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Chapter 143 -Like Sand in the Wind

The Professor were furious, of course, training without supervision. Barely a minute later when the official meeting had ended Palladium had walked right into their ‘training session’. They had timed it perfectly. The backlash was nothing to joke about. Unsanctioned fighting. Hacking. All to get back at Fane... The Faries had to listen to one of Griselda’s speeches till their brains were mush. The Specialists were sent running in the Red Fountain arena till their legs gave out. Griffin stuck her Sorceresses into the walls of Cloud Tower draining them entirely of magic. Eventually, everyone got back to their rooms. It was the last time they’d remember their plan. Everyone wrote themselves a fitting note. Anything they needed to shut up and not bring the ring up for discussions or freak out in the coming days. And then it was bottoms up for all, but Seth and Blade. As planned everyone had found their notes right in their hands once they could move and think again and burned them to dust. The plan was wiped from their minds.

Dusk could easily go home before classes the next day as Queen of Eventide, so she prepared trinkets. Still, she was confused, but the note she had written herself had her royal insignia so she wouldn’t question it.

Blade had sent Amal a song link to ‘The Power to Change the World’ sung by the Winx Club to get the ‘official’ and their own plan going as he had drunken the potion as well, yet with his magic levels there was a day or two missing and not just a few hours. He had been smart enough though to make himself some short notes of what had been going on work-wise that week, it had to suffice. The sun was barely up when he was the first to face Votzaaks wrath and it wasn’t pleasant. Especially since he couldn’t say anything to his defence and there were still important parts he had to play while Lord Hypothis was eyeing him like a hawk in the Council Office of Zenith.

That morning right after their little stunt Blade’s heart was pounding her boots scraping over the floor. ‘Please, Amal…’ She stared at her bracelet all morning pacing up and down in her and Nebula’s room. ‘Maybe it was a bad idea… did he even have enough time to find someone who’d be able to deliver the virus to one of the boy’s bracelets or maybe someone else from The Denied… who did he choose…? Did it fail?!’ Her fingernails dug into her skin. This was almost too much to bear and she dreaded the afternoon where it all would come down to her ability to fool everyone. The worlds. Her friends. ‘Seth…’ She closed her eyes so short of crying. She didn’t want to do this, betray him, but keeping the ring so close - it simply was too dangerous.

“Blade, you are as tense as a drawn bowstring,” Nebula looked at her full of worry. Her hair was one big mess. Unlike Blade, the broth spell had made her so groggy that despite the looming doom she had slept like a bear. She rubbed her eyes, watching her friend, sensing her torn state. Nebula wasn’t even close to being ready for classes standing there in her pyjamas, while Blade was in her boots ready to storm a castle. Nebula didn’t dare to ask further. Her own note had said to trust Blade and ‘the plan’. The fact alone that she had wiped her own memories was proof enough that something was up. Her hand traced Blade’s shoulders, “Don’t worry. I won’t write a new report for Wizgiz that’s for sure, I’ll remember where I put it… surely. Have you seen it?” She laughed it off. It was hard not to talk about what was bugging her and obviously Blade. “And no matter what punishment they bring upon us, we’ll ace it!” She made a fist trying to cheer Blade up. Of course, she didn’t mean the extra work, but ‘the plan’.

“Yeah… right…” Blade gave a weak smile her eyes still fixated on the bracelet. Nothing.

The Professors’ gazes laid heavy on the class during breakfast. It felt a lot more like another cross-examination. Silently they ate their food as other classes talked and chattered and gave them some hidden glances of confusion and gloating.

Blade’s steps felt so heavy as she pressed through the crowd once breakfast was over. She split fast from her classmates without any further discussion. Still waiting, still torn. It would barely be a couple of minutes before classes would start. She was just crossing the courtyard to go back to her room as Amal finally sent a message. Blade stopped in her tracks. Her head shot around like a spooked Digmole. Only students were around, no Professor was in sight that was tracking her. ‘Of course not, they’re getting their own stuff for the upcoming classes, Blade,’ she tried to calm herself. She strolled around before she found a corner in the courtyard away from the masses. Quickly she gave Amal a call and used her earplugs, she never used those normally, yet Shanna had warned them to be careful within reason. “Damn it, Amal!” She yelled at him though her voice was muffled so as not to attract too much attention.

“Not to worry, my dear Warrior Queen, you know no one can beat me in tech stuff,” Amal tried to smooth it over. His poker face was no joke being in the Council twenty-four-seven taught him how to mask one's emotions and he rarely showed his own to begin with.

