The One

Midnight memories

Just like that, visiting the underground dungeon became Feray's nightly routine. Every time, she would bring a notebook with her—one that she kept in her animorbis. Ironically enough, Nasr's cage was a place Odessa had designed specifically for him, but it was at the same time the only location she could not access. Feray took notes freely but placed the notebook back into her library before exiting the dungeon.

As promised, Nasr taught her the art of dark magic. Before anything else, he told her the philosophy behind this brand of magic: "The first theories were developed by a woman who wondered if standard magic was too standard. She got bored of how fair it was and how mechanical it had become. She desired change, something exciting. She believed magic could be a form of art or a personalized assistant, not merely a tool. In her writings, she theorized 'alternative magic': a mixture of alchemy and traditional witchcraft, and mechanisms that enabled the user to make their magic exclusive in whatever ways they were willing and capable."

Feray did not complain that he started with theories, and this was for two reasons: the fact that she had been apprehensive to learn it in the first place, and that she agreed it was a much safer approach for her to first know what exactly it was that she was about to learn.

At this point of the private lecture, Feray tilted her head and stopped writing. Taking that cue, Nasr stopped speaking as well.

"You told me before that the Fortue Cruor's poison can only be cured by you. Is it because it has some exclusive properties?" she asked.

Nasr smiled, clearly pleased. "Indeed it is. You may not believe this to be true, but even I would not invent such a masterful poison to make it available to everyone."

"I see."

"Shall we continue?"

"Yes, please."

"Then, I would like you to consider this: dark magic is only called so due to my colors. Its true essence is only 'alternative' magic. Once you have mastered this brand of magic, how would you use it?"

"To protect," she answered without a second thought.

"Whom?"

"Everyone."

"Everyone?"

"Well, everyone I care about," she corrected, realizing that her former answer was impossible.

"If you must battle the grand sorceress Odessa—whom no existing sorcerer has yet dared challenge—would you do so?"

"Without question. But only until I know I don't stand a chance, then I'll...run, maybe. Or whatever the best choice is at the moment."

"If I am freed, and once again fall into scholarly insanity, would you fight me as well?" Nasr asked. "Know that my own family tried and failed."

"You're my mentor, I can't fight you."

"Then?"

"I'll stop you. Violence isn't the only way."

"Very well. Let us begin for real this time."

Meanwhile, during those nights, Waylon usually joined Zanna in the girls' dorm. They studied on their own and occasionally updated one another on happenings of the day—because with Feray, too much could happen in a week; a single weekend was not enough to keep both Zanna and Waylon up-to-date—in addition to sharing their thoughts on plans for the future. The last part was usually fruitless, since as soon as Feray returned later, there would be more news to catch up to. These meetings yielded fruitful results: Zanna would at times relay to him what she had learned during the day, and if Waylon too was finished with the day's work, he would try the magic of her grade, often succeeding.