Fox 14

"What about her?" Vena questioned as we walked through the almost empty halls of our dorm building. It was still pretty early and everyone was headed to their classes or to the training halls.

"Well her aura is fluctuating between yellow and pink. Not to mention she has the brightest smile on her face right now as she texts so I'm going to say that she's texting her crush." Levi guessed.

"I would have to agree with you. Unfortunately unless we ask her we'll never know. The whole purpose of our ability when it comes to fighting is for it to be a preemptive strike. We can't tell for sure what our enemy is thinking but by studying subtle changes in their actions as well as knowing what their aura means we can surmise what their next plan of attack will be." Vena replied with a smile of her own. She made an excellent teacher and I wondered how she would be in an actually fight. I didn't want to judge a book by it's cover but she didn't seem like the fighting type.

"This is pretty cool." I whispered to Alistair as we followed behind the two of them, simply watching them interact.

"Yeah, I know what you mean. Between you and Levi there are enough cool tricks to keep anyone entertained." Alistair giggled.

"Don't forget yourself. You've done so many cool things yourself." I reminded him, remembering all the things I had already seen him do since meeting him.

"If you say so." He blushed.

"I do say so." I whispered before leaning over and pressing my lips to his cheek. I've wanted to do that since meeting him. There was something so enticing about the way he's cheeks pinked that had me wanting to attacking his face in kisses.

"I should've known." A voice snickered behind us. "Leave it to a familiar to fall for his Master. So typical."

The four of us stopped and spun around to see Geneva standing in the hallway with her little group of followers. Her hair pulled up into a tight bun on top of her head with small tendrils framing her face. It was amazing how gorgeous she really was. Back home no one could have even come close to her but here I had seen plenty of girls that were from different realms that looked just as gorgeous if not more. Although she was gorgeous in her own right she was downright ugly because of her nasty attitude.

"Is there something you want Geneva?" Levi questioned sounding exasperated, while Vena shrunk down behind him. I tried to hide a laugh at the way Geneva's smile faltered a bit at that. I guess she wasn't expecting any of us to actually respond to her. However, she didn't know Levi all that well.

"I just wanted to let you know that there's an assembly because of you three. I'm missing a very important class because of this." She sneered, crossing her arms over her chest. "They're making too big a deal about what happened to you three."

"So you're mad because you have to go to class today?" I questioned confused. What teenager in their right mind, regardless of the realm we're in, would be mad to skip class?

She didn't have an answer for that, she simply huffed in response and stormed off. The entire group that pretty much followed her everywhere didn't know how to react and simply trailed behind her trying to tell her that we were wrong. I spun around and shrugged at a smirking Levi and Vena who was still standing behind him, trying not to be seen. Alistair giggled as Levi draped an arm around our shoulders as he spoke.

"So does anyone know about this little assembly that we've caused?" Levi questioned.

"There was an announcement this morning. The Mages Council has decided to make a visit to Rhyeal Academy because of your recent run-in with the weird creature in the forest that they still haven't been able to find." Vena replied.

"Really? They know about what happened to us?" Alistair questioned shocked.

"Pretty much everyone in the magical world know about you three. Especially because of the creature that attacked you. Since it was the familiar of such a powerful and dark magic user it's a big thing in our world. They're probably coming to congratulate you or something." She informed us.

It was surreal to think that we were the proverbial talk of the town. I had gone from being practically a nobody to being one of the familiars that everyone was talking about. My nerves were on high alert but for whatever reason I couldn't figure out why. Maybe it was just because there were going to be a group of authoritative magical beings speaking about what happened to us.

"That's kind of scary actually." Alistair sighed. "I really prefer to be left in the shadows. I was hoping that this wouldn't have drawn that much attention but clearly that didn't happen. It's bad enough that everyone at the school already knows what happens but I was hoping that no one outside of this campus would find out."

He actually seemed quite distraught at hearing this news. His brows were furrowed and he glared ahead of him as he now seemed lost in thought. It made me think about what it was that he was actually mad about. Yeah, it could be annoying to suddenly be in the limelight but it wasn't because of anything wrong we had done. It was something good.

"The assembly is going to take place during the last period and everyone is expected to be there." She explained.

"Well today is certainly going to be an interesting day." I laughed as Alistair sighed once more.

**********

"Everyone! Find your seats please. Sit down anywhere!" A loud booming voice called over the students. I recognized him as one of the teachers that would sometime monitor the halls during class time. He was a huge, burly man with a massive, scraggly beard and an overall un-kept look.

