Lightning shot out from the Mindrattler’s estate battlements carved out of the steep cliffs of the Steel Face Mountains, the bolt branched out across the ochre morning sky, highlighting the mauve clouds a bright silver. A loud boom soon followed that scared out a flock of rousting starlings.

  “Blast it! I almost botched that one, ” Casimir hissed while shaking out the tingling from his fingers.

  He closed his eyes and took in the brisk spring air and remembered what Whitley taught him. Alright, focus on the quiet pulse of my Aether heart and follow the threads of Aether outward.

  He could sense his Aether, refreshing like snowmelt entering into a dry riverbed, steadily flowing through him. He extended his Aether outwards, achieving a reach of ten feet around him that was not obstructed by the stone, and began gathering more Aether from the atmosphere for his reserves.

  When his Aether heart was replenished he diverted some of that Aether to his pointer finger, causing it to glow, then he weaved a four point star pattern. Quick and confident strokes. Even lines.

  The thread of Aether generated energetic sparks that snapped in the air. He aimed over the battlement and unleashed another bolt of lightning that crackled over the wispy abyss below, and half of his stamina went with it. Sweat rolled down his face. Blast it.

  “Save some of that energy for our guests,” Whitley’s voice seemed to pop out of nowhere and caused Casimir to jump.

  He turned to his right and saw Whitley dressed in a refined blue suit with a suit pin of his Mindrattler family’s seal, a rattlesnake striking a brain. His judging glare was as cold and overwhelming as a hailstorm, but his vast pool of Aether was oddly undetectable within Casimir’s range.

  Casimir grumbled, “When are you going to teach me how to do that?”

  “What for? You still wouldn’t be able to hide from me,” Whitley snickered as he reached for Casimir’s tie to fix it. “Beside, Aether Suppression requires near perfect Aether control which you lack.”

  It would have been convenient if I could.

  “Thank you,” Casimir brushed Whitley hand away, choosing to fix his tie himself. “There is no harm squeezing in extra practice, before they arrive.”

  “Too late for that, they are already here.”

  Rapid footsteps clacked against the marble floors of the manor as Casimir kept up with Whitley’s brisk pace down the manor’s opulent stone halls, adorned with intricate carved arch walls and gold leaf crown moldings.

  “Was my uncle able to make it?” Casimir asked. “I know he said he was busy with—”

  “He was one of the first to arrive,” Whitley cut him off. “After him was Lord Salamander.”

  Casimir nodded, hiding a small smile.

  They entered a door at the end of the hall and made their way down a winding staircase that Casimir frequently went up and down throughout his training. A chill pricked the skin on his face and his hand slid across the damp stone of the stairwell as they descended. At the bottom of the stairs was an underground training room, flanked by large granite columns. Between them were green cushion benches, illuminated by hanging incandescent lights.

  “Ah, there is the boy,” announced a slippery, refined voice.

  Casimir turned to a balding redheaded man in a deep purple, Master Weaver cloak and a green suit, sitting on one of the benches by the back wall, standing next to him was Iker. A grand smile appeared on Casimir’s face when he saw that his uncle looked just as he remembered, and his uncle’s eyes lit up in return.

  Iker opened his arms wide. “Casimir! It’s been ages!”

  “Uncle!” Casimir rushed over into Iker’s bear hug that squeezed out the air from his lungs.

  Iker released Casimir from his embrace.“ You look so much healthier than the last time I saw you. That slimy miscreant did a number on you.”

  “Yes, I was able to get some of my weight back, but how is Sully and everyone else back home?” Casimir asked and watched his Uncle’s face turn from joy to a cool anger. He feared the worst but still continued, “You dodged the question during our calls and told me to focus on my recovery.”

  “Other than a nasty scar, Sully is back to full health, but there were— casualties.” Iker solemnly lowered his head. “Nikola and Bernat were killed when they tried to prevent Sageman from retrieving the potion. Esti, Jakes and Luken were seriously injured and Luken was forced to retire.”

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  “Ah, I…” Casimir’s heart sank, but he maintained a brave face. “His offenses against me were just a slap on the wrist in comparison. We will bring him and his lot of miscreants to justice!”

  Iker patted Casimir on the back. “We will. That we will.”

  After their reunion, Casimir’s attention returned to the red headed man. “Hello, Lord Salamander, sorry for the delay.”

  The old red headed man chuckled showing his sharp teeth. His oily skin glistened underneath the low lighting as he stroked his long beard. “No it is quite alright, I at least got a taste of your abilities. Electric patterns are tricky to execute for novices. Not bad, a little wasteful, but fair for your level.”

