When Eva and Trey arrived back in Greshlem, Professor Mullens was waiting for them outside the gates along with a group of guards. “Eva, hurry! The situation is dire.”


    “Why hasn’t Sir Kallam been summoned?” Eva questioned. “He overcharges for his healing, but certainly the situation would’ve justified the expense?”


    “Found dead in his house this morning,” Professor Lokia said. “Murdered.” She ushered the elf through the campus entrance. Trey stepped forward to signal to the guards his own intent to enter when he heard a familiar voice.


    “Trey!” his blonde roommate exclaimed. “I see you escaped the headmaster’s office. I was worried there for a little bit, but then I realized I would’ve gotten the room all to myself. I’ve already taken your mattress and pillow… I’m not sure you’re getting them back.”


    Trey laughed, grateful for the comic relief. “I don’t mind,” he said with a teasing smile. “You were already very familiar with my mattress anyway.” He rubbed his chin as he looked around. “What are you doing out here?”


    “This is perfect!” Nora exclaimed, grabbing his hand. “My dad is in town and decided to visit me. I’m going to eat lunch with him, and you’re coming with me.”


    The color drained from Trey’s face. “Your dad is visiting Windrake? Now?”


    “Yeah,” Nora said, looking at him funny. “He comes to Greshelm every once in a while. It’s nothing out of the ordinary.”


    Trey felt stuck. Marvin’s would be pissed if I went alone, he thought, but Marvin would also be pissed if I passed up this opportunity. He shrugged. Marvin is just going to be pissed.


    He gave Nora a nod. “Let’s go meet your dad.”


    Her face lit up with excitement. “Great! We are going to my favorite grill. It’s just a few blocks this way. Oh, and my dad doesn’t know I’m doing the whole null guardian thing, so if you could… not mention anything, I would appreciate it.”


    Trey gave her a wink. “You keep my secrets and I keep yours.”


    “Pleasure doing business,” Nora said with a quick bow.


    The duo then walked the short distance into the city, where an enticing smoky aroma reached Trey’s nostrils before he spotted the restaurant. Nora poked her head in before returning to the street, sending inquisitive looks in several directions. “I thought he’d be here by now,” she said.


    As if on cue, a blond-haired man appeared around the corner, his long strides carrying him swiftly toward them. “Nora! Sorry I’m running late. My previous meeting ran a little long.”


    “It’s okay,” Nora replied. “Trey ate your food, though.”


    Trey opened his mouth to defend himself, but before any words came out, Darius offered his hand with a smile. “You must be the Trey who is threatening my lunch.”


    Trey shook his hand. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Schallevon,” he said with a dry mouth, desperately trying to maintain eye contact.


    “Where did you get that crown?” Nora asked. “It looks cool.”


    “Oh, this?” Darius replied, pointing to the Mindguard on his head. “I picked it up on a business trip.”


    Nora angled her head. “It looks like it might be made out of onyx steel?”


    Darius shrugged, his fingers tracing the interwoven bands of black metal. “I think you’re right. Good catch!” The man took in a deep sniff. “Shall we go in?”


    The trio entered the restaurant and Darius hurried a server over to take their order. Trey dug into his sauce-glazed ribs while Nora and her father chattered away. Trey found their conversation intriguing, knowing they were both hiding the truth from each other. Nora guarded her null guardian status, while Darius concealed a secret much darker. Trey observed inconspicuously, trying to solve the puzzle.


    “I see you’re a null guardian,” Darius addressed Trey when Nora paused the conversation to stuff her face. Trey still had on much of his armor.


    “You are quite perceptive, sir,” Trey responded, putting a grin on his face.


    “Don’t tell me you have to wear your armor any time you leave campus?” Darius questioned, cutting another bite from his steak.


    “Trey just got back from a mission for the Grand Oracle,” Nora said with her mouth full, not bothering to hide her bragging tone.


    Darius’ focus snapped onto Trey, a flash of fear in his eyes. “For the Grand Oracle? You just got back?”


    “Nora is talking it up too much,” Trey responded casually. “He just had me deliver something to Hedard.”


    Guess I might be hiding more than both of them combined, Trey mused.


    Darius’ shoulders visibly relaxed. “Hedard, huh? That’s about as far out as you can go.”


    “I’m sure you do your fair share of traveling,” Trey said, easily shifting topics. “Nora tells me you deal in artifacts?”