“How did-” Blade started off but promptly got interrupted by him.

“Survive Votzaak?... I didn’t… you should prepare well for his lesson. For our stupidity, he’ll make you walk through the Shadowlands and back. I am tied to the desk for a week at least with all the extra work…When is your next lesson with him?” He asked casually.

“Tomorrow afternoon…” Blade rolled her eyes. Votzaak was the last person she was worried about. Not to mention Amal knew her schedule.

“Good, then you better USE YOUR TIME wisely,” Amal puffed, “Times ticking. Don’t want you to lose.” He paused shortly for a few breaths. ‘Is she listening to me or is she that nervous?’ It took a second before he spoke up again, “Now, go get them. I believe in you. See you soon, my Warrior Queen.” He chuckled satisfied and hung up.

Blade stumbled against the wall behind her the cool stone grounding her in the presence. Her heart was pounding. Her eyes darted around, the coast was clear. She wanted to be sure that the virus was in fact corrupting the bracelets. So, she took out a phanto-knife and cut herself only a tiny scratch but enough so the bracelet’s sensors would spike, but not enough so a Red Fountain would call in. Yet… nothing. She snorted a bit surprised. ‘Should never question you when it’s about tech problems. So the virus infected the bracelets and I have until tomorrow afternoonish… good. So, gotta meet with Dusk somewhere unseen, get the magic stones… and get this done.’ She bit her lip. Their class’s plan was good, but not perfect just yet, not that any plan could be perfect. Yet the greatest flaw they had was that Seth wanted and needed the ring close, so he’d stay calm. Another big sigh escaped Blade. It cooled her lips as she pressed off the wall. There was no turning back now. It all would be for the best. She wouldn’t fail Jewels and neither she’d fail Seth. Not. Ever.

The Professors rained down on them during classes making them pay for their stupidity. No small talk in classes got past them. It had been quite some time since they had been so strict with them, not to mention the amount of homework that was piling up. However, it was easy enough between lessons to go to the toilet with Dusk. She had brought quite a few magical stones as the note had been kind of vague. She had explained to Blade what each one could do and then it was back to classes. The day dragged on, and finally, the class split up into their mandatory electives. Around half of them went to Hoggar for their forging class at Hagen’s school.

Afterwards, there was enough time to get lunch and go back to Magix. Yet Seth’s and Blade’s steppes filled the walls with hollow echos. It was hard to stay unseen by other students of the school. Some passed them by however their presence wasn’t all too unfamiliar so they didn’t draw attention. They couldn’t rely on their friends here at all. The less everyone knew the saver it was for Seth. They slipped past hallways crossings to the forge Blade had tested her ancient hilt out together with Hagen, Gadiel and Avalon. It was a nasty spell to crack to open the door, but where there was a will, there was a way. And Hagen had another class straight after theirs so he’d not notice until it was too late. Or hopefully never.

The forge was filled with everything they could possibly need. Tools, metals, the forge… cast forms. With Blade’s family's knowledge and what they had learned in class and their school book about forging they quickly planned out what to use while the furnace was blazing to life. The heat burned on their skin just as the fear of being caught. Blade and Seth chose an easy form for the medallion that would encompass Jewels’s crown ring. She unlike Seth at least had some forging experience that would suffice, as a kid she always had done some casting in Lunarsteel on festivities or simply cause it had been fun. Their medallion wouldn’t be a pretty masterpiece, yet there was no way to ask anyone more sophisticated without tipping off their enemies in the long run and Hoggar didn’t have so much security as Lunarsteel.

“Okay, now,” Blade looked to the brazen furnace. The orange-white-glowing alloy was bubbling in the crucible at last. ‘Just gotta get this done,’ Blade looked around.

Seth was pacing. He was worried yet he always looked to her so thankfully that he wasn’t alone in this. So full of hope.

Blade’s heart ached. ‘Can I really do this to him…’ Amal’s and her plan was solid, but she was bound to tell him at some point. She dreaded that moment already. ‘Will I lose him as a friend? But- calm down, damn it.’ Their plan… the secret plan. One she had forgotten with all that had come up, The Denied, the Joined Track, Shadion. Everything. It had been basically only a mind game to her and Amal. Though Amal had been pretty serious about it like he had smelled it would come to this eventually. His knowledge of political mechanisms was something that still alluded her. Nonetheless, their plan was their saviour now. She had asked Basil to create a fake crown ring at Lunar Steel long ago. It had been more of a trinket for her nowadays. It had a faint magic presence just like Jewels’s, it in fact could help with magic regeneration just like hers.

