Mage Academy

Never Underestimate Teenagers

It only takes a couple of minutes for the Monster Hunters to arrive.

Guy and I are leaning against the wall of the alleyway, watching the four Monster Hunters tie up the Spider -- which is now unconscious-- and open a portal to take it away. I wonder where they take the Monsters. I've asked my mother before, but she just replied "you wouldn't want to know, honey". So I just left it at that.

My mother is not one of the Hunters here, which I'm relieved about. I know I have to face her eventually, but right now I just need time to figure things out.

"Malory! Guy!"

Lydia and Oliver pummel into us, knocking the wind out of me. They stand back, scrutinising us, eyes wide. They then turn and see the Spider, the Monster Hunters, and the smoke which is still clouding the alleyway around us. I don't think the emotions they are showing can be described in any language.

"A--are you guys okay...?" Lydia breathes. "Your shirt..."

I look down at my shirt, which is ripped open at the front from the Spiders lashing. I thank magic AGAIN that I wore a vest underneath.

"You guys must be hurt... you took on a Monster..." Oliver says overwhelmingly.

"We were wondering that too."

A Monster Hunter has come up to us, and I am thrown at how intimidating and powerful he looks. Wearing a black cloak and heavy black boots, with straps tied around his body holding all sorts of weapons, not to mention his tall, bulky frame and piercing eyes, I feel myself frozen to the spot. He looks much...scarier than my mother.

"Students?! STUDENTS!" Mr Croft runs up to us, the picture of stress. He takes in the whole scene, and his mouth practically drops to the floor. "Aughhh..." he cries, holding his hands to his face.

Behind him is the rest of Group 5, including Lauren. Her and her twin brother look as shocked as the rest of them, but the only person I can focus on is Max.

He stands there, taking everything in, and finally his eyes land on me. They are a mix of a thousand emotions, the most clear being shock and concern. He walks over to us. To me.

"You okay?" He asks softly, seriously.

"They SAY they are! But how CAN they be okay?! They just, the Monster, they--" Oliver babbles, the back of his hand held against his forehead. Mr Croft looks like he's going to pass out.

"We need to talk to your students, Sir." The Monster Hunter asks -- or rather tells -- Mr Croft. With that said, he gestures for Guy and I to follow him further down the alleyway, past the Spider which is still being tied up, further into the quiet darkness.

"Do you two realise what just happened?"

Guy and I say nothing. What sort of question is that?

The terrifying man continues. "You two... teenagers... just took on a Level Three Monster, and didn't die."

Guy and I stay silent. There's nothing to say.

"How you did it I have no idea, but--"

"It was Malory."

I lift my head to stare at Guy. He continues, looking the Monster Hunter right in the eyes. He continues. "Mal took out the Monster. It was all her. If she wasn't there I would have died."

My mouth drops open. "Guy--"

"It's true, isn't it?" Guy turns his gaze on me. It hits me like a brick. "Thank you, Mal."

"Was it really all you?" The man asks me.

I shake my head. "I might have been the one to take it out completely, but I couldn't have done it if Guy wasn't with me. The Spider would've torn me to shreds if it wasn't for him. We worked together." I say truthfully, looking the Monster Hunter in the eyes. After a few seconds, he nods.

"Well then. Well done, the both of you. I haven't seen such an impressive fight from such young magicians before. You should be proud of yourselves."

***

The journey back to the Academy is alive with discussion. Lydia, Oliver, even Lauren and Darren are talking excitedly about the days activities. They question Guy and I relentlessly, and we tell them all about the fight... but we leave out one tiny detail--

I can feel the presence of evil.

Instead, we just say that we ran into the Monster by accident. As I'm saying this I can feel Max staring at me. I can't hide it from him. He's as much a part of this as I am. That's why, when I think that everyone's backs are turned, I return the look to him. He raises his eyebrows slightly and I give a small nod back. It tells him all that he needs to know.

Only when I turn away from him, Guy is looking right at us. You can tell from his expression that he more than suspects something. He knows. We have to tell him.

We have to trust him.