Astonished as Trey was by the sheer variety of ingredients on display, his bewilderment only deepened when he realized he couldn’t even identify half of them by sight, let alone name. Skye, however, was too absorbed in her exploration to feel daunted. She navigated each aisle intently, examining items Trey could only guess were the products of someone’s wild imagination or worst nightmares.
Skye had requested that their first stop in Greshelm be a potions shop, and Trey had been more than happy to tag along, being unfamiliar with what the city offered.
She enlisted his help carrying a large bunch of dried lunarshade berries to the line at the clerk’s counter; it was one of the few ingredients he’d actually recognized. When their turn in the queue arrived, Skye pulled out two crimson and six blue coins to pay for her merchandise. Trey was puzzled as he watched the transaction unfold. Although it wasn''t a vast sum, it was still more than he had ever seen Skye possess at once – and not by a little. He’d handled more, but only when involved in Marvin’s schemes.
After exiting the potions shop, Skye guided Trey down the street for a few blocks before turning right. They continued walking a little further until they arrived at a restaurant, its mouthwatering aromas proclaiming its presence more effectively than the dull, fading sign hanging above the entrance.
“Kayla told me about this place,” Skye informed him as the two of them entered the establishment.
Trey glanced around at the other diners and quickly discerned what the restaurant’s signature dish was. “I don’t have much money to spend,” he said, “but fried pork dumplings are worth every blue.”
“I know they’re your favorite,” Skye said, “which is why I found this place and why I’m paying.”
“You’re not paying!” Trey insisted. “I know you don’t have more money than me.” Even as he said it, he reflected on the contrary evidence he had seen at the potions shop.
“I have enough to cover the both of us,” she replied. “Don’t worry.”
“Where are all these coins coming from?” Trey inquired suspiciously. “I know it’s not from Marvin.”
“As if!” Skye exclaimed. “Some of the other students receive a spending allowance from their parents, but my chances of getting any money from Papa are slimmer than my odds of becoming the Grand Oracle.”
Trey laughed, but noticed that she had avoided his question.
The pair were seated and ordered an assortment of dumplings. They discussed their first week at the academy, with Trey explaining how to properly hold a halberd, and Skye prattling off on her favorite professors, which happened to be all of them. The waiter arrived with a steaming basket of dumplings, and just the smell of them was enough to halt their conversation.
Trey dipped his first dumpling into the sweet and spicy sauce provided, then brought it to his mouth. As he took a bite, his eyes fluttered closed, and a satisfied groan escaped his lips. The orgasm of flavor ignited his taste buds in a delightful symphony of deliciousness. Skye watched him with amusement before taking her first bite.
Silence reigned, save for a few more borderline-lewd noises as Trey sated his appetite. Eventually, the conversation reappeared as the food disappeared. “So is Nora really your roommate?” Skye asked.
Trey snorted. “It’s not what you think.”
“I’m a little jealous,” she admitted. “You two seem annoyingly natural together. There’s an effortless connection between you and her.”
Trey shrugged. “It’s a little complicated right now, and you do not need to be jealous. There’s only one girl that I would journey to the farthest corners of Arestia for.”
“And who would that be?” Skye asked with a pleased smile on her face.
Trey booped her on the nose, and the blush that started at her cheeks quickly found its way there.
The guardian and the sorceress finished up in the restaurant and took to the streets again. They passed by a door with Starblade''s Streamers embossed in gold letters on it. Intrigued, they circled back and stepped into the bustling store.
Skye scanned the area, not finding what she wanted. “Can you see where the bracers are?” she asked her taller partner.
“Over there,” Trey pointed out, leading the sorceress over to one side of the shop.
“If I’m committing to specializing in water magic,” she said, “I should get a pair of these.” She picked up a matching set of bracers that were on a shelf, but almost immediately put them down and shuffled excitedly over to another pair – rose gold adorned with shimmering amethyst and sapphire gemstones. Skye caressed the bracers gingerly as she admired their superior quality.
“I take it you found your favorite?” Trey asked.
Skye nodded passionately and then looked at the price tag. “Of course, they are the most expensive ones.”
“Ah, so there is a limit to your secret wealth,” Trey teased.
She hardly registered his jest as she weighed the bracers in her hands, the shiny metal glinting in her eyes. “Maybe in a few weeks,” she muttered.