    “Ah, yes,” Darius replied. “I do travel quite a bit. Let me tell you about the time I took Nora to Lettenville.”


    “No!” Nora protested. “Not this story.”


    They talked for the rest of the meal, which was surprisingly short. Darius checked his watch several times before paying for the food and returning to the streets of Greshelm.


    “I enjoyed catching up with you, sweetheart,” Darius said, hugging Nora. “I have a few more minutes to spare, how about you give me a brief tour of Windrake? You don’t mind giving me some time with my daughter, do you, Trey?”


    “Of course not,” Trey responded, backing away to give them space, but still remaining within earshot.


    “I’ll show you around,” Nora said, “but I’m not introducing you to any more of my friends. You’ve already embarrassed me enough in front of Trey.”Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Darius chuckled “Ah, before I forget, I have an errand I need you to run.” Darius checked his pocket watch. “In six hours, right after the sun sets, I need you to deliver this to Oinko’s in the southern part of the city.” He handed her a package.


    Trey didn’t need mind magic to see the confusion play across Nora’s pretty features. “You need me to do a delivery? At night?” She peeked into the package.


    “I’m sorry, sweetheart,” Darius said, “but I’m meeting with the trade commission after dinner, and they jabber more than you do in a chocolate shop.” He chuckled at his own joke. “I hope it’s not too much of an inconvenience.”


    Nora scrunched her face, but then her face softened. “Sure.”


    The two started heading toward the academy, but Darius pivoted before they got too far. “Trey,” he called, trotting over to him.


    Fuck, Trey cursed to himself as a bout of paranoia seized his brain. What did I do? Is he suspicious?


    “What are your intentions with my daughter?” he asked in a gruff voice. But just as quickly, his stern expression dissolved into a chuckle. “I’m kidding… mostly. I can see that you two are close. I love Nora, but she can be a bit free-spirited—I’m sure you know what I mean. There’s a delivery she’s doing for me and I want you to go with her. I’d appreciate knowing that she’s not only safe but also punctual. Here’s some money,” he insisted with a hint of eagerness, extending his clutch hand. “Treat yourselves to some drinks while you’re over there. Just make sure you’re in southern Greshelm in six hours. She should have the rest of the details. You got it?”


    Trey hesitantly accepted the money with an automatic nod, his mind racing. He wants to make sure she’s not on campus, he realized, his gut sinking to the ground. Everything was coming together, and it was up to him to spoil the surprise.


    Trey watched Darius return to his daughter''s side, then he casually waved goodbye as Nora and her father walked away. The moment they disappeared from view, he took off around the corner, taking a slightly longer route back to the academy, but confident his speed would make up the difference. He arrived slightly out of breath, but well ahead of them. Once through the gate, he sprinted to the Arc where he caught Marvin exiting his classroom.


    “There you are!” the dark mage exclaimed. “You have some explain—”


    “Not now,” Trey butted in. “The attack on Windrake is happening tonight, after nightfall.”


    Marvin’s brow raised. “And how did you figure that out?”


    “Dairus Schallevon is in the city, wearing a Mindguard. He’s pulling Nora away for some bogus errand.”


    “Did you apprehend him?” Marvin asked.


    “I was a first-year Windrake student that was third-wheeling a daddy-daughter date in the middle of Greshlem,” Trey shot back. “How was I supposed to ‘apprehend’ him?”


    “Fuck,” Marvin cursed. “Where did you see him last?”


    “He was coming on campus with Nora. I don’t know how long he’ll stay.”


    “I’ll go get him,” Marvin said. “You need to sound the alarm. Gordon is recovering, I don’t know if I want you going up there anyway. Go find Jeffers, and tell him the attack on Windrake is coming. He’ll know what to do.”


    “Where’s Mako?” Trey asked.


    “I haven’t been able to find her all day,” he answered, taking his first steps down the hallway.


    “Don’t kill him,” Trey requested.


    Marvin grunted.


    “Oh, Marvin,” Trey called after him. “Eva knows. It’s only a matter of time before the headmaster finds out.”


    After some initial confusion, a flash of panic flickered across Marvin’s eyes. “Well, luckily there’s a storm coming.” With the swish of his cloak, he disappeared down the hallway.


