<h4>Chapter 16: Testing The Waters</h4>
"Please wait here," the staff instructed Donovan and Mason, gesturing for them to enter the room.
As they stepped into the meeting, the door closed behind them, leaving them alone inside.
"Quite a grand meeting room, isn''t it?" Donovan remarked, ncing at the intricate carvings on the walls.
Mason raised an eyebrow. "Haven''t you been here before?" He had entered this room when he was a student in the academy and had the privilege of talking to the headmasters several times in this room, but little did he know only the highest-ranking student could do such a thing.
Donovan sighed. "I''m not exactly the type of student who frequents rooms like this. To be honest, I joined the Emerald City Guards based on my strength alone. When ites to academics, I''m not the brightest."
Mason nodded, trying to figure out a way to change the topic, pointing to a particr chair. "This room used to be a war room. I''ve heard that the Wizard himself sat in that chair."
Taking Mason''s lead, they both made their way to the chairs and sat down. "Remember, let''s not reveal too much information," Mason reminded Donovan, aware of his tendency to share too freely, which had earned him a reputation among the guards.
Donovan nodded. "Got it."
"And be careful not to disclose anything to ''potential spies''," Mason added in a hushed tone.
Donovan leaned closer, his eyebrow raised. "Wait, are you suggesting that the headmasters might be... spies?" he whispered, ncing at the door to ensure no one was listening.
Mason shrugged. "They might be, or maybe just one of them, or perhaps neither. It''s hard to say."
Donovan tried to rationalize the thought, finding it difficult to believe that Seraphina or Gideon could be spies, considering their esteemed positions in Emerald City. Nheless, he acknowledged the importance of being cautious, especially being with someone as great as Mason.
Suddenly, both Donovan and Mason felt the hair on their arms stand on end, their instinctual reaction directing their gaze toward the door. Steps approached from the other side.
As the door swung open, their bodies grew warmer, beads of sweat forming on their foreheads, forcing them to wipe them away.
Seraphina entered the room, her youthful appearance belying her age. Donovan and Mason, despite theirbined years, didn''t exhibit any undue reaction to her beauty, knowing her age to be twice theirs.
The extreme amount of mana found in her body caused an anti-ageing effect, allowing her to age incredibly slowly.
Gideon followed closely behind, exuding an air of confidence with his crossed arms and raised chin. His muscles could be considered weapons of mass destruction if the Barbarians had not existed, but his skill as a knight was something to behold, and the calluses on his fingers showed just that.
Both guards were familiar with him, having received asional lessons from him despite being non-magic students. When he spoke, they listened, and his teachings allowed them to make remarkable progresspared to the mundane lessons they received throughout the year.
However, his arrogant demeanour and choice of words made him one of the less likeable figures in the academy. No one dared confront him, of course; being a musclehead sure had its benefits.
"Thank you for meeting with us," Mason said, standing up and extending his hand to Seraphina.
Donovan, still seated, slowly rose to his feet, offering a polite smile and attempting to match the aura emanating from everyone in the room.
"We''re quite busy here, awaiting the arrival of new students. Let''s get this over with," she replied, disregarding Mason''s extended hand.
''So this is how they want to y?'' Mason hid his frustration and sat back down. "Certainly. You must have heard the rumors circting about potential spies within the academy."
The headmasters remained silent, neither confirming nor denying the rumors. Gideon questioned, "Where are you going with this?"
"Just curious if either of you have any insight into the credibility of these rumors," Mason probed further.
"Why would they be credible? We have strict regtions and thoroughly vet every student we admit to this academy," the witch replied. "Are you attempting to spread baseless rumors?"
Mason retorted, "And why would I do that?"
"I''ve heard that the Emerald City Guards, unlike their predecessors, have be corrupt. Perhaps you''re simply attempting to sow fear and disrupt the students'' efforts to excel and leave the academy," she used.
Donovan mmed his hand on the table, barely restraining himself from hurling insults at Seraphina. Mason tried to hold him back, maintaining hisposure as he red at Seraphina. "I would appreciate it if you refrained from making false usations against the City Guards. We have a trusted source."
Seraphina smiled. "I''m old enough to have heard that kind of argument. You might as well take that ''trusted source'' and throw it in the sewers." Her words, despite her ageless beauty, belied her actual years, harbouring bitterness and vulgarity.
Donovan mmed the table once more, his anger getting the best of him. Mason''s attempts to hold him back proved futile. "That ''source'' is the Great Wizard, damn it!" he eximed.
Mason covered his face, regretting the slip of information. Seraphina covered her mouth, exchanging a nce with Gideon that seemed to say, "Don''t look at me; you did this to yourself."
Her heart racing, Seraphina looked around, waiting for the wizard to unleash his wrath upon her.
"I''ve heard that the Great Wizard is quite forgiving..." Donovan interjected, realizing his own mistake, before turning to Mason, who stared at him with disappointment.
Mason shook his head, then redirected his attention to the headmasters. ''Well, damn it, it''s toote to keep any secrets now,'' he thought, retrieving a copy of the paper that Donovan had handed to him. "This is a list of students we believe need special protection. We suspect the spy might be targeting them."
Gideon regarded the list with little concern, but the witch''s eyes widened as she saw the name—George Sterlinguard.