“In a few weeks?” he asked with raised eyebrows.
“We’ll see,” she said simply. “Is there anything you want to look at?”
Trey subconsciously glanced over to the wand section, but quickly snapped his eyes back to the dark-haired sorceress. “No, but we don’t have to leave yet. Professor Mavery’s streaming lecture was fascinating. While I have no use for anything here, it’s enjoyable to browse.”
Skye frowned and strode purposefully back toward the entrance. Trey was caught off guard by her pace; he had to break into a trot to catch up to her. “What?” he called from behind her. “I said we can stay a little longer.”
Once they were back outside, Skye spun around abruptly, fixing him with a gaze that was both intense and inscrutable. Trey could sense something significant brewing beneath her calm exterior. “I feel like we’ve been drifting apart the past year,” she said. “You’ve been keeping secrets from me. It’s almost like you’ve become a younger version of Marvin.”
“No!” Trey exclaimed in mock offense. “It hasn’t gotten that bad, has it?”
“Maybe I’m exaggerating a little bit,” Skye admitted. “I just feel like you’re hiding something from me and I hate it. You know you can tell me anything!”
“I’m sorry, Skye,” Trey said sincerely. “Believe me when I say that I understand that feeling a little too well. I can’t promise to tell you everything right now, but I trust you and I won’t keep secrets from you for too long.”
“When?” she pressed.
“When you tell me how you’ve become rich all of a sudden,” Trey joked.
“Deal!” Skye replied immediately. “I’m—”
“No!” Trey responded with desperation in his eyes. “I take it back.”
“Ugh. When?”
“When you’re older?” Trey ventured, regretting his words the moment they left his lips.
“I’m almost eighteen!” she interjected. “You can’t keep treating me like a kid! You’re only a little bit older than me… and you better not forget my birthday.”
“Your birthday is in four weeks and one day,” he recited, trying to pacify the inflamed sorceress. “And we can do anything you want. I’ll even skip classes that day.”
“You promise?” Skye asked with a furrowed brow.
Trey smiled warmly at her as they began walking. “Promise.”
“Good,” Skye said. “What should we do now?”
“I think I have enough time to check out that shop,” Trey said, gesturing toward the store across the street, “but I’ll need to head back to campus afterward.”
Skye opened her mouth, ready to ask why he had to return at a specific time, but her words never made it out. Without a second thought, she crossed the street, entranced by the display window he’d pointed to.
It showcased an exquisite array of chocolates, their artistic designs and visible richness inviting her to take a closer look. With her curiosity about Trey’s plans temporarily set aside, Skye’s attention was instead diverted to exploring the delightful treasures within the shop right in front of her.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.
***
A river meandered through the campus, dividing the Riv from the majority of the academy. Trey crossed the bridge leading to the large amphitheater as the sun dipped below the horizon. As he walked, he noticed people coming from the opposite direction, returning in small groups from the massive domed structure. Upon reaching his destination, he strolled through the grand entrance. He was struck by the vast emptiness and silence of the magnificent space.
A large concourse circled the inside perimeter of the amphitheater, with the occasional corridor branching off. Glancing around, Trey saw the preparations for an upcoming event stacked against the walls in various dark nooks.
Trey was starting to wonder how he was supposed to find his magic teacher in such a large space when a voice called out from the darkness. “Are you ready to ‘Trey’ some fire magic?”
Trey spun around to face the approaching redhead. “That was terrible. How long have you been waiting to use that one?”
“Since yester-Trey,” Bree replied.
“Stop!” Trey insisted while trying to hide a smile.
“So you are a null guardian that wants private fire magic lessons?”
“Yes,” he responded. “I’m not able to attend your normal classes due to my guardian schedule, but I didn’t want to miss out on learning how fire magic works.”
“Right,” she replied with a smirk. “That’s a completely believable excuse. Come on then, there’s a practice room over this way.”
Trey followed the teacher’s shapely ass down the concourse, his gaze only occasionally drifting elsewhere as they walked. Bree guided him to a door that led them further into the amphitheater.
The room they entered was spacious, with high ceilings supported by sturdy archways. Enchanted sconces filled the room with light, and padding lined the walls, where scorch marks and stitches told of a battered history. Training aids, such as targets and shields, were stowed in a corner next to a chalkboard.
