Ruins In The End (We Three Mages, Book Two)

Chapter One: Six Months

“Dude, how much farther?”

“Not much.”

“You said that an hour ago.”

“I said that an hour ago to keep you quiet.”

“Why couldn’t we just teleport there?”

“Because, I already teleported us half way here. I don’t want to use any more of my power than I already have.”

“You have an unlimited power supply!”

“We went over this, I do not. I only own a third of the Legend so I can only use a third of its power, making my total magical power a limited supply.”

“Excuses, you just don’t want to be the first ones there.”

“Why say that? I’ve missed them just as much as you have.”

“You’re the reason why we cut the time short.”

“I don’t recall…”

“Jared.”

“I know. I’m just playing you.”

“Good, I was worried there for a second…hey, is that it?”

“…Yeah. That’s it, that’s the Academy and where the three of us encountered the Legend.”

The Trajare’s Academy of Magic had barely been touched since the young mages left on their journey. As Jared looked upon the buildings, he felt a sad smile come about.

The main hall, the grey bricked building, was covered in moss, vines, and memories. Jared’s pace slowed as he took everything in. Parts of its second floor lay scattered among the ground. The grass he treaded on stood a foot high. The windows that had let light drift in and out of the classrooms were either missing or broken. If Jared hadn’t been there on the day of the second assault, he would have never believed this was his Academy.

“You okay man?” Calvin placed a strong hand on Jared’s trembling shoulder.

“No, I’m not,” He answered. “Seeing this place again after all these months, it’s just bringing about all these memories I have.”

“Memories you’d rather keep out of your head?”

“Yeah,” Jared looked over at Calvin. In the six months they had spent together, he never felt closer to another human being as he had with Calvin. The thought pained him, but it was the truth.

“Want to find the others, or do you want some time here?” Calvin could tell just by looking at Jared that he was going to need time. Jared’s nod only proved his point.

The two walked around in mostly silence. Jared pointed out a few spots to Calvin every now and then.

“That’s where I fought Tess for the first time,” Jared pointed toward what had been the Quad.

“She was bullying Nadia right?” Calvin had heard all of the stories from Jared.

“Yeah, it was a little bit after we first found our Legends and about a day before Ross agreed to mentor us,” Jared explained. “At that time, I would have never guessed that Tess would become a good friend.”

“Yeah, I can imagine. It seems like most people who started out as an enemy here turned into your friend,” Calvin laughed.

“Yeah, most,” Jared stared at the red bricks that used to be his dorm. Only the flooring and a few walls remained from the attacks. “This was where we first met Ross.”