    Trey exited the Arc and found Jeffers amongst a group of guardians near the keep. “Jeffers, I come with an urgent message. Enemy forces are planning to strike Windrake tonight. We must start preparing the defenses now.”


    The head guardian titled his head, his mouth slightly agape. “How do you know this?”


    “Marvin told me to relay this information to you,” Trey replied, mostly telling the truth. “He said with the headmaster recovering, you would be the next best option to prepare for a battle.”


    Jeffers nodded slowly. “This better not be a prank or else you’ll be running laps until Karl agrees to join the faculty book club—and I’m not sure he knows how to read.”


    Trey’s continued solemnity was enough for Jeffers to spring into action. “Marcus, go inform Professor Mavery that she is to enact the Rabid Dean Protocol immediately. Frye, see if you can find Captain Larken at the campus entrance and tell him to start lockdown procedures. I will find Karl and check in on the headmaster. Trey, find that quirky mentor of yours and make sure we can count on his dark magic when shit goes down.”


    Trey nodded as multiple people dashed in different directions. Turning toward the gate, he was hoping to catch either Marvin or Darius, though he was interrupted before making any progress.


    “Trey!” Nora’s voice called out. He spun around, spotting the blonde guardian trotting over to him. “Tell me what’s going on, right now.”


    “What?”


    “There’s something up with my dad,” Nora stated. “You looked more uncomfortable than an elf at a dwarven bachelor party. And I know the errand he is sending me on is a sham. I looked in the package; it was just brass jewelry. No one is demanding enough brass jewelry enough to warrant an after-hours delivery. Tell me what you know about my dad.”


    “Nora, I can’t—”


    “You’ve been preparing me for this,” she interjected. “I think I’m ready.” She grabbed his arm to show her determination.


    “Nora, do you know what he was wearing?”


    Nora looked taken aback. “The crown thing? No, is it important?”


    “It’s a Mindguard,” Trey explained, “crafted during the Burning Covenant to protect against mind magic. That’s what initially made me suspicious.”


    Nora frowned at the revelation.


    Trey continued. “The Grand Oracle has been poisoned, and there’s a renegade group that is attacking Windrake tonight. I’m not sure how your dad fits in the plan, but I believe he has a role. The errand he gave you—he wants you far away from here when the attack starts.”


    “No,” was all she could say, though there was no backing to her voice.


    “There’s a lot that’s about to happen,” Trey said. “I could use your help, but I understand if—”


    “No,” Nora interrupted, this time with conviction. “You can count on me. Just… give me a minute.”


    Trey looked across campus. “We should move soon. Marvin is going after your dad.”


    Nora’s eyes widened. “Trey—”


    “I don’t think he’ll kill him,” he responded. “He wants to capture him and let mind magic do its job. Is he still on campus?”


    “No,” Nora answered. “He didn’t spend much time at all here. He already left.”


    Trey nodded. He was tempted to validate her response with mind magic, but resisted, feeling guilty about how much trust she was placing in him. “Let’s head to the gate. Maybe we can catch Marvin before he leaves.”


    The pair rushed over to the entrance but were stopped by a pair of guards. “Sorry, no one’s allowed in or out.”


    “Have you seen Professor Kalo?” Trey asked.


    The guard frowned. “Yeah, he came through just a minute ago. We were… uh… persuaded to let him out.”


    “We’re with him,” Trey said, taking a step forward.


    The guard, however, stood steadfast. “Sorry, kid. You need authorization either from the Grand Oracle or Jeffers to get through these gates.”


    Trey hesitated, torn about whether the gravity of the situation justified the use of mind magic. Ultimately, he concluded that dragging Nora into the fray and potentially forcing her to choose between him and her father during a tense moment wasn’t something he wanted to risk. With a heavy sigh, he stepped back and glanced at Nora, silently signalling for them to retreat toward the keep.


    I already failed Jeffers’ task, Trey thought, holding back the urge to laugh.


    Knowing he needed to distract his blonde companion from the grim reality of Marvin hunting her father, he drew his sword. The dark blade sliced through the afternoon sunlight as he examined it. “If we’re heading into a fight,” he said, effortlessly twirling the hilt in his hand, “let’s make sure we are properly armed. I should have kept the wand from earlier today. Should we go find you some celestial steel?”


    Nora looked at him curiously. “Where did you get a wand?”


    Trey chuckled. “I’ll have you know that this will be my second battle of the day.”