Animi Motus

10: Ira

I feel more on top of my game than ever before. Since we started training, I have so much more control over my abilities. It doesn't feel like a gamble every time I use them. I've also become pretty adept with my sword. The blade isn't made of any metal I've ever seen, and when I engulf my hands in flame, it glows red hot with them. I also figured out that if I press my thumb firmly into the butt of the hilt, the blade becomes flexible, like a fiery thermal whip. In short, it's the sickest weapon of all time.

It's evening, and I'm relaxing, sitting and messing around doodling fireballs in a notebook, when Asher walks into the room.

"We need to talk," He says.

"About what?" I ask him. He looks serious.

"What's the plan here? What's the endgame? I mean, we can't stay here forever," He says. I've been thinking the same thing for a while.

"Well we can't go back home, and we have no idea where the other Primus, or Magister Amare are, so..."

"So what? You guys haven't spoken to your parents in over a week! You're probably missing persons! Are you okay with that?!" Asher says, looking exasperated.

"Of course I'm not okay with it!" I snap. "But for right now, I don't know what else we can do besides stay here. Unless you have a better idea?" Asher's silence is confirmation enough that he doesn't. Suddenly, the silence is broken by Nessa, who's come flying down the stairs.

"Someone's here!" She informs us. "They're coming to the door!" We all rush to grab an armour ball, and I grab my sword. We brace ourselves in the hallway in front of the door and wait for our guest. I'm ready for them to come through the door. I hear some scuffling outside, and then the bolt on the door unlocks, and swings open. I almost lunge forward, but stop. I don't know what I was expecting behind that door, but it wasn't this. It's an old lady, wearing a pink trench coat and hat to match.

"Well, Hello there! I'm Amare!" She purrs. Then, glancing at our arsenal,"I see you lot have found the armoury then?" If this old lady is surprised to see three fully armoured teens standing in her hallway, she doesn't show it.

"So you... you're...I just didn't think..." I stammer.

"Didn't think I'd be an old woman?" She chuckles. "Glad you've made yourself at home here, Ira. Although, I'm pretty sure I'm the one who comes to get you, usually." Her eyes fall on Nessa and Asher and her eyebrows raise. She inclines her head slightly. "Legatus Felix, it's an absolute pleasure to have you."

"Oh, uh...thank you," Asher stumbles, managing a smile. I almost forgot that Amare was a secundum under him.

"I'd like the whole lot of you to meet Scarlett here. Scarlet? Come over here, dear." She calls. A tall, african american girl with shoulder length dark hair steps into the doorframe. She's wringing her hands nervously, and clutching a suitcase tightly.

"Hey, I'm Riley," I say in as friendly a tone as possible.

"Hello, I'm Scarlett," she introduces herself. Is this girl a Legatus? Nessa and Asher introduce themselves too, and then there's an awkward pause, none of us sure whether we can speak freely in front of this new girl.

"Oh I'm sorry, I just love watching you three squirm!" Amare chirps. "Scarlett is Legatus Timere. Scarlett, This is Legatus Ira, Felix, and Mirandum." She points at each of us in turn. Legatus Timere. Not only is my magister here, but also the other Furvus Primus.

"Timere," Asher breathes, "Ambassador of Fear." I can see now that Scarlett is clutching a small book that must be her atlas in one hand, and bears a black metal ring like mine on the other, and I'm willing to bet that it has the symbol for fear from my picture on it. I remember vaguely that the two items were missing from the vault, though I hadn't been paying too much attention, I was so absorbed with my own items. I wonder, had her weapon been absent from the vault too?