Chapter Sixty-Five

Chapter Sixty-Five
The next few days consist of endless library study sessions and swordplay lessons, which have shown great improvement for Mirin’s skills in both sanctions. I’m proud to see the progress that he has already made, apparently even more determined to impress Ascian than I anticipated. Toshiro informed me of Mirin’s late-night practices alone in the training room, no matter how beat up and exhausted he might be from the day. I decide that I would like to put together some sort of reward for his display of hard work, other than bestowing the title of my personal Knight onto him by the end of this. He’s done nothing but proven to me that he is exactly as I thought, the perfect candidate for my first member of my Guard. I wish only that his parents were still around to share in the pride that I feel for him.

After the night that Toshiro fell asleep in my room, he has kept his distance in terms of being dutiful, making sure he doesn’t become too comfortable around me again. He is back to his belligerent self, pushing Mirin to his limits in the training room and disappearing out of sight while we study in the library, though I have been able to sense him nearby whenever Cosimo is around. Toshiro did say that we should act as though we have no suspicions of Cosimo’s involvement in the poisoning attempt, and he has been doing well in acting innocent. He hasn’t changed his behavior towards me since then and even apologized for taking the day to himself for his sickness. I’m nearly beginning to wonder if Toshiro is just paranoid, but I know better than to let my guard down completely. Cosimo has played his role before, so it wouldn’t be unreasonable to believe he may be playing the long game once again.

As for my progress, I have managed to discover some things about magic during my studies that I wouldn’t have expected. Though humans who have the capabilities to wield magic are not as impossible as Toshiro made it sound, it is nearly impossible to decipher the abilities before they have been awakened, meaning that the likelihood that Alice and I were chosen by our Masters specifically for our abilities is unlikely. The tomes refer to humans with magic abilities as “Sorcerers”, or essentially Witches and Wizards.

Magic can be passed down through the lineage, though oftentimes it manifests at random depending on the strength of spirit in the human. With that being discovered, it led me to realize that the probability of both Alice and I sharing the magic is slim to none, meaning that she is most likely a normal human. Whether or not her Mistress was aware that Alice had potential abilities or not when selecting her is still unknown, but if Toshiro knew that one of us had magic, then it’s possible that Alice’s Mistress was also aware and took her chances in choosing one of us. Exactly how the Faeries could predict that either one of us was rare in the magic sense is still unknown to me.

Now that I’ve been able to confirm that I do, in fact, have magical abilities through conducting a series of tests from one of the tomes, I’ve been toying with it in my spare time. The flame-like aura that I noticed that night in my room was accurate, leaving me to believe that my abilities fall into the category of Fire Magic. Unlike the Fae and other magical creatures, humans only have the ability to wield one form of elemental power. Now that I’m more familiar with the way my magic manifests itself, finding the loophole in the spell that bars anyone from entering my room is easy to accomplish. As soon as Mirin’s morning lesson is over, I plan to whisk Toshiro away into the depths of the library to perform the simple spell that will grant him access to my room at will, even when I am absent.

I have been sitting on the sidelines of the training hall all morning, reading through one of the spell books that I discovered on the shelves of the library. Now that the spell that will allow Toshiro to enter the room uninhibited is all but memorized, I close the book and lean back in my chair to observe the swordplay as the lesson comes to a close. Mirin is certainly improving in terms of blocking and dodging, though he has yet to land a blow on Toshiro during a lesson. As usual, Mirin is dripping in sweat and covered in bruises from being hit so many times, but his eyes do not lose focus even in his exhaustion.

Toshiro glances over at me for a moment, seeing that I am ready to retire to the library as soon as they are finished playing swordsman, and makes quick work of tripping Mirin with his foot and bringing the wooden sword to his throat, signaling his death.

“Hey!” Mirin exclaims as his backside makes contact with the marble floor, his sword clattering across the arena. “That is hardly fair.”

Toshiro rotates his shoulder as he makes his way back to the rack to replace the training weapons, though I know better than to believe it actually hurts him. “High Fae hardly fights fairly,” He explains, glancing towards the door over his shoulder. “Isn’t that correct?”

I turn to look at whom he addresses, startled to see the hulking outline of the Weapons Master standing in the doorway. I hadn’t sensed him or even heard the door open, but I don’t feel too poorly about my surprise to see him, because Arcane is equally as perplexed and jumps to her feet with an unfriendly snarl. Mirin also hauls himself to his feet, squaring his shoulders and glancing over to me with caution. Since the attempted poisoning, poor Mirin has been on his toes looking out for the High Fae everywhere he goes, even though he respects my orders not to investigate further by himself.

“I hoped I might find you here,” Braegen says, his voice booming throughout the hall despite his lowered tone. He strides farther in, sparing me a glance as he passes by my chair to meet with Toshiro. “I have heard the disturbance your training has been causing all week.”

Toshiro meets the imposing Faerie without wavering, gazing at the war-torn Lord with a condescending look. “Is that so? Who is it that seeks me out?” He asks, looking Braegen up and down with boredom.

Braegen smiles tightly at the motion, seeming to enjoy the reaction his presence evoked. He turns to jerk his head towards me without looking, considering that his eyepatch is facing me on this side of him. Apparently, he doesn’t consider me to be worth turning to look at. “You stick to her tail like a lost pup, so I hoped I would run into you eventually. Malion told me of your strength and I wished to test it for myself.”

The mention of the golden-haired Chaplain registers in my mind, reminded me of the twinkle in his eyes as he gazed at Toshiro. Had he really gone as far as to gush about him to the other High Fae? I could snicker at the idea if I wasn’t so focused on Toshiro’s response. He remains unbaited, his expression is uninterested as he rests a hand on the katana at his side. “It is quite rude of you to address your Queen that way,” He says, tilting his head slightly. “She has a name, which I would assume your brain is large enough to retain. Perhaps I think too highly of you.”

It’s clear that Braegen is used to being the strongest in the Palace, so hearing the disrespectful tone in Toshiro’s voice seems to anger him. A muscle in his jaw jumps as he takes a step closer to the Fox, flexing his thick fingers. “That girl is not my Queen,” He growls, puffing out his chest. “Are you declining my challenge?”

Toshiro yawns, further antagonizing Braegen, despite the way that he towers over him. The god may be slight in build in comparison, but I know the muscle mass that lays hidden beneath his loose kimonos. Besides, it seems like his power is not in the strength of his body, anyway, though I have yet to see it for myself. “You would hardly pose as a challenge for me,” Toshiro drawls, staring back at Lord Braegen.

Mirin has come to stand in front of me, still brandishing his wooden training sword. Despite knowing that he would be useless if the High Fae decided to attack, Mirin’s resolve remains as he watches the heated exchange cautiously. It looks as though he wants to interfere when Braegen slanders my title, but I reach for his arm when he tried to step forward.

“Then it will be no hair off of your hide to humor me.”

Toshiro offers a noncommittal shrug. “My schedule is truly quite busy. Perhaps you should make an appointment and I may fit you in.”

“Actually,” I cut in, standing from my seat. I lock eyes with Toshiro, offering an innocent smile. “It would entertain me to watch. By all means, spar with each other for a while.” Toshiro meets my request with a dark look, clearly unamused. He knows that I want to see him break a sweat for my own curiosity, and I’m sure that Mirin has his own interests in the god’s true power, as well.

He rolls his eyes and nods towards the training arena. “As you command. Come now, Meat Head. I shall duel you.”