A thud was heard behind her, and she looked over her shoulder. Montan had dropped a package in his hands and Ewan was standing behind him with wide eyes and a dropped jaw.
Tori inwardly grimaced. She looked back at Axton. I didnt an...why are you covering your chest?
Axtons wide gray eyes looked at her with awe as his arms crossed over his broad chest. He shifted his gaze, but didnt lower his arms. No reason.
Go do it in your room, Piers said from the sofa.
Ewan let out a strange squeak and Tori looked back at him and Montan. She narrowed her eyes. Whatever is going in your head, thats not it. She looked back at Axton and restrained the urge to kick his legs. Co on. Get up and go to your room. This wont take long.
Tori... Ewans voice was quiet and he took a hesitant step forward. His eyes flickered from her to Piers and back. What about His Highness?
Tori stared at him with a deadpan expression. Im going to write a blessing charm on Axton. The bigger it is, the stronger and longer lasting.
Relieved looks filled Ewan and Montans faces. The panic and worry that Montan had, which if she were honest was a bit insulting, turned into gratitude and he bowed his head.
Thank you, my lady. He lifted his head and she could see so curiosity in his face. May I watch?
Ewan leaned closer to him and crinkled his eyes. Hey...dont make it weird.
Tori is still practicing this particular style, so it is not suitable to be viewed by others yet, Piers told them.
She threw him a thankful look. At least Piers understood her. Montans shoulders fell, disappointed, but he still gave an understanding nod. He bent down and picked up the package.
Brother, I brought you so dried foods and bread for your trip, he said. He looked at Tori. I bought it from Duel Cafe, my lady. Manager Sorset said he could deduct the cost from my pay.
Tori waved her hand. Dont worry about it. Ill take care of it.
Montan shook his head. No, my lady. I want to give this to my brother using my own money.
Axton drew on his lips and bit them, looking at both Montan and Tori with thoughtful expressions. He turned his head towards Piers. Do you see this? Look how my little brother and sister fight to support .
Piers kept his eyes on the papers he was reading and shifted through them with an air of nonchalance. I urge you not to brag about devoted siblings when mine stalked outside a library window for several years starting from when he was four.
Ewan and Tori both drew their heads back with disturbed expressions. Axton snorted, but got up to accept the bundle Montan had prepared for him. After looking through it and praising him for his thoughtfulness, he told Montan to take a seat or help Ewan, who was helping clean armor.
Learning to clean your battle wear is one of the first things you learn at La Garda. Ewan, show him how to do it, Axton said. Im going to have Tori write my blessing charm.
Ewan gave him a small salute and returned to his seat. Montan, eager to help Axton in any way, followed him to watch closely. Tori followed Axton to his bedroom and looked around as she walked through the door.
This was the first ti shed been there. Whenever shed gone to Piers flat, shed remained in the living area outside and had never gone into any of their personal rooms.
Does this bedroom have no windows? she asked with a frown. Ilyana liked natural light.
Axton shook his head as he grabbed his desk chair and moved it towards her. No, this is an inner room. Only the rooms across the hall have windows. There is a flat on the other side that mirrors this one that has the sa issue with the windows.
Tori pursed her lips and frowned. Is anyone renting that flat right now?
No. Initially, Piers and I were going to get to one side of the building each, but I was concerned about his safety and made him live with , Axton said with a hint of pride in his voice. Tori could only imagine how annoyed Piers had been. The other side has been remodeled in a similar way, though it will need furniture. Are you interested in renting it?
Piers is letting rent the entire house when Ilyana and I got to Universit, Tori told him.
Axton cocked his head to the side and furrowed his brows. Thats next fall.
Yes.
...then...we have to move out.
Yes.
Axton frowned. That bastard didnt tell we had to move out!
Tori rolled her eyes. You dont need to live so close to Universit at this point. Just go live at the Lunar Pavilion. Your apartnt will be completed by then and youll be close to the Imperial Palace. Piers will be moving back, so youll need to be in close proximity.
Axton still scowled. He couldve at least told ! He marched to the door and threw it open. Piers! Why didnt you tell you were forcing out!
Im not forcing you; were moving back to the palace after we finish Universit. What reason do you have to stay here if youre not going to school?
All my things are here! Axton choked back.
Then move your things. Piers sounded as if it were an obvious action and Axton grit his teeth.
Axton scowled and Tori called his na. Axton, you can deal with that when you get back. If you need help moving-
I wont need help moving. I just didnt plan to move so soon. He grumbled and slamd the door. He grasped the hem of his loose, white shirt and lifted his arms, pulled it up and over his head. He tossed the garnt onto the bed and sat down on the chair. And I was hoping hed rent one of the flats below or upstairs to Montan.