  “Thank you,” Casimir forced a smile to hide his shock. He could tell from all the way down here! His range is incredible.

  Whitely nodded. “Yes, he is still working on that, but he should be a suitable apprentice for you. He can memorize patterns well and has good accuracy.”

  “That is wonderful to hear. How is his alchemy?” Salamander asked, stroking his beard.

  “I taught him the basics. He appears to have a knack for it.”

  Casimir added, “It is just like mixing poisons back home.”

  The mention of poison made Chancellor Salamander face beam with amusement. “Which is your favorite to use?”

  “I tend to use neurotoxins for temporary paralysis.”

  Chancellor Salamander started chuckling again and rose from his seat to pat Casimir on the back, since Casimir’s height made it too awkward for him to reach his shoulder. “Good, good, good, then you will make an excellent fit. I’ll look forward to mentor you while you attend W.I.T. this winter. ”

  “He will be attending an academy?” Iker raised an eyebrow. “I thought he was going to be training at the Salamander estate.”

  Casimir jumped in before Whitley or Salamander could say anything. “I convinced Lord Mindrattler to let me join an academy. I think it would be a great opportunity to meet my future colleagues and build connections.”

  He then tried to subtly give his uncle a persuasive smile but Iker remained unconvinced.

  Whitley rolled his eyes. “I tried to explain to him that he can build better connections while training with the Pennyroyals without going through the trouble of one.”

  Muttering, he gave Casimir a side eye. “It is beneath us.”

  Chancellor Salamander scoffed, “Well, academies are becoming more in vogue for spares of higher ranked Weaver families. You should be proud to have such a forward-minded cousin.”

  He gave Casimir a smile. “I can’t tell you who yet but there are a couple children of the Emperor’s court who will be attending during your first quarter.”

  Whitley’s sour mood sweetened but he maintained his standoffish demeanor. “Hmph, no need to be coy, I’ll find out who within a week.”

  Iker snorted.“So what about security? Although I am confident that my nephew is capable of defending himself against most threats, he gained the interest of Sageman.”

  Chancellor Salamander sniffed back at Iker. “Because of the high profile students that will be attending this year, we have already made provision to ensure their and your nephew’s safety. If you need more assurance, your involvement is welcome.”

  Iker crossed his arms. “May I speak with my nephew in private?”

  Lord Salamander frowned. “I should depart. It was a pleasure meeting you all.”

  Casimir suppressed a groan of disappointment. “Thank you for coming.”

  Lord Salamander smiled and patted Casimir on the shoulder. “I’ll see you soon.”

  Iker gave him a polite nod and waited for Whitley to follow Salamander out of the room.

  Once the door shut behind them, Iker affixed a stern gaze on his nephew. “What are you trying to pull? You know that Sageman has his eyes on that school for some reason.”

  Casimir beamed a confident grin. “Then, I shouldn’t have any problems going to his school of choice, and I also recall Jett being reluctant to get any more students from W.I.T out of fear of stepping on someone else’s toes. I want to find out why.”

  His uncle tilted his head and grumbled, “If what Salamander is saying is true then I would not be surprised if Spindle is there monitoring the high profile students behind the scenes. Jett probably did not want to go toe to toe with them, especially with a master who seemed more eager grabbing you then saving him.”

  “Yes but doesn’t it bother you that despite Spindle’s supposed presence, Jett was able to take out three of their students. There was also the matter of that obvious cover-up of a student dying from heavy metal poisoning, two years ago.”

  Iker frowned and the wrinkles on his forehead deepened. “All the more reason for you to stay out of it. Those social climbing Salamanders who run it do not inspire confidence and I have reason to believe they sympathize with Sageman.”

  He then shook his head with disapproval before Casimir could respond and continued, “It is too risky for you. If you tempt him too much, he could swoop in and take you again.”

  “He can do that now! I have no intention of hiding. Instead I will become a hair in his eye any way that I can!” Casimir’s orange eyes flashed with intensity. “I’m going through with it. I just wanted you to know what I had planned.”

  His uncle’s dark eyes and stone face studied Casimir with a cold analytical stare. He then frowned and shook his head. “Madcap fool.”

  He then gave Casimir a hug. “There was a time when your mom went missing. I thought she was dead and when you…”

  “I came back.”

  “Yes, you did, and fortunately in better shape than she did, but you want to chance it?” Iker let Casimir go and stared down at him with a walled off countenance that held back a wave of grief.

  Why did he have to bring her up? Casimir averted his gaze. “I’ll come back.”

  Iker nodded. “I’ll keep looking if you don’t.”