32. The Guild Mage and the Little Devil

  Azmira had gone on plenty of solo quests since her visit to Terenhill four years ago.

  None of them had evoked the same feeling that one had.

  Her friends chalked it up to ‘First Solo Quest Euphoria’ – the nostalgic glow every adventurer supposedly had for their first time out alone. But to Azmira, it wasn’t that.

  On her first solo quest, she had stumbled upon a child prodigy who was only six, yet his mana pool was larger than most of her guildmates’. A mage child born to non-mages parents. She’d even taught him a bit of magic and, hopefully, gave him a general direction on how to train and nurture his gift.

  And then…that damn swamp. Where she felt an otherworldly presence – one that Kal confirmed belonged to a being called Ukreus.

  She had promised him that she’d dig deeper. That she would find out more about Ukreus – and about that Gartan he mentioned.

  Kal’s tears that day were enough to move something deep within her soul. Something there was no coming back from.

  But in all these years, she’d found nothing of importance.

  She hadn’t returned to Terenhill since. Her Guild Master, Anna Volpe, had resumed active duty and treated Azmira far more warmly than the Vice Guild Master, Rykard Aberants. Anna would never think of assigning a promising mage like Azmira to something as low-level as crop-babysitting.

  And going back on her own?

  Azmira couldn’t bring herself to do it. Not until she had real answers. She’d promised Kal. She wasn’t going to return empty-handed.

  The problem was…her search had hit a wall nearly ten months ago. If before, despite not learning anything interesting, she had some sense of progression, now even that was gone.

  She’d even stopped sending Kal letters. She felt like she was lying to him with each one. So, she stopped sending them altogether – vowing she’d only write again when she made a real breakthrough.

  Which she finally had.

  After exhausting every legal avenue to access the Classified Wing of the academy’s library – and finding that even being a daughter of a general and a famous romance novelist didn’t help her – Azmira turned to illegal means. Well...mostly illegal.

  Eight months ago, she befriended a young librarian named Viki Holmes. Azmira had seen her countless times in the library, always alone, quiet, tucked behind a desk or a bookshelf. It was obvious: Viki didn’t have many friends.

  But what she did have was access to the Classified Wing.

  So Azmira made sure to become her friend. Carefully. Patiently. Earning her trust one conversation at a time – until the day she could finally use that trust to sneak a glimpse behind the metal doors guarding the academy’s most well-guarded secrets.

  At first, she hated herself for sinking so low. But the memory of Kal – tears in his eyes, so broken he was willing to crush his treasured lyroca against a tree – steeled her resolve. She couldn’t let his pain go unanswered.

  Eventually, though, something unexpected happened.

  She grew attached to Viki.

  The guilt dulled. The manipulation blurred and gave way to affection. By now, she actually considered them friends.

  Of course, she would never tell Viki that it all began as a ploy. Some truths hurt more than silence.

  And now, the day had come.

  After coming up with an elaborate lie about why she needed access to the Classified Wing, Viki had – after much hesitation and visible reluctance – agreed to help.

  Everything was going according to plan until…this morning.

  Viki was unusually quiet. Then she went and disappeared, right before she was supposed to sneak Azmira in. Only to reappear later, with a mercenary-looking woman with an eyepatch…and a little boy who spoke nothing like a little boy.

  Now, somehow, this strange kid – clearly blackmailing Viki – forced Viki to bring his “mom” and himself along to the Classified Wing.

  ‘Who the hell does he think he is?!’ Azmira was fuming – and more than a little worried. ‘And what the hell did poor Viki get herself into?!’

  At least the kid didn’t seem to be a mage. There was no mana radiating from him…

  Her eyes darted around them as they descended the spiral staircase toward the Classified Wing’s floor, thinking about what she could do. The more people involved, the greater the chance they’d all be caught.

  Azmira’s mind ran with plans to break up this “party”. She was willing to sacrifice her chance to enter the Classified Wing today…if it meant she and Viki stay safe.

