29.

  The excitement may have died down, but the rumors were still swirling about. The class was all abuzz about Tav’s newly revealed secret. Half the people were surprised, the other half trying to take credit for knowing there was something off about that odd loner girl all year.

  As Cole made his way to the headmaster's office, he received his share of looks. Students who thought that he could be the greatest hero in this school shared stories of how he charged into battle with an Ichor demon with a mighty flaming sword in hand. Other students whispered about how a demoness had been beguiling him to do her will and follow her cause all year.

  Cole came to the headmaster’s door and took a deep breath before giving it two knocks.

  “Enter,” Headmaster Toris said.

  “Headmaster,” Cole said, sliding into the room and closing the door behind him, “I want you to know, Tav hasn’t done anything suspicious all year, and I know she wasn’t beguiling me. My brothers have fought Demonesses before, they told me how it feels when one tries to beguile you, and what I feel for Tav, it doesn’t feel anything like what they said,” Cole said.

  “Take a seat, Mr. Longdren,” he said.

  Cole took a seat, wringing his hands together as the Headmaster sat back, “So, you say you’ve known Ms. Cosgrove’s secret all year?”

  “Almost all year,” Cole said.

  “And seeing a demon in this academy, seeing the very force you’re here to learn how to slay, you did nothing,” Toris leaned forward and brought his hands together.

  “Tav wasn’t a threat, if she had any will to do any evil, she would have done it, and she hasn’t done anything, so I guess I was right to trust her,” he said.

  “Do you really think you’re the only one who knew?” Toris said, smiling.

  “Headmaster?” Cole was stunned, did the Headmaster really just admit to knowing that there was a demon living in the academy.

  “I have been an instructor at this academy for decades, and in my time in the field, I saw every shape and twisted form a demon can possess. I’ve seen monsters so villainous they could give a weak man nightmares, and demonesses so beautiful they could make those same weak men open a portal to hell, tell me, Longdren boy, Seventh son of a Seventh son, are you a weak man?” he asked.

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  Cole took a deep breath, he considered the question for a moment, really thought about it, “No,” he looked up, dead in the headmaster’s eyes, “I’m not,” he said.

  “Aye, I know you’re not, a strong man knows an ally when he finds one, Tavalia is quite beautiful, but that wasn’t what drew you to her, was it?” he asked.

  “No, I don’t know what it was that drew me to her, but I don’t give a damn what she looks like, with or without horns, she’s been a good friend, it’s been fun being with her, you’re not going to punish her, are you?” Cole asked.

  “Tavalia has made mistakes, it’s true, but she’s been through enough. We were actually counting on her, we had been researching the Ichor for months, trying to figure out how to kill such a vicious demon. Then Tavalia’s application came across my desk, and I knew we had found our way,” he said.

  “You knew that Tavalia was going to get involved with the Ichor, you knew that that was why she came here?” Cole asked.

  “Yes, and it appears my little gambit paid off, thanks to your assistance of course. If it hadn’t been for you, she may not have been able to dispatch the Ichor on her own, Tavalia is powerful, but she is yet to realize her power. That’s why she needed a friend, like you, someone who could encourage her to use her powers for good,” he said.

  “For good? What do you mean, there’s no way Tav would turn evil, with or without me,” Cole said.

  Toris sighed, “Tavalia, has a place in this world, in this war, the coin has been tossed to determine where she is going to land in this fight, but you’ve nudged her in the right direction,” Toris said, reaching over and taking Cole’s wrist in his hand, “Stay with her, guide her,” he smiled, “With your aid, she will be the greatest asset this war will ever see, and without someone like you, I fear that even with her best intentions, the forces of the below could turn her to their ends,” he said.

  “No, Tav would never turn,” Cole said, “She even told me she knew how to become a full demon, but she said she didn’t want that, that’s before she met me, she’s good, you have to believe me, she is good,” Cole said.

  “I’m sure she is, but the Below is tempting, stay true to your oath, stay true to your cause, and stay true to your feelings, you and young Tav may be the key the war needs to finally break the stalemate that has infected it for centuries,” he said.

  “I’m just her friend,” Cole said, shaking his hand, scared of this great destiny that the honored Headmaster was laying before him.

  “You, young man, are the Seventh Son of Seventh Son,”

  “I am so tired of hearing that,” Cole shook his head.

  “Greatness will find you, whether you want it to or not, you were born under your circumstances as much as young Tavalia was hers,” he patted Cole’s hand, “Great times, call great men to rise to them, your heart knows your destiny even if your mind is unsure of it as of now, you’ll make the right call,” Toris smiled, “I know this year has probably exhausted all the patience you have for being compared to your family, but I’ve taught every one of your brothers, and I actually fought alongside your father in my youth. You are from good stock, if you’ve learned well enough from them, you’re the man we need,” he said, leaning back and smiling at the young Demon Hunter.

  “I think, I need to get back to my studies, Headmaster,” Cole smiled, “Finals are coming up.”

  “See that you do,” Toris said, “Best of luck, Seventh Son,” he said.