Twin Mages Book 4: Convergence

Chapter 3: The Spirit Birsha

Karina walks down the main hall with her brother Jordan and Celeste. "I wonder what Master Zephyr wanted?" She asks. Jordan shrugs with his hands tucked into his pockets. "I don't know. Maybe we're going on a mission. It's been a while." He says. "Yeah," Celeste adds, "Since Daisuke and Kei, nobody under Master rank has been sent on any missions."

Karina thinks back to that day and cringes. She had the opportunity to help and failed. Her power wasn't enough to keep Jordan or Kei safe. She quickly tries to shake the feeling from her mind though. "Feeling sorry for myself won't help anyone, Karina. Just keep moving." She tells herself.

Eventually, they make it to Zephyr's door and knock, followed by the door swinging itself open with a gust. They enter promptly. "You asked to see us, Master?" Karina says with a dignified bow.

"Yes, go ahead and sit please." The Headmaster responds. As the three Captains take their seats, Zephyr tosses out a set of folders to the other end of his desk. "As you three know, Kei Kaneki has recently lost her ability to use mana as a result of her miraculous reincarnation."

Karina picks up one of the folders as Zephyr continues, flipping it open to see personnel files. "As a result of this, there is currently an apprentice squad who is without a Captain. Delilah, Lainee, and Dorian. You three are the top candidates to take the position as their Captain, considering how none of you currently have any underlings."

Celeste raises her hand to speak. "What about Leo or Dez? Those two would be perfectly suited." Jordan nods. "Yeah, Delilah used to be Leo's pupil, and she's Dez's little sister. Wouldn't it make more sense to pick them?"

"No," Zephyr responds, his eyepatch glistening in the candlelight, "I've approached both with the proposition, and both declined adamantly." "Why?" Karina asks.

"Dez still hasn't gained Captain rank. He's continuing to prove his trustworthiness after the incident." Zephyr explains. "I told him he'd done enough, and that he could join the Captain ranks, but he still isn't accepting the promotion."

"What about Leo though?" Celeste asks. "He's one of the best mages in all of Sanctuary. He's certainly the strongest of the Captains."

"Leo gave Kei her Captain promotion mere days before she lost her abilities. He was the one who assigned Delilah and her teammates to Kei." Zephyr shakes his head. "He told me it wouldn't feel right to take her team from her."

"Okay," Celeste says. "So how do we decide who takes the team?"

Karina stands, walking to the door. "Count me out." "Hey wait!" Jordan says. Karina turns around. "I don't deserve this. If Kei didn't have to worry about protecting us, Jordan, she'd still have her mana. She's in this position because we failed her."

"What does that have to do with these kids, Karina?" Jordan snaps. "You can mope in your pity party if you want, but these kids deserve better than that." Celeste nods. "Yeah. You're a strong Captain, and you need to realize that. Every one of us failed that day."

"I'm sorry," Karina whispers, "I just can't do it." She opens the door and leaves. Celeste and Jordan look back to Zephyr. "Can we take time to think about this, Master?" Celeste asks. Zephyr nods, and the two Captains proceed out to find Karina.

After the door closes, Zephyr sees a dusty cloud appear in front of him. A teenage boy and young woman come out of the dust. Zephyr jumps out of his chair as the boy looks up, his face bleeding. "Help me please. My mom got hurt."

***

Dez stands in the entrance to the Mage
Hall, in a state of astonishment at the power in front of him. Leo on his knees repeatedly slamming his fists into the floor. The hardwood splinters under the force of his strikes. Over and over again he punches, sending waves of heat rippling outward.