  But then again…that eye patched woman was terrifying. 'What if she just eliminates liabilities – no questions asked?'

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  Azmira’s gaze flicked to the woman’s hand. The ring she wore was made of taelium, She couldn’t tell the refinement level, but the presence of it alone said enough – if she tried to use magic, it might not work on her.

  ‘Think, Azmira, think!’

  Then, casually, the kid spoke up. “So, what are you looking for in the Classified Wing?”

  Azmira blinked, then gave him a sideways glance.

  “Well, aren’t you curious?” She said, rolling her eyes with as much dismissive sarcasm she could muster.

  “I am. Actually.” The kid replied, the smirk on his face still intact. “My name’s Tristan, by the way.”

  “Cool.” Azmira said flatly, completely uninterested. “I don’t remember asking, though.”

  “You didn’t.” Tristan replied, his tone calm, confidence unwavering. “But I thought you should know.”

  He then turned to Viki, who was practically hugging herself with nerves. “Hey, Vik, do you happen to know what Azmira here wanted to find in the Classified Wing?”

  Azmira’s jaw tightened. She shot a sharp glance at Viki, who looked like she was about to stammer out the cover story Azmira had given her. Before she could speak, Azmira placed a gentle hand on her back.

  “Can you please stop terrorizing my friend?” She said coolly.

  Tristan grinned. “Terrorizing? I was just asking her a question you refused to answer.”

  “It’s still terrorizing.” Azmira shot back. “She’s clearly uncomfortable.”

  Tristan gave a weak smile, tilting his head. “If such simple questions cause someone discomfort, then maybe they should stay locked inside their homes for all eternity.”

  Azmira turned to him sharply, angry. The way he spoke – it was far too composed for someone his age.

  It reminded her of Kal, in a strange, twisted way. But where Kal was a ball of pure innocence, warmth, and unshaped brilliance, this kid – Tristan – with his ashen hair and unsettling red eyes…

  Her breath caught.

  ‘Wait a minute!’ Her eyes widened as the thought hit her. ‘Red eyes. Ashen hair…’

  That sounded an awful lot like…Ifrit.

  She glanced at Tristan again, her skin crawling with unease. ‘No. No way. It can’t be…Ifrit wasn’t known to have children.’

  But at the same time…she had never seen anyone with hair that color. Or eyes like that.

  To be fair, she’d never seen Ifrit in person either. But she’d heard of him. Everyone had.

  And the only person with those features was him – Stulan’s very own devil.

  ‘Viki, how the hell did you get yourself entangled with Ifrit?!’ Azmira’s mind was spiraling. If this kid was actually Ifrit’s child, the danger Viki was in had just multiplied.

  “How long till we get to the Classified Wing?” The eye patched woman asked suddenly, her voice sharp.

  “F-Five minutes.” Viki stammered. “It’s just a few floors away.”

  Before Tristan could speak – before he could press more questions – Azmira jumped in.

  “So,” she said, voice measured but tense, “who are you?”

  Tristan raised an eyebrow, amused. “Didn’t I already say? I’m Tristan.”

  Azmira narrowed her eyes. His attitude annoyed her.

  “I meant who are you? Because I don’t know any kids who speak like they’re forty.”

  “Maybe you haven’t met the right kids, then.” Tristan replied, casually running his index finger along the smooth stone wall as they descended the spiraling staircase.

  “That’s…such a weird thing to say.” Azmira muttered, shaking her head. “I’m twenty years old. Why would I hang out with kids?”

  Tristan chuckled, changing the subject. “So, what’s the deal with your hair, Azmira? Why is it so long?”

  Her heart skipped. Hearing him address her by her name so casually sent a shiver down her spine. But at least it wasn’t a question about why she was here.

  It was personal. But not something she was hiding.

  “I made a promise.” She said quietly. “To my grandmother. That I wouldn’t cut my hair until I surpassed her in magic. She was the reason I chose to become a mage in the first place.” Her voice grew softer. “She died before I could catch up.”

