Aizo

Somewhere within a mage dormitory:

A single mage approached his door. “Hey, Aizo, how you been?” he knocked twice at his door. No response.

The council no, everyone- they're all planning to doom us. No, was that hero right? No, no no, I know too much. No, I didn't do anything, I just took a little snippet of paper. I did what it said, and now I keep hearing voices,

Aizo stood up from his bed, concrete walls surrounding him, and there was a simple desk and quill. A bed and small library area. The dining area was in the courtyard; rooms were prioritised study sections. The room was cold. The candle wasn't even on despite needing only to be done once.

“Aizo!” The mage outside knocked again, his hits more rapid this time. “Open up, I was told to get you. Boyle wants to talk to you about something he said.”

About something? No, no, he means the paper; of course he was watching. He has eyes everywhere. No, I can't meet him now; I don't want to burn in flames. I haven't done anything wrong. I have to save myself. I can't let this be.

His mind caught onto words around him; it was daunting hearing communication between the higher mages. “That girl has spread communication magic; we have confiscated most people, and now we are actively hunting down the rest, but the information survives; we won't recover fully.”

No, they are talking about me; I don't want to die! I don't want to die. Please don't kill me. Please…

He looked towards the door; his voice boomed now, “Get in here, Keldric!” He rushed to the door. Opening it instantly, he grabbed Keldric's arms, pulling him inside. “Ok, ok, listen to what I got to say; I might sound crazy.”

“You do look crazy, man, like an old sack rotting in a corner. Calm down already.” Keldric moved in, trying not to raise an alarm. Aizo, however, rushed over to his desk, grabbing the piece of paper.

“Look at this, it's magic. Have you seen this?” He pointed towards the steps involved.

Keldric looked with a grim face. “I haven't."

“They were all over the place. Like everywhere, but then I saw it. Boyle and his internal team gathered them up as fast as possible. Then I just heard now, they are hunting everyone who has one. I can't die, man, don't let me die!”

“Let's just get you some help; Boyle will understand.” Keldric moved in, trying to ground him down, but Aizo shoved him back.

“I will go, just spread this to everyone, learn it yourself. Just don't let this die. Spread it. If I don't come back, that's exactly what you do. Promise me, don't be like that traitor. Tell me you will promise.” Aizo then walked towards the door.

“I promise, if you don't come back, then I will spread this to every mage.” Keldric sighed.

Aizo finally gave a small nod before running out of his room, leaving Keldric alone. That was one week since Ino released the papers publicly; damage control seemed to work somewhat. Keldric, however, knew Aizo wouldn't come back. This wasn't the first time.

“That dirty traitor, spreading forbidden magic, Aizo is a good man. Damn this all.” He slammed his hand against the bed before leaving the room.

…

Near Ino’s home on top of the centre.

“One more time!” Ino burst out a fire spell towards Sorin at full speed.

This time I have to get rid of it!

Sorin got out his staff; now he wasn't using it as a regulator anymore but as a guide. It was a massive change that allowed him full control with or without magic; the training was rigorous, however, for the week. They had too much time; all of it went to training.

Devour it, please…

A dark shade of orange-hued glow appeared from Sorin's staff as the fireball around the size of Sorin rampaged towards him. The metal roofing sheets of the top layer were heating up red from the immense onslaught lasting an hour.

The fireball clashed with Sorin, the spell stopping it perfectly in place, before shrinking to the size of his palm. While it got smaller, he also tried to use this as a way to convert power to himself, but the process was inefficient at his stage, gaining around thirty percent of the magic that was infused from the attack.

“You're doing well; with maybe another week, you might master this. You already can regulate without a staff, and you have mastered communication and magic barriers. I suppose you are basically ready once this is done.”

Sorin gave a weak smile as he panted from the attack. “Still, the fact that you stopped that attack from Boyle being almost ten times this size- it shocked me how much our mastery differs.”

“All comes with time! Maybe I'm just turning into an old hag! I suppose you might need to go back to Claya… Oh, how beastfolk are so youthful!”

Sorin got rid of his weak smile instantly. “I'm planning to go back even if just a bit. Even if I do continue that bloodline of yours, you won't be the woman I care about the most. We're just beneficial to each other."

That's exactly why we can work past our complete moral and ideal systems; we're just working with each other. Like someone you will meet once, then never outside of your normal life. I want that normal life back in Farmouth, but I have a duty and job as a hero of the city now to bring them out of suffering.

“Well, go back all you want one day once you grow old and all. Today you did a good training session. You said you're meeting a friend today. I have stuff to do as well.” With her words finished, she jumped down into the streets of the center city for whatever she needed.

Sorin, in return, went back into the base, seeing Chikaru scribble more seals. “How is that seal going?”

“If I work on it for another while, then it will be done.” Her tone was deadpan despite the obvious excitement as her hand moved faster.

He gave a nod before walking over to the teleportation seal. “I'm going now. I will tell you what I learned.”

“Remember, I want to know seal knowledge. Ask her if she knows; they were common back then.”

“Ya, I know.” Sorin gave a nod to her.

Like promised, I have to meet the old lady. I want to learn everything I can in this situation, so I have to ask the right questions, and now even Chikaru- it's just a favour from me for all she did. I will at least ask about seals for all the work she has done.

As Sorin poured his magic into the seal, he was then enveloped within that orange hue completely, and with a simple turn of Chikaru's head, he was nowhere to be seen.