“There, all done.” Dorin said as he adjusted the pentagon he drew on Johan’s chest. “Is that okay?” “More or less...” answered Johan, “But I think the squiggle on the left looked more like a heart with an eye in the middle...” “Rune, they’re called runes...” Dorin corrected him. “You sure this will work?” Johan asked for the nth time. “What if that professor finds out that her spell is broken?” “If she had a way to know about the spell being broken, then she whould have been here by now, or at least called the Dorm head to check on us,” said Sebastian who watched his two companions. He looked amused. “Which reminds me,” Dorin looked up from the rune he was writing, “What do we do when that prince guy comes here to fix the doors tomorrow?” “Just send them away.” Seb replied automatically. “But we gave our word...” Dorin looked troubled. “You think we can still take it back?” Asked Johan, “I really don’t like them touchin

“What happened?!” Dorin ran to Sebastian’s side when the Silver Tongue fell. Professor Dupont held on to Seb’s arms, he tried to keep him up, but the boy was out cold. “What’s wrong, Professor?” Johan asked as he too, came to Sebastian’s aide. Professor Jacob Dupont seemed to hesitate. “Sebastian... He just lost consciousness...” he said, though Dorin knew he was holding something back. “Help me put him on the couch...” Dupont was about to carry Seb, but Dorin took him in his arms and carried him to the couch. The three of them went around him, with the caladrius and the dragon – much to the professor’s surprise, at the side. “Seb?” Dorin called, gently patting his friend’s cheek. “Hey, are you okay?” “Here’s a wet towel.” Johan handed a cold towel to Dorin who wiped Seb’s face. “Perhaps we should give him more space?” Dupont suggested. “You think he was overtaxed by the past events?” Dorin asked, “Did he ever get to sl

Professor Dupont led them towards the woods. There was a small clearing past an orchard near the tumbled down wall that separated the main University grounds from the Dark forest. By the wall was a flanking tower, leaning a bit to one side, but still standing and could be entered through a partly hidden archway. The stairway was long gone and the roof was non-existent but the inside of the tower itself still looked sturdy and well kept. “We can talk here.” Dupont faced the rest of his companions. “This sure brings back memories...” said Althea. “I used to hang out here with some friends when we were still students...” “The wind is strong here...” Dorin closed his eyes, faced towards the Dark woods and took a deep breath.  “So, about that dragon...” Maj. Gen. Muller started, but Johan interrupted him. “First, can someone tell me who that over there is?” he said, pointing at a person beneath the shadows of the tilted tower. Only his

Dorin opened his eyes at the sound of hoofed feet. “Good afternoon, Horatio, Damien,” he called out to the two figures approaching from the other side of the forgotten wall. “Good afternoon, Dorin.” Damien answered back. He looked at Sebastian who lay fast asleep on the forest floor, his head on Dorin’s lap. “How is he fairing?” “He’s just... sad.” Dorin placed a hand on Seb’s head, stroking his silky black hair. “I think he needs more rest.” Damien got off the white horse he was riding and knelt before the two young mages. He had a flask with him which he handed to Dorin. “What is this?” Dorin asked. “It is a broth to quell sadness,” replied the groundskeeper. “It will help.” he placed a hand on Seb’s shoulder. Seb quivered, a large tear fell from his cheek. “He will be fine,” said Damien standing up. Sebastian stirred and opened his eyes. He looked up at Dorin, then at Damien. His eyes filled up with tears at the sight of the

The sun sets as another day ends in the prestigious campus of Aubrianne University. Three new friends walk the pathway towards the Magic Division’s Dormitory. Long shadows fall on them from trees that line the way, faded by the electric light from the lamp posts the university installed for the students’ added security. “Seb, remember what happened the last time we passed this way?” Dorin asked his sworn bother with a laugh as they went on their way. Sebastian didn’t seem to have heard him. He had his hood back over his head. It was shaped strangely, for a small white bird, a caladrius, was currently sleeping beneath it as it perched on his shoulder. “What?” their new aquaintance, Johan, asked curiously. “What happened?” He looked at his two companions as he held on to the sleeping dragon draped over his shoulder. “That was the time when we were jumped by those wizards from the Capital,” Dorin answered his own question. “They were wearing invisible cl