it's any of your business," I replied, meeting the wind mage's eyes. "Seeing as how you decided to omit certain facts about your background, I'm not exactly keen on sharing details."

  Julian frowned. "In my defense, I never hid anything about who I was or who I knew. You never asked."

  I thought back to when I was still at the Academy, and realized Julian might be right. I couldn't remember actually looking into his past or asking him any personal questions. A part of me wondered if I should have made the connection, though. Elements ran in families, and I had noted at least once that Julian enjoyed more freedoms than a typical master of his age and apparent skill.

  "A lie by omission is still a lie."

  Julian sighed. "I had my reasons, but very well. I apologize for not informing you of my mother's identity. Now, what did she offer you?"

  "Training," I said after a long pause. "In exchange for a single, unbounded favor."

  Julian's eyes widened. "Tell me you didn't accept, Vayne."

  I hadn't, but I wasn't sure I wanted to admit as much to Julian, for the simple reason that I wasn't sure I trusted him anymore.

  Julian had technically lied about his mother, but I truthfully didn't care all that much. It was irritating, but not the kind of deception that would forever shatter my trust in someone. No, it was the possibilities that arose in my mind that set me on edge.

  Alexandria claimed she hadn't instilled that unnatural compulsion into my mind, and I believed her. She didn't have the time, and I couldn't fathom a reason why she'd bother. I had already come up with several other possible culprits back when I first realized the changes to my thoughts, and now one seemed likelier than any other.

  Julian had spent hours around me, both in and out of class. He had the opportunity to reach into my mind, slowly planting a deep, unconscious impulse to never purpose mental magic. And, as I now knew, he had the training required to pull off such a feat.

  But...I found myself torn. Julian had helped me on my path, guided me during those early, faltering days. I had trained with Sigmund in part because of him, and Julian had even seemed concerned for me when I told him of my plans to leave Volaris. Was that all an act? A lie? Was I wrong about him?

  "Why shouldn't I accept her offer?" I asked after another long lull in the conversation.

  Julian stared at me, then sighed and shook his head. "My mother is a great mage, but not always a good one. You can't make a deal with her."

  "Why?"

  He seemed almost uncomfortable at that, narrowing his eyes and setting his jaw. The silence between us stretched until, eventually, he said, "I can't tell you that."

  "So, you want me to eschew training with an Archmagus, one of the strongest people to ever live, on your say-so, and you can't even tell me why?"

  Julian nodded. "I need you to trust me, Vayne."

  "That's the problem. I don't," I snapped, finally putting a voice to my simmering anger. "Not after what you did."

  Julian's eyes widened, but I barrelled forward. "You changed me, twisted my mind against my will, and now you want my trust? The only reason I even came here was that I hoped against all common sense that I was wrong."

  "I...had my reasons," Julian replied, but it sounded flimsy as a threadbare shirt.

  "I don't doubt that, but that doesn't make it right. Whatever your motives, I have no reason to trust you. Not anymore."

  The man remained silent, and I let out a long, low breath before continuing, "Your ten minutes are up."

  With that, I turned and walked out, leaving the silent wind mage behind me.

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