Magic's Moments

In Which Sedgewick's Secret is Out

Or alternatively, In Which Feyla has a Crush and Sedgewick Could Not be More Oblivious

Most people have some sort of embarrassing interest or hobby, but Sedgewick was certain if anyone at the ministry knew that the harsh, detached, and professional Master Alverdyne enjoyed going to musical theatre performances, it would ruin his reputation forever.

The night was warm and the sun still lingered low in the sky, squeezing out as much light as it could in its final hours and casting a warm, orange glow. It reminded Sedgewick of when he was a child and he'd thought that since his magic was a similar color, he might be able to harness the sun. Sedgewick rubbed the back of his hatless head at the memory of his master praising his attempts at deduction before smacking him on the back of the head with a book detailing exactly why he was wrong and then making him read said book under the dying sunlight.

And Feyla wondered why his eyesight was poor...

Sedgewick pulled himself out of his musing and back to the hustle and bustle of the irritating crowd around him, all trying to make their way into the round theatre. He'd fallen in love with the capital the moment he'd stepped off that boat all those years ago, and the beautiful craftsmanship of buildings such as this one had been part of it. A wide, arched doorway stretched in front of him. Delicate moldings trimmed the pillars supporting the building. Light spilled out of the approaching doorway, giving tantalizing hints of the colorful walls within.

Sedgewick reached into his coat and pulled out the ticket listing him as having reserved a whole box on the upper floor, far away from all the other attendees with their whispering during the performance and their annoying small talk during the intermission. He rolled back and forth on the balls of his feet, excitement building. The Revenge of Ovendi was a classic and Gaina Silvandale, playing the wife of the title character, had a voice that could sing a man's soul away...

"Sedgewick?"

Gates. Sedgewick cringed and turned around slowly. Please let him be imagining...

"It is you!" said Feyla, his assistant, her face brightening instantly. "I almost didn't recognize you without your hat on." She slipped through the crowd separating them until they were standing beside each other. "Here for the show?"

The tips of Sedgewick's ears burned red. Gates. Feyla was a pleasant woman, and he'd come to enjoy having her around his office, but she was also incredibly chatty. It wouldn't surprise him if she babbled his guilty pleasure to the whole ministry within hours tomorrow. "You shouldn't make assumptions, Miss Everbloom."

She tilted her head to the side. Her hair was pulled up and draped over one of her half-exposed shoulders, letting it brush against her neck, where a strand of glass beads hung. Feyla had obviously taken some feminine pains to her appearance, and it certainly wasn't the look she'd worn to his office earlier that day. "Expecting someone?" he asked.

She smiled and raised an eyebrow. "Maybe you shouldn't make assumptions."

Sedgewick chuckled in spite of himself. "Duely noted."

"But I'm pretty sure my assumption is right."

Sedgewick bristled, his earlier discomfort returning. "And what makes you so certain of that?"

"Well, the ticket kind of gives you away."

Sedgewick blinked. He glanced back and his hand and— Ah. Yes. He never put it away. Sighing in defeat, Sedgewick tucked the ticket in his coat. "Was my assumption correct?" he asked.