Leaving the bounty office was easy. Navigating Eldenholm's streets without Cassian getting distracted was not.
"Wait, is that a bakery?"
'Nope, not today.'
Lindarion grabbed the back of his collar and kept walking.
Cassian groaned. "Co on, just five minutes—"
"You just said the bounty wasn't enough for a al," Lindarion reminded him.
"That was before I slled fresh bread," Cassian argued, eyes lingering longingly on the shop window as Lindarion dragged him away.
Luneth trailed silently behind them, the faint crunch of her footsteps the only sign she was still there.
The academy gates weren't far, and soon, the towering spires of the Academy lood before them.
The entrance was still bustling with students, so returning from errands, others simply lingering outside to talk.
Lindarion didn't break stride, heading straight for the dormitories.
Cassian groaned dramatically. "We should've taken another bounty. Maybe sothing exciting. A monster, maybe."
Lindarion raised an eyebrow. "You do realize that if we took a monster bounty, you'd actually have to fight?"
Cassian waved a hand. "I'd let you handle that part."
Luneth exhaled softly. "Coward."
Cassian clutched his chest. "I prefer 'strategically cautious.'"
Lindarion ignored him and kept walking.
When they finally reached the dorms, Cassian stretched. "Alright, I'm going to sleep for about a week."
Luneth rely nodded, already drifting toward her own quarters without another word.
Lindarion watched them go, then exhaled.
'Finally. So peace.'
Or so he thought—until soone cleared their throat behind him.
"Lindarion."
He turned, already half-expecting trouble.
Standing at the entrance was an unfamiliar figure. Older, sharp-eyed, with the posture of soone who didn't waste words.
"You've been summoned."
Lindarion frowned. "By who?"
The man didn't answer imdiately. Instead, he handed over a sealed letter.
Lindarion's gaze dropped to the emblem stamped into the wax.
He recognized it.
It belonged to the Academy's Headmaster..Thalorin.
—
Lindarion stared at the wax seal for a long mont.
Thalorin wasn't the type to summon people without reason.
Which ant this was either important, or incredibly annoying.
Without another word, Lindarion tucked the letter into his coat and made his way toward the Headmaster's office.
—
The air inside felt different.
It wasn't just the size of the chamber. It was the mana. The sheer presence of it.
Stepping into this room felt like stepping into a slightly different reality.
At the center, behind a desk that looked too old to still exist, sat Thalorin Evernight.
Long hair, a massive white beard, and eyes that shimred with sothing vast.
He didn't look up imdiately. He was scribbling sothing in a book, quill moving smoothly.
Lindarion waited.
Experience had taught him that interrupting was a mistake.
After a few monts, Thalorin finally spoke.
"You made quite the ss today."
Lindarion blinked. "You're going to have to be more specific."
Thalorin snorted. "That bounty hunter you fought—Ralven."
Lindarion crossed his arms. "Right...It wasn't my idea.
"I'm sure it wasn't," Thalorin mused, setting his quill down. "Still, making an enemy out of a group like the Red Vultures is… not ideal."
Lindarion raised an eyebrow. "Red what now? He wasn't that impressive."
Thalorin gave him a look.
The kind that made it very clear he wasn't amused.
Lindarion didn't look away, though.
After a long pause, Thalorin exhaled. "You need to be careful. You're not just any student, Lindarion."
'Here it cos.'
"The Council watches you closely."
Lindarion's expression didn't change. "Because of my affinities..and perhaps add my mana core to the endless list of things they are watching for—"
Thalorin nodded, cutting him off. "No, because of what you could beco."
Lindarion resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
"I'm already aware of that," he muttered.
Thalorin leaned back in his chair, watching him.
Then, his lips twitched.
"Good," he said. "Then I won't lecture you."
That was a lie. Thalorin loved lecturing.
Lindarion stared at the insignia resting on Thalorin's desk. The tal shimred faintly, mana woven into its design. But beyond that, it ant nothing to him.
"…And this is?"
Thalorin leaned back in his chair, stroking his beard. "An assignnt."
Lindarion raised an eyebrow. "For ?"
Thalorin nodded.
Lindarion waited for him to continue. He didn't.
"…Right." He exhaled sharply. "And what exactly does this 'assignnt' involve?"
Thalorin gestured toward the insignia. "A request ca through the Academy, directed toward 'capable individuals.' You qualify."
Lindarion frowned. That still didn't explain anything.
"From who?"
Thalorin's lips curled slightly. "House Valciel."
Lindarion blinked.
"…Who?"
Now Thalorin looked mildly entertained. "I keep forgetting you don't care about noble houses."
"That's because they have nothing to do with ," Lindarion pointed out.
"They do now."
Lindarion sighed. "Alright. So, what do they want?"
Thalorin's expression didn't change. "They didn't say."