  Tristan was quiet for a moment. “I see.”

  He didn’t press further. Didn’t joke. Just nodded.

  Then, with a grin, he said. “You’ve got a very intense energy, you know?”

  Azmira blinked. “…Thanks?”

  “I kinda like it.” Tristan added.

  Azmira stared. “What?”

  “You’re sharp. Fiery. Bold.” He nodded, as if confirming something to himself. “I like it.”

  “You’re a kid.”

  “For now.” He shrugged. “Either way, doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate an intriguing personality.”

  Azmira stared at him, completely thrown. ‘What the hell is wrong with him?!’

  Before she could say anything, Viki’s voice broke through, quiet and tense.

  “W-We’re here. This is the floor.”

  Azmira’s pulse quickened. Her thoughts raced. She didn’t want Viki to get into trouble. But no plan came to mind.

  Normally, she would’ve opted to lock the kid and his eye patched bodyguard inside the Classified Wing and call the Peacekeepers. But if they were truly tied to Ifrit…they’d slip through justice. That was just how the world worked.

  And worse – Viki would pay dearly for pulling a stunt like that.

  Regardless, someone had to be the adult here. And clearly, it wasn’t going to be Viki.

  They reached the massive, menacing metallic door of the Classified Wing – a threshold Azmira had longed to cross for years. As they stopped before it, she turned sharply on her heel to face Tristan and the eye patched woman.

  “What exactly did Viki promise you?” She asked firmly.

  “A-Azmira, please – “ Viki began, but Tristan cut her off.

  “To show us around wherever we wanted.” He said, pointing toward the door behind Azmira. “And as far as I can tell, that includes there.”

  “Seeing how much of a big shot you are,” Azmira said cooly, “I think you can handle yourself without dragging Viki in.”

  Viki’s eyes widened in surprise.

  The eyepatch woman chuckled.

  Tristan laughed as well. “No deal. I’m not about to pass up a good guide who can make my life easier.”

  “You don’t even know what you’re looking for!” Azmira snapped – then caught herself and exhaled. “Sorry.”

  Tristan just smiled. “Exactly why I need her.”

  Azmira drew in a deep breath. “If we all go in together, we’ll get caught. We’ll be labeled as trespassers and won’t be able to find what we’re looking for. I believe that none of us want that.”

  “Okay,” Tristan replied calmly. “Then I’ll go in alone – with Viki.”

  Azmira’s heart spiked.

  “Are you sure, Little Devil?” The eye patched woman asked Tristan, her voice serious.

  He nodded once. “Yes.”

  “No, no, no.” Azmira stepped in. That wasn’t what she was aiming for. “No deal!”

  “No deal?” The eye patched woman raised a brow. “The deal was decided long before we got here today, girlie.”

  Azmira swallowed, then said. “I’m proposing a change.”

  Her gaze flicked to Viki. If Viki got caught inside with a trespasser, she’d be finished. But if Azmira went instead…

  “I’ll go with you.” She offered.

  “You?” Everyone – including Viki – said in unison.

  “Yes.” Azmira nodded, smiling nervously. Her plan was simple: enter with Tristan, stay just long enough to help him settle, then bounce. Surely Ifrit won’t blame Viki for this. She won’t be at fault here.

  And as for herself? Worst case scenario, she’d talk to her father. One of the Seven Generals of Stulan surely had enough pull to keep her safe even from Ifrit…right?

  Tristan raised an eyebrow. “Have you even been inside before?”

  “Sure.” Azmira lied as naturally as she breathed.

  To her surprise, Viki didn’t react at all.

  “We just don’t get Viki involved at all.” Azmira clarified. “She opens the door for us, that’s it. You and I go in together, and she’s free of whatever…arrangement you had with her. I’ll help you inside.”

  Tristan considered it. Then, with a faint, amused smirk, he said. “Sure, I guess…”