He said the last sentence in an annoyed, but mainly disappointed voice. Montan was his only blood relative left and Axton really valued him.
Sit with your front to the seat back. Im going to draw the charm on your back, Tori told him. And he can still do that.
Axton snorted and stood up, flipped the chair around and then sat back down. He crossed his arms over the top of the seat back and leaned forward. Didnt you say that he was going to rent the entire building to you?
Okay, then I will rent one of the spare flats to your brother. What is Piers going to do? Stop ? Besides, Tori said, placating. If Henrik and Albert get accepted into Universit, theyre looking into renting so of the rooms for convenience, anyway.
Have you and Ilyana been accepted? Axton furrowed his brows. Applications for the various academic programs in Universit shouldnt have been open yet. A few particularly talented students around the empire were often approached to enter Universit before they graduated from their secondary school, but that was rare.
All Tori knew was that top students in Lyce were often scouted. Kasen had been invited and so had Piers.
Ilyana already received an invitation for several schools within Universit offering positions in their programs. She is still deciding on what to focus on and will also take the formal assessnt test in a few months to establish a ranking. Ilyana didnt want anyone to question her ability when she entered Universit. Tori didnt care about her ranking and didnt plan to take the assessnt test, but wanted to support Ilyana, so they were going to take it together. She herself didnt need to take it. I also received a formal invitation to join crystal research and studies.
Master Ramos almost threatened the head of crystals about accepting Tori, though in the end, it was decided that with Toris already established work and research on the matter, they were determined to bring her in.
She looked over Axtons broad back. He had a few scars, but they healed all well and were mostly noticeable unless one looked closely. Overall, it was smooth and muscular, with a rich warm color. She removed her crystal pendant from her neck and adjusted the m crystal until one point was peeking out from the wire wrap.
Tori thought about the kind of charm she wanted to put on his back and visualized it before she grounded and began. First, it was a large circle, followed by the lines of sacred geotry. Neither of them talked through the entire process. Axton was afraid to break her concentration and Tori didnt want to get distracted and make a mistake.
The protecting charm was important.
Just like Master Balan had told her, the larger the charm, the more effective it would be. That was why many tattoos often covered large portions of a persons body and in so places, warriors were covered in them.
Kasens blessing charm had taken a few minutes at most, and it was quite elaborate for what it was. Axtons took twice as long and was very detailed. She also included Old Sulfae to increase energy control through terra crystal. After all, Axton was going underground and through so caves.
Safety first.
She wiped the thin sheen of sweat off her forehead and stepped back. Axton had flinched a few tis, but he didnt complain. Light red marks could be seen against his skin from where the m crystal scraped over, but it didnt break his skin nor did it seem to hurt.
Overall, Tori was satisfied. All right, youre done, she said. She put her m crystal back on and fumbled with her bracelet. She took out the terra crystal from its slot. That this with you. If youre trapped or caved in, you can use this to move earth.
Axton looked over his shoulder and down at the crystal resting on Toris palm I dont know how to use crystals.
You know how to ground and activate, dont you? she asked in a stern voice. He nodded. Then ground and activate, then visualize energy while clutching the crystal as a wave of water. Imagine it pushing dirt and stone or shielding you like an umbrella.
Axton was doubtful and gave her a questioning look. Does that work?
Only when you do it right, Tori said. You can practice when you take rests while traveling. If you have questions, call .
I cant. Im required to be no contact during my mission.
Tori frowned. Then just depend on the blessing charm. Its what saved my brother.
Axton nodded. It does feel a bit...warm.
Use it and when you co back, tell what happened.
He paused and squinted his eyes at her. Are you using to experint with a crystal charm?
Tori stared at him for a mont. Its dual purpose. It benefits both you and . She said it with such shalessness, Axton frowned. She sighed and grabbed his shirt before giving it back to him. Just trust . I cant be there to protect you, so this is the best I can do.
Axton scoffed and took his shirt. I am one of the best swordsn in the empire and Im experienced in the battlefield. I dont need you to protect .
Oh, so youre going to cross swords with rocks and dirt? My apologies. I didnt an to doubt your ability to fight natural elents. She let out a small snort of indifference and left the room.
Finished? Piers asked as she returned to the sofa.
She nodded. I did my best. Axton walked out of the hallway, stretching his arms over his chest. Ewan asked if he felt any different and Axton shook his head.
No, but Tori says itll work. I just have to trust Tori.
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