Levi had instantly spotted three seats for us and proceeded to drag the two of us over to them. We sat down and patiently waited for the remainder of the horde of students to do the same. As we waited I took that time to look around the large auditorium. There were two floors that overlooked the main floor and the large stage. We were in the back, closest to the large set of double doors and on the main floor.

Several seats were set up on the main stage. They weren't simple folding metal seats, like the ones I was used to back home, they were extravagant seats with plush red cushions that would put a King's throne to shame. Finally the majority of the students had taken their seats and the teacher began to speak again.

"I expect everyone to listen and pay attention to what these distinguished men are about to say. Show some respect or else." His voice carried throughout the auditorium and silence ensued.

"Thank you Arthur. That is enough."

It seems as if every head turned at the exact same moment to watch the man draped in black walk in. His cloak dragged along the floor behind him and his hood hid his face from our view. Seconds later another similar form followed behind him, dressed exactly the same. A couple more followed behind them until there were a total of five figures standing in front of us. One by one they removed their hoods to reveal their faces.

Three men and two women were standing in front of us, with their arms crossed behind their backs. The blindingly bright light that showcased them also made it difficult to actually see them. The man in the center, with his long white hair tucked behind his ears looked no older than forty but his eyes spoke of wisdom only a man of ancient times could comprehend. He stepped forward, separating himself from the rest of his group, to stand closer to the edge of the stage.

None of them took a seat in the extravagant red chairs that were set up for them. They simply stood there staring out into the crowd blankly without blinking. It was as if they weren't even real. Their faces never betrayed what they were even thinking, let alone how they were feeling. It was one of the things that unnerved me the most about them.

"Students, we are all here today to discuss a major problem that this campus has. We are also here to speak about the bravery of three newer students." His voice wasn't extremely loud, like the teacher before him but it was firm and demanded the attention of everyone. You could hear a pin drop in here.

As soon as he mentioned the three newer students I knew it was us, as did Alistair and Levi. Alistair shrunk down in his seat and muttered a soft curse or two as Levi looked up excitedly at being the center of attention once more.

"I ask that those three young men join me up here." He spoke a little louder making sure that we heard him.

Alistair was definitely reluctant to get up and he stared up at me with pleading eyes. Pleading me to do what I didn't know but there was no way we could deny the request. Levi stood first, drawing everyone's attention as Alistair and I gradually followed suit. We followed the ever excited Levi down the aisle that lead to the front and made our way up to stage.

The man stood in the exact same spot with his arm outstretched, welcoming us forward. The bright lights that shone down on him, now blinded us as we made our way closer to him. There was no way for us to see out into the crowd of students who could see the three of us perfectly. If they didn't know who we were before they all certainly knew who we were now.

"That night you three were attacked must have been a traumatic time for you. Those creatures are the familiars of a once powerful dark magic user. They haven't been caught but up until now we had no reason to suspect that they were dangerous without Helion to lead them. I assure you that we will find them and bring them to trial." The man announced, much to the satisfaction of the entire auditorium.

He said it like it was something that we wanted. Something that we had requested but it wasn't. I wanted the exact opposite. I didn't believe that they were to blame for what happened all those years ago and all I wanted was to find out what happened to Merula and Marcus. She hadn't hurt me. She had never hurt me, although she did injure Levi.

"These young men took on the vicious familiars although they were just enrolled in this school. The amount of courage and bravery that takes is astounding. You three are awarded one request, each, from this council. Whenever you so choose." He announced and was met with gasps and murmurs from entire student body. I suppose that was a big thing to them.

"Are you sure that's wise Lucius?" A woman's voice hissed from behind us.

"It is fine Iluz." He snapped, silencing her.

"Um...Thank you for the honor?" I spoke up for the three of us knowing that Levi very rarely had such manners and Alistair was still too shocked to do anything.

"You are quite welcome." He addressed me, turning to look me dead in the eyes before turning back around to face the students once more. "Be advised that the curfew is still in effect but it is simply to ensure that you students will remain safe while you are here. Your upcoming vacation will not be cancelled and you'll all be able to go back home for in a week. Hopefully by time you come back the problem will be resolved and you will all be allowed back outside after school hours. Thank you all for listening to what an old man has to say..." He joked to which everyone laughed, a little too much. He then dismissed everyone but asked us to stay behind for a minute.

