Chapter 2 #2
“Alan. Good to see you,” the man replied, fine lines creasing at the corners of his eyes.
“What brings you here?”
“This is Illariana Arden,” Mr. Shiford said, gesturing toward me.
I was sitting on one of the beds, exactly where Airis had left me before he and Eugene stepped away.
“Her hands are badly injured.”
“I can’t feel my legs either,” I added, realizing how abrupt that sounded.
“Nice to meet you.”
“You’re not from here?” Sulfur asked, stepping closer and focusing on my hands.
“She’s from Vuduarus,” Mr. Shiford answered for me.
I frowned.
Vuduarus?
I’d never even heard of a place like that in England.
“It’s difficult to explain, but... we’re not in England. Not even close,” he said, holding my gaze.
“Can you read minds?” I asked sharply, remembering how Airis had seemed to do the same.
“No,” Mr. Shiford replied with a soft sigh.
I didn’t believe him.
“It’s all written on your face.”
“Then where are we?” I asked, raising a brow and ignoring that.
“In Istarus. In a world of magic.”
I froze.
Something inside me tightened—
invisible hands, each named after a different emotion, closing around my throat.
“A world of magic…” I whispered, letting the words settle.
My eyes met Mr. Shiford’s.
“Then why the hell am I only hearing about this now?” My voice rose.
All these years, I thought nature had made a mistake when it created me.
But it turned out—
I had simply been born in the wrong place.
Or… not born there at all.
“Listen—” Mr. Shiford began, but I cut him off.
“I don’t want to listen. I want answers. Now.”
I ignored Sulfur’s hands as he continued working as if nothing was happening.
Mr. Shiford sighed.
“The world you were born into…” he began.
“Vuduarus. The world of life. Ordinary people live there—without magic.”
“Then how the hell did I end up there?” My voice trembled.
I wanted to cry.
To scream.
To break something.
Instead, I forced a nervous, broken smile.
Trying to hold back everything tearing me apart inside.
“We don’t know,” he said, looking away.
“Sometimes mages cross into Vuduarus… searching for a different life.”
I said nothing.
My parents’ faces surfaced in my mind.
Or rather—
my tormentors.
The ones who had spent my whole life trying to destroy me.
I tried to remember if they had ever shown anything resembling magic—
but no.
Nothing.
“You showed up at the psychiatric clinic during my capture,” I said.
“How did you even find me?”
“So many questions…” I muttered under my breath.
“With radars that detect magic,” Mr. Shiford replied.
“And my name?” I asked.
“How did you know that?”
“Our people found your parents first. They got the information from them. Then they tracked your location.”
“My parents… do they have magic too?”
Mr. Shiford shook his head.
He didn’t elaborate.
“How could a human couple have a child with magic?” I frowned.
“They couldn’t,” Sulfur answered for him.
Silence.
But this time—
I didn’t feel anger.
Or pain.
Or even resentment.
Instead, something small pierced through my chest—
relief.
And that made it worse.
I had always felt like I didn’t belong with them.
And I had never understood how parents could treat their own child like that.
They didn’t try to get rid of me because they hated me.
They were afraid of me.
And it seemed—
they had known from the very beginning what I would become.
I need to talk to them.
I need to know the truth.
“I need to go back to the human world.” My voice was steady.
“Already missing your cage?” a velvet voice echoed through the infirmary as its owner stepped inside.
Airis.
He and Eugene crossed the gold-patterned floor, their reflections glinting beneath them.
“I don’t remember asking you,” I scoffed, lowering my gaze to my legs as a pleasant warmth slowly spread through my body.
“Oh, unfortunately, you’ll be hearing a lot more of my opinions now,” he said.
I turned, eyeing him with suspicion—
those arrogant, almost corrupted eyes.
He leaned back against one of the translucent cabinets, arms crossed over his chest, making his already muscular build even more pronounced.
“Why is that?” I asked.
“Because Airis Kairos has been assigned as your personal mentor for the year,” Eugene replied.
Stepping beside Mr. Shiford, who looked just as surprised.
“Draxsan Ardevain accepted Illariana Arden into the academy without any entrance exams after hearing our report about Vuduarus.”
“And since she grew up there and knows nothing about Noveris, she’ll need guidance.”
“And apparently, I’m the perfect choice,” Airis scoffed.
“Considering I have direct contact with Vuduarus.”
“And don’t forget your air magic,” Eugene added calmly.
“It can restrain her fire.”
“You’ve got to be kidding,” Mr. Shiford muttered, his brows rising in disbelief.
“No one from the Twelve Strongest has ever taken on a student.”
“I had no idea what they were talking about.
But I tried to catch every word.
“This year is an exception,” Eugene said.
“The Twelve Strongest decided to work more closely with new recruits.”
“And why is that?” Mr. Shiford asked slowly, glancing between Eugene and Airis.
“Harold is becoming stronger. More dangerous.”
“You said I was accepted into some academy...” I cut in.
“And that someone tied me... to him?” I nodded toward Airis without looking at him.
“We’re currently in the main academy of magic—Istmond,” Mr. Shiford explained.
“And Draxsan Ardevain is its headmaster.”
“Most decisions regarding students are made by him.”
“And the Twelve Strongest? All that stuff you just mentioned?” I raised a brow.
“Your mentor will explain that in detail,” Eugene replied.
“Great,” I exhaled, not bothering to hide the irony in my voice.
“And who do I talk to about going back to the human world for a while?”
“Your mentor,” Airis answered.
I looked at him.
“I’m against it.”
I wanted my fire to flare up right then and there—
straight into his face.
Right into that smug expression.
“I believe Illariana Arden should return to Vuduarus,” Mr. Shiford interjected.
I didn’t trust any of them.
But at least he was willing to support me.
That earned him a point.
“I can’t leave Istarus,” Airis continued.
I narrowed my eyes at him.
He ignored me.
“At least not yet. The seal’s limit won’t expire for another three days.”
I stayed silent.
Even though I had no idea what he meant.
“Then for those three days, you’ll introduce Illariana to the basics of Noveris and assess her control over her abilities,” Eugene said.
“After that, you’ll go to Vuduarus.”
His eyes flicked toward me.
“The interesting part starts in less than a month.”
What was he talking about?
“For now, we need to arrange her accommodation and get her proper clothes.”
Slowly, feeling returned to my limbs.
And I was grateful for that.
The strange ointment had wiped away the blood from my hands, leaving only faint marks where the burns had been.
They didn’t hurt anymore.
I looked at Sulfur.
“A bit of ointment—and healing magic,” he said, taking the jars from me.
“But all the rooms are locked until the official opening,” Eugene said, turning back to the conversation.
“Even magic won’t open them.”
“I could let her stay in my quarters, but that’s against academy rules,” Mr. Shiford said, thinking aloud.
“Teachers aren’t allowed to house students.”
“That rule doesn’t apply to the chief lieutenant of Vuduarus,” Eugene said slowly, turning his gaze toward Airis.
I blinked.
Was he serious?