“My students call me Professor Adams,” the fire magic teacher said, “but I suppose you can stick with Bree if that is less confusing.”
“I better stick with Bree,” Trey decided. “You know how simpleminded us null guardians are.”
Bree slugged him in the shoulder. “I didn’t mean it like that. I doubt you are simpleminded – nor just a null guardian.”
Trey shrugged, resisting the urge to rub his shoulder.
“Let’s start with a simple Palm Flame,” the teacher said. She raised her right hand, palm facing up, and focused her energy. A small flame burst into life above her palm, dancing and flickering with a warmth that pulsed gently with her heartbeat.
“Fire is all about intent and control,” she explained, gradually increasing the flame''s size. “What you see here is just the beginning. To work with fire, you must respect it and understand its nature. It can provide warmth and light, but it can also destroy if uncontrolled.”
“What prevents a mage from being able to cast the more complex spells?” Trey asked.
“Already interested in the fancy ones, huh?” Bree teased, her lips curling into a playful smile. “Well, it’s a fair question. The ability to cast more complex spells hinges on a combination of power and skill, similar to other forms of magic. What is unique about fire magic is the need for restraint. Fire has an innate tendency to spread, and it takes countless hours of practice to learn how to contain it effectively. If a fire goes beyond a mage''s control, it will lose its connection to mana and rapidly burn out. In more extreme cases, it can do the opposite: consume everything in its path, including the caster’s mana or even the caster themselves. Paradoxically, the most formidable fire magic spells require the greatest restraint.”
“How do you develop that restraint?” he asked.
Bree nodded thoughtfully, her flame flickering softly above her palm. “We have a few common exercises designed to help train our control,” she explained, gently pushing the flame toward Trey. The small sphere of warmth floated before him, independent of her hand. She subtly clenched her fingers, causing the flame to diminish. “One exercise involves maintaining the smallest flame possible without letting it go out.”
Trey was impressed with the fire mage’s control, watching as the tiny flame danced precariously, seemingly on the brink of extinction, yet burning with an almost unnatural steadiness. “Another exercise involves using wet logs,” she continued. “The goal is to dry out as much moisture as possible without igniting the wood. More advanced students often practice with wet sticks for an even greater challenge.”
Trey raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “That sounds difficult. How do you keep from just lighting it up instead of drying it out?”
Bree smiled, clearly enjoying his curiosity. “It all comes down to focus and precision. You have to visualize the heat drawing out the moisture, not applying enough energy to ignite the wood. It’s about finding that balance between warmth and intensity. If you think about it too aggressively, it can backfire.”
“So mages that struggle with restraint also struggle with the more advanced spells?”
She nodded. “Many mages make the mistake of favoring strength exercises over control exercises, and then get frustrated when their strength doesn’t translate to more effective magic.”
“That makes a lot of sense,” Trey said. “I can tell you are a good teacher.”
“Thanks for the compliment,” she said. “Now let’s see you try.”
“You want me to try fire magic?” he replied.
Bree nodded.
“I would love to do magic,” Trey said, “but don’t you have to be a mage to do it?”
The fire mage teacher stared at him, unsure if she was amused or frustrated. “Uh-huh.”
Trey extended his arm with his palm up. “How cool would it be if a flame just appeared in my palm?” He grunted and let his hand fall back to his side.
Bree groaned. “Theoretically, if you were to perform a little bit of magic, then I could, theoretically, not tell Marvin.”
“Theoretically,” Trey countered, “I wish I could do magic.”
“I would be much more excited about teaching you in the future if I were to see a tiny bit of magic,” Bree said, baiting him. “My schedule is quite busy. I might not have time for more private lessons.”
“That’s not fair,” he responded.
“No!” she retorted. “What’s not fair is staying up late at night teaching a mage who refuses to do magic.”
“It’s not that late,” Trey shot back, “and I’m not a mage.” He almost forgot to add the last part.
“Marvin’s whole thing is keeping secrets, right?” Bree said, trying a different tactic. “Wouldn’t he be proud of you for keeping some secrets of your own?”
“If I were actually a mage,” he said, “I personally might see the wisdom in such reasoning. Marvin, however, would not share in my appreciation of such sound logic.”
