I jumped from rooftop to rooftop, using Flicker Step and Arcane Body in tandem to turn the normally stuttering movements smooth as water. My eyesight had grown sharper, though I wasn't sure precisely when, and the dark, moonless night was as bright as dusk.

  As I ran, my mind raced from one thought to another, struggling to decide what to do.

  Flynn seemed to believe that, while I couldn't trust Julian, I should at least hear him out. Maybe he had a point. I couldn't believe a word my former mentor said, but if I pushed him, I might be able to pry out more details about why he had done what he did and why I shouldn't make a deal with his mother. What people lied about was sometimes more revealing than the truth, in my experiences.

  Then again, that might be lingering sentimentality and hurt feelings speaking in place of pragmatism. On some level, I likely wanted to trust Julian again, and I could be conjuring up reasons to do so regardless of the risks.

  Hell, this entire thing could be yet another mental compulsion hidden within the depths of my mind, waiting to spring forth like a trap.

  I landed hard on one roof, pressing my boots down with enough force to shatter the tiles underfoot with a deafening crack. Shards flew up as I jumped away, accompanied by startled cries from the people walking the streets below.

  A part of me expected Flynn to come after me. I was faster than my brother at full speed, but not that much faster. However, he didn't bother. Fortunatus reached out to me once, likely sensing my roiling emotions through our bond, but a brief reassurance was enough to assuage his worries. Or at least, whatever counted as worries for a cat.

  When I reached Sigmund's home, I wasn't any closer to reaching a decision. I landed softly on the street, barely breaking stride as I walked up to the door.

  "Sigmund!" I shouted, slamming my closed fist against the door. "We need to talk!"

  No one answered, and I paused for only a heartbeat before knocking again. It was rude to come by unannounced so late, but then again, Sigmund hadn't told me about Julian's mother, so it seemed only fair. I could afford a little discourtesy.

  "Sig, I know you're awake! Open up! This is important, damnit!"

  After nearly a full minute, the door finally swung open.

  I was mid-knock, a glare already on my face as I said, "You certainly took your—"

  The words died in my throat as I realized it wasn't Sigmund who had opened the door.

  Amelia stood before me, wearing a flat glare of her own. She held the door open with one hand, the other planted on her hip as she considered me, a frown firmly in place. She still had on the same dress from our duel, though I noticed that it was torn in spots and had several grass stains along the bottom.

  I realized too late that I hadn't thought to check for any additional mana signatures within Sig's home. Thankfully, I didn't sense anything besides Amelia's icy presence.

  "Apologies," I said, my face warm as I cleared my throat. "I was expecting Sigmund. Is he—"

  "Founders above, Vayne, are you trying to break the damn door down?" Sig demanded, his voice coming from deeper within the house.

  The man marched up to stand beside Amelia, his face twisted into a scowl. That expression only deepened as he glanced between the two of us, shaking his head as he took in my appearance.

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  "Not sure what this is about, Vayne, but it'll have to wait until the morning. I've got company, and I have no interest in mediating whatever feud is going on between you two."

  I ignored the jab, smiling as I half-turned away. "Of course. I'll return—"

  "It's alright, Sig," Amelia interupted, smiling as she turned to face the older man. "I should get home before it gets much later, anyway. We've got training at sunrise."

  Sig blinked. "If you're sure."

  "Always," Amelia replied.

  With that, she turned back to face me. I realized after a beat that I was blocking the stairs and stepped aside with a muttered apology. Amelia examined me for another heartbeat, then brushed past me without a word.

  I followed her passage with my mana senses, and nearly ran after her. No small part of me wanted to resolve...whatever this was between us. I hadn't expected us to remain close, but I had never expected such coldness.

  Sigmund cleared his throat, and I realized that he'd been staring at me for at least a few seconds.

  "Well?" Sig asked. "You said you needed me for something. What is it?"

  "May I come in?"

  Sig considered me for a second, then nodded and stepped aside without a word. I walked past him, and the moment the door clicked shut, I rounded on the older man.

  "Did you know about what Julian did to me?" I asked, not bothering to dance around the topic.

  Sig stared. "What the hell are you talking about?"

  "Julian. He used mind magic on me. Repeatedly. For nearly a year," I said, my voice carrying as much scorn as I could manage. "Did you know?"