As we stood there watching everyone else leave, including the teachers, the atmosphere began to change around us. Levi noticed it first as his stance changed drastically as he looked from one member of the council to the next. Alistair told him to be careful as not everyone knew his ability to read auras yet and he doubted that the council had been made aware of his new changes.

"Sorry for detaining you a little longer than your peers but we wanted to speak to you three privately for a moment." Lucius interrupted the silence that had overtaken the auditorium once the last student left.

"About?" I questioned.

"About that night."

"We told the headmaster everything that happened that night." Levi answered for the three of us.

"Yes but certain things for us aren't adding up." He began.

"Tae, you just recently found out that you were a kitsune, am I right?" Iluz questioned.

"Yes, that's right."

"How are you, a recently shifted familiar, able to do what you do so early?"

"I have no idea. Like you said, I just recently found out that I was even a familiar. All of this is still new to me and any questions that you have about me being a familiar or why I have two tails or why I'm so amazing I won't likely be able to answer." I replied, earning a glare from her. She pulled her lackluster red hair to the side and simply walked back to where the other members of the council stood, watching, waiting.

"So how were you three able to fend off the creature. The report that was sent to us said that it had simply run off but that doesn't sound like something it would do." Lucius spoke up once more.

So the headmaster hadn't said anything about the creature licking my muzzle before leaving? Why would he omit something that was obviously out of the norm for such a ferocious creature that everyone was hunting. Quickly I glanced at Alistair to see him lost in thought, much like I was.

"So?" The man goaded us.

"It must have been startled by Tae." Levi spoke up. "After it had caught me off guard and took a swipe at me Tae charged, all bright and purple, and must have simply scared it off."

"Oh, that's right. You were engulfed in purple flames weren't you?" He questioned but it was clear he already knew that.

So he was testing us.

He wanted to know if we were telling the truth by telling us part of what he knew and hoping that we would fill in the rest. They weren't curious about what happened that night. They were curious about us. Curious about who we were that we were still standing, alive and well after facing off with such a familiar and I can't say that I'm not surprised. I had the same thought when I woke up, practically unscathed and alive.

"After that we were rescued and that was the end of that." Levi answered.

"Is that all?" Iluz questioned from behind us.

"Yes." I was quick to reply.

"Actually..." Levi began, drawing their attention from me to him. They waited silently as he worked to remember the night in questioned and I prayed to whatever unseen deity it was that was protecting us that he wouldn't spill the beans. "Tae actually passed out after it all happened and we had to practically drag him out of the forest." He laughed.

"Hey! It was an eventful night for me!" I defended myself.

"I was the one that was physically wounded and you were the one who fainted like a little girl." Levi teased.

"Well aren't you just the sweetest." I glared.

"Always for you love." He winked sending my heart into overdrive.

"What about you Alistair? You haven't said anything regarding this situation at all. Is there anything that you'd like to contribute?" Lucius questioned him, focusing all his attention on my small friend. Alistair took a step to the side, hiding himself partially behind me.

"He's the shy type. He allows us to do all the speaking for him." I informed the council.

"Interesting." Lucius muttered with a slight frown  before turning his attention back to us with a bright smile. "Well we're just all lucky that you three managed to escape that situation without too much damage done. We will be keeping an eye on you to make sure that nothing else happens while you are in our care."

He said it as if he cared but the look in his eyes were more menacing than caring. He was more curious about why we were still alive than actually caring that we were still alive. Alistair took another step behind me feeling the same way I was as he finally dismissed us as well.

The four remaining members of the Mages Council pulled their hoods over their heads, hiding their faces and walked off stage and out of our view as Lucius remained behind. He simply stood there for a moment watching us with a confused look on his face.

"Every once in a while there is a mage that far exceeds the ideals that we first began with when starting the mages program here at Rhyeal. The last one was Helion. You, Alistair, seem to be doing just as well as he was when he first started here. You're so young and inexperienced and yet so powerful. I'll just have to keep a better eye on you." His smile was bright and misleading but I didn't need to be able to read auras to know that he was suspicious of us.

He bowed his head at us and without another word he walked off the stage the same way the other council members had, leaving us up there alone and partially confused. Levi looked at me and I back at him as Alistair simply stood, immobile behind me.

"What was that all about?" I questioned, breaking the silence.

"I have no idea but let's get out of here and get something to eat." Levi smiled trying to ease the situation.

"I'm with you there." I smiled back.

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