“It’s up to you,” Bree said, shrugging her shoulders. “You can listen to the old man… or you can learn fire magic.”
Trey bit his lip, his mind in turmoil.
“What if I showed you a spell that would impress even your fire magic teacher?” Bree offered, shooting him a playful wink. “Sound tempting?”
“It couldn’t hurt to try,” Trey conceded.
She winced. “Technically, it could. It is a dangerous spell.”
“It can’t be too dangerous, right? With me not being a magic user.”
Bree shook her head, feeling a need to demonstrate the spell if only to provide an outlet for her building frustration. “This is called the Infernal Vortex,” she announced. With a graceful motion, she spread her arms wide and then spun them in a fluid motion. A powerful swirl of flames erupted before her, roaring into an astounding vortex that surged past Trey and splashed against the far wall of the practice room.
Trey’s eyes widened. His resolve was starting to crack. “Explain how you did that.”
Bree’s annoyed scowl turned into a mischievous grin. “Alright,” she said, settling back into a more instructive demeanor. “The Infernal Vortex is a spell that taps into raw energy and challenges your control. First, you need to gather your mana and visualize the fire swirling around you. It’s all about intention and rhythm.”
Trey nodded, trying to wrap his head around the concept. “Swirling flames – got it.”
“Great!” Bree exclaimed, her tone brightening. “Just remember – keep your intent clear and your focus sharp.”
Trey took a deep breath, his heart pounding with a mix of excitement and apprehension. “I’m ready.”
“Use the motion of your arms to help stream your mana,” she instructed. “Don’t expect too much – or anything – on your first try. Just get a feel for the spell.”
Trey mimicked the motions he had observed from Bree, channeling his focus and unleashing the spell. A massive vortex of fire erupted from his arms, blazing brightly and radiating intense heat. However, when he attempted to propel it forward, the flames sputtered and flickered, dissipating a mere few paces away. He grunted in dissatisfaction and turned to Bree, whose mouth was gaping open. “How do I fix that?” he asked.
“Fix that?!” she exclaimed. “We tell Marvin to go fuck himself and get you enrolled as a fire mage. That was incredible! You didn’t even use a streamer!”
“Is there an alternative solution?” Trey asked nervously. He was scanning his new accomplice – someone who suddenly had tremendous leverage over him – for any sign of anything besides enthusiasm. Her final comment, in particular, had set him on edge; it reminded him that he’d just given away far more than the simple fact that he was a mage.
“Why are you hiding?” she asked pointedly.
“I think I’ve already disclosed way too many secrets tonight,” he replied.
“Okay,” Bree said, pretending to back down. “When is our next lesson?”
Trey chuckled, and did his best not to do so nervously. “Assuming you keep your promise and don’t tell Marvin, I’m pretty open.”
“After the weekend, the first night after we’re back in classes?” she suggested.
“It’s a date,” Trey replied smugly.
Bree snorted, giving him a faint smile. She then shook her head in disbelief. “You’d better not have forgotten that I called this on day one,” she declared, daring him to refute her claim.
“Huh?”
“I insisted that Marvin was trying to smuggle a powerful mage onto campus,” she clarified. “You definitely looked the part of a null guardian, but I knew that old man was up to something.”
“I was under the impression at the time that you were joking.”
“It still counts,” Bree asserted. “Now that we are past the whole ‘I can’t do magic’ nonsense, let’s continue with the lesson.”
While they didn’t perfect his Infernal Vortex spell in a single night, Bree helped Trey cycle through numerous beginner spells, focusing on reinforcing his fundamentals. Trey soaked it all up, eager to finally have the guidance he needed to improve his fire magic. It was nearing midnight when Trey finally left the Riv. He was lost in his own world, already looking forward to his next lesson. He almost practiced the Palm Flame as he entered Guardian’s Keep, but common sense rescued him before he did anything brash. Instead, he enacted the movements for launching the Infernal Vortex, determined to solidify it more firmly in his memory. He opened the door to his room, completely engrossed in mentally reviewing the wealth of fire magic knowledge he had acquired that evening.
“You know, don’t you?” a voice said, startling him. “I don’t know how, but you know.”
His gaze shot up to find a buxom blonde perched on his bed, arms crossed and a scowl etched across her face.
Oh, yeah. Nora.