The Everburn Mage

22. The Gathering

Sabine found her major standing by himself inside of his office emptilly peering out a window.

He hardly reacted when she opened the door carrying a metal plate of tea and a quartet of the scones he favored so dearly. She figured it wouldn't do much to lift his spirits, however, her mother once told her the ticket to a man's heart was with the food he'd be willing to sacrifice an arm or a leg for. But even as the cinnamon scented aroma kissed the air, James hadn't even bothered to spare her a fraction of a stare. He remained focused, his back facing her.

Recalling their history, there really wasn't a lot she knew of the bizarre and reckless major. Just that he had a bad habit of not following orders and a consistent tendency to anger the higher-ups with his hot-wired tongue. 

Then there was that of his ingenious brain; probably his most refined quality. James' unique brand of thinking and strategizing got them safely out of many dire situations, especially during the war. Why, she owed him her very life. She wouldn't be standing in this room as she did had it not been for him.

Gently resting the platter of treats onto the desk, her consciousness rewinded, back to when their destinies intertwined. Having just graduated from the Military Academy, she hadn't the foggiest clue as to where her life was headed. 

Would she just become another faceless pawn for the military to capitalize on until they growed bored with her? Or did the future offer her a grandeur gift wrapped in ribbons of opportunity? To be a legend like the Everburn or Goldstar Mages, would history remember her so fondly? Or would she merely fade into obscurity? Another tiny, insignificant splodge in the grand symphony that was the country of Esteras?

She'd then be greeted by that annoying smile of his, and an offer that, for the life of her, she couldn't comprehend why she accepted. "Sabine Zenobio, I want you to be my guardian," he had said. In the military, some had the authority to handpick specific soldiers or combat mages to serve as a part of their exclusive squadron. 

A "guardian", so to speak. 

However, that honor usually went to high-ranking officials, not pretty-boy captains like James. What was so special about this man, she thought, that the military granted him with the pristine power of choice.

She would later come to find out that he was completely out of his rank to do so. But this revelation only came to reveal itself after she helped him in one of his "missions". It involved taking out a gang of weapons' smugglers near Peon City. 

With his military insight and her powerful magic, they defeated the group before the local mage bracket caught wind of their involvement. They were shunned and ridiculed for their actions, but, must surprisingly, the general himself praised James for his initiative. 

Did he know such a result was likely? Or perhaps he was only concerned about doing the right thing? The curiosity garnered around the odd man named James Griffin grew and grew the longer she spent time with him.

Discounting her own priorities that soon found her, she was determined to remain by his side. If not to only witness what kind of effect his presence would have on Esteras as a whole. And when he told her his dream, that of unifying the countries to make a so-called "Utopia", Sabine was at a loss of words. Not only at the sheer ridiculousness of the statement, but out of satisfaction for knowing he trusted her so much to disclose what he was striving for.

To see him like this now, wallowing in his own defeat, why, it disheartened her deeply. Holding a hand to her mouth, the woman cleared her throat. James shuttered, almost as if he'd only now come to the realization he wasn't alone. When he peeked at her from over his shoulder, Sabine started, "The meeting will be under way soon, sir."