Lindarion stared. "You're joking."
"I rarely joke."
Lindarion dragged a hand down his face. "You're telling a noble house wants sothing, and they didn't bother to explain what?"
"They simply requested a mage from the Academy. You were selected."
Lindarion had so many questions.
For one—why him? There were plenty of mages at Eldenholm, and plenty of them were more willing to deal with nobles.
For another—why was Thalorin acting like this was normal?
He crossed his arms. "And if I say no?"
Thalorin shrugged. "Then I have to explain why my disciple is ignoring formal requests from one of the most influential families in the region."
Lindarion muttered sothing unkind under his breath.
Thalorin definitely heard it, but wisely chose to ignore it.
Lindarion exhaled through his nose. "Fine. What about my studies here, then?"
"It's already dealt with, you will continue without a problem once you are back."
Lindarion clenched his jaw. "You assud I'd agree."
Thalorin smirked. "No, I assud you'd be smart enough to know when you don't have a choice."
Lindarion hated that he was right.
"…How long is this going to take?"
"As long as it needs to."
'Vague. Wonderful.'
Lindarion pinched the bridge of his nose. This was going to be a headache.
Thalorin studied him for a mont, then his tone shifted. "Just be careful."
Lindarion glanced up.
The amusent in Thalorin's gaze had faded.
"You don't know much about House Valciel," the Headmaster said, "but understand this—they don't send out requests lightly."
Lindarion frowned.
He didn't like the sound of that.
But it wasn't like he had much of a choice, did he?
"…Understood."
Thalorin nodded. "Good. You leave in two days."
Lindarion froze.
"Wait. What?"
Thalorin smirked. "Dismissed."
Lindarion stared at him, then at the insignia, then back at him.
"…I don't like this."
Thalorin chuckled. "See yourself out."
Lindarion gritted his teeth and walked out.
Two days.
That wasn't nearly enough ti to prepare anything..
But it looked like he'd have to make do.
—
Lindarion left the Headmaster's office feeling like soone had dumped a problem into his lap and walked away whistling.
Two days.
Actually, what did he even have to prepare for? He didn't even know what this noble house wanted.
'This is so troubleso.'
He rubbed his temple as he stepped outside, barely avoiding a group of first-years who were enthusiastically waving around books. Soone nearly set their own sleeve on fire.
'Typical.'
A familiar voice called out. "You look miserable."
Lindarion glanced over.
'Shouldn't they be resting?'
Luneth stood nearby, watching him with her usual ghostly presence—arms crossed, silver hair shifting slightly in the breeze. Next to her, Cassian was leaning against a tree, tossing a small crystal in his hand.
Lindarion sighed. "That obvious? And what are you guys doing here?"
Luneth raised an eyebrow. Cassian chuckled.
"We waited after seeing the man approach you. I don't think I've ever seen you look this annoyed," Cassian said. "Did the Headmaster give you a lecture about responsibility?"
"Worse." Lindarion ran a hand through his hair. "I'm being sent on so assignnt for a noble house I've never heard of."
Luneth blinked. "Which one?"
"Valciel."
That got a reaction.
Cassian stopped tossing his crystal. Luneth's expression didn't change, but she tilted her head slightly, which ant she was interested.
"That's… unexpected," Cassian muttered.
Lindarion frowned. "You know them?"
"More than you do, apparently," Luneth said dryly. "House Valciel is one of the more reclusive noble families. They don't interact with the Academy much."
"They don't interact with anyone much," Cassian added. "Which is why it's strange that they're suddenly reaching out."
Lindarion narrowed his eyes.
'This is just great.'
So not only was he being sent on so vague assignnt, but it was from a noble family that didn't usually ask for help in the first place.
That just made it more suspicious.
Cassian studied him for a mont. "You're not going alone, are you?"
Lindarion paused.
That was a good question.
Thalorin hadn't said anything about taking others with him, but he hadn't told him not to, either.
"…Not sure," he admitted. "I should have probably asked"
Cassian exchanged a glance with Luneth.
Then he grinned. "Well, if you need company, we're available."
Luneth sighed. "Are we?"
Cassian elbowed her lightly. "Co on. You're not curious?"
She didn't answer, which ant she was absolutely curious.
Lindarion eyed them. "You two are just looking for an excuse to leave the Academy, aren't you?"
Cassian shrugged. "Maybe."
Luneth didn't even bother denying it.
Lindarion exhaled through his nose. "…I'll ask tomorrow."
Cassian grinned. "Good. Let us know."
Lindarion nodded, but his mind was already turning over what they had said.
A noble house that rarely interacted with outsiders. A sudden request with no explanation. And now his friends acting like this was a bigger deal than he initially thought.
Sothing about this didn't sit right.
And that just made him want to find out what the hell was going on. However, he was going to rest for today.
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