  Seconds passed, tense as a drawn bow, before Sig finally shook his head.

  "No, I didn't. Can't say I'm shocked, though."

  "You're not?" I echoed. "Why the hell not?"

  "Because Julian is many things, good and bad. He's not above doing what he thinks is best, and he's always thought he knows best." Sigmund replied. "What did he do to you?"

  "He set a compulsion in the depths of my mind to avoid learning any sort of mental magic, at all costs. I was driven for years to believe it's a useless skill." I shook my head with another brief laugh. "Can you imagine?"

  Sig grunted. "Huh. He tell you why?"

  "Outright refused."

  Sigmund paused, then shook his head.

  "Take a seat, kid. I'll get us something to drink. Thinking we'll need it."

  I nearly refused out of habit, then shook my head and walked over to the dining table. Sig joined me after a brief trip to the kitchen, placing a dark bottle and two cups before me. He filled both halfway to the top, then raised his drink in a salute before draining it.

  "Cheers," I said, matching his gesture with a humorless smile.

  The drink was sharp and fruity, like a tart berry with a burning undercurrent. I found it pleasant enough, and drained my cup before setting it down with a sigh.

  Sig raised an eyebrow, then silently refilled my cup before sitting back down and waiting. I took another sip, then held the drink in my hand for a long time, trying to decide where to begin. Finally, whether thanks to the alcohol, my frustrations, or simply to break the silence, I started speaking.

  It didn't take me long, all things considered. I explained my plans to learn mental magic, my discovery of the compulsion within my mind, our trip here, our plot to meet with Alexandria, and how it had gone both horribly wrong and almost perfectly right. We soon reached my confrontation with Julian, and his utter refusal to give me any more than the barest of details.

  When I finished, Sigmund was still quiet. We had both drained and refilled our cups once more, and he took another long drink from it before tapping his fingers along the table in a mindless beat.

  "I can't tell you everything," Sig said as the silence grew smothering. "Don't know it all, and a lot of what I do isn't my story to share. But you need to understand something. You've seen all of this. You've experienced the plots and plans and schemes and backstabbing nobles face, and you're a nobody. Talented, sure, but hardly famous or sought-after."

  It was a fair assessment, and I acknowledged it with a nod. "And?"

  "Imagine instead that you're a mage so powerful and respected that students will learn about you centuries from now. Everything you do sends ripples throughout the country. Every word you speak matters. Every person you ever meet will want to get to you, through whatever means possible, to steal some of that might and renown for themselves."

  Sig shook his head. "It's a hard life, both for the Archmagus and for their loved ones. Julian...he keeps his secrets. He always has, since the first day I met him. Even now, after so many years, he still doesn't trust me with everything."

  "And yet you trust him?"

  Sig nodded. "I do."

  "How?"

  "Because I trust that the person underneath it all is a good, if flawed, man."

  I scoffed. "So, am I supposed to do the same? Trust that he didn't twist my mind? How can you be sure he didn't do the same to you?"

  "No," Sig replied, shaking his head again. "Can't say what you should do. That's your decision, not mine."

  I pushed my chair away from the table and stood, knocking over my cup in my haste. "I swear, between you and Flynn, you seem hellbent on dancing around an answer. Is it so hard to give me something?"

  Sig, rather than scowl, laughed. "Kid, you wouldn't have listened to me two years ago when you could barely hold a stare with me. Are you gonna sit here and tell me you'd listen now?"

  "I just might," I countered, although I knew it was a lie.

  Sig hadn't given me much to work with, though that was clearly on purpose. He was leaving it to me, trusting that I knew what to do. The problem was, I didn't.

  I almost said as much, then shook my head and sat back down.

  "I don't suppose you can tell me why he said not to trust his mother's deal, could you?"

  Sigmund paused, then shook his head. "Let's just say Julian is his mother's son, and leave it at that."

  That said enough. If the son was a schemer, where else would he have learned his tricks?

  Sig refilled my cup, and I picked it up with a sigh before replying, "Thanks."

  "No need," Sig said with a snort. "Now, why don't you explain to me why Amelia came storming down here demanding to know when you had returned to Volaris?"

  I stared at the man for a few seconds, then picked up my cup and drained it once more. Something told me my visit tonight would last far longer than I had expected.

  a lot to learn still, so any feedback helps.

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