“Blade?” Seth saw just how pale and lost Blade stared off into nothingness.

‘It’s nowhere as good as the original and can be used by anyone,’ Blade’s mind raced. It simply had been a countermeasure back then. Just in case someone tried to steal it back, it would have been bad if there had been no ring in her living quarters in Alfea, after all. Blade had given the real one to Seth as quickly as possible. Still, there had been a chance of thieving hands. Yet Faragonda being a hawk and then being stuck in Cloud Tower only to be under constant watch by Iolas’s team during the hearing had made it impossible for anyone to try his luck. And afterwards, it was unnecessary. Or so she had thought for the longest time. ‘Amal… how could you have predicted this?’ She cursed herself for not taking this more seriously back then. She could have prepared for this moment more thoroughly. Now she was screwed with a half-baked emergency plan.

“Blade?” Seth frowned at her as he repeated her name. His head was slightly tilted. He was as scared as her to fuck this up. “What could go wrong?” He laughed to lighten the mood. He needed Blade at the top of her game. If they had calculated incorrectly in all their haste they might actually damage the one thing that was left of Jewels. “What’s the next step?” His hand reached to the ring in his pocket. It was like a goodbye. He’d not be able to hold the ring like this again for a long time. His hand clamped around it. His knuckles turned white. The casting moulds were ready on the workbench and the chosen alloy was bright as the sun from the heat of the forge furnace.

Blade bit the inside of her lip. He was trying to cheer her up, while she was planning to deceit him for his own good, ‘But when did that ever excuse anything? Forgive me.’ She took a deep breath. It hurt so much to betray him like that, to go against his will. Yet the ring would be safer this way and he would stay calmer. If anyone was able to make the connection he’d be searched – All their quarters would be searched. Amal and the Princesses were sure of that. So, was the entire class and if their little amulet trick wouldn’t work the ring would be gone in a heartbeat. Forever lost to their enemies' grasp. She shook her head.

“Next steps?” Seth asked again more to ground her than anything else. “You can do this. We both know you can.” He massaged her shoulders. “You’re a Lunarsteel. Smithing is in your blood.”

“Right,” Blade chuckled and opened her hand. “We do a test run first. And then it’s do or die.” She placed a random ring of Nebula’s, onto the workbench. They wanted to make sure the real deal would stay at its place within the mould and be completely covered and nothing would rattle. She held her hand closer to Seth for Jewels’s real ring. ‘I’m so sorry, Seth,’ She looked at him with a grin of fake confidence. “Now, you give me Jewels’s ring, so I can prepare the spell. Remember what I told you. We want a perfect fit. And I need the rings to use magic on the moulds to get the indentations right.” A quick check to the clock on the wall, “You go get the melted alloy. That be a great help.”

“Don’t accidentally swap them…” Seth stared at her half a joke and yet a true worry of his. He trusted her completely, he was just so nervous. This was a daring plan to begin with and the tension in the forge was running hotter than its flickering flames.

Blade snorted dismissively, rolling her shoulders.“Of course not. You can check before pouring. If you don’t trust me.” She smirked with fake amusement and extended her hand. Seth only grinned back and placed Jewels’s ring in her palm. It felt like the weight of the Kingdoms lay in her hands. Blade’s hand cramping around it, ‘Such a small thing… and so much trouble...’ Seth walked past her. She gulped deeply with a sleight of her hands she took out the old fake ring and got rid of Nebula’s ring inside her trouser pocket and swapped her trinket ring with Jewels’s.

Seth was so nervous. He had one job but he couldn’t find the tongs, trying to catch his breath and calm his racing heart he searched lost to his own turmoil.

Blade held Jewels’s ring and whispered an illusion spell. Her body trembled in fear as she checked. It had worked the illusion was perfect. Now the real ring looked like Nebula’s. She placed her other free hand on the first medallion mould. Feeling the ring and transmitting the form to the mould runes. It ‘saved’ the ring’s form for the indentation. The ring would be inserted in the curved, thick front part of the medallion where the magical stones from Dusk would be added as well. A quick look over her shoulder. Seth had a bit of trouble with the tongs he wasn’t calm at all. Neither was she, her heart pounded in her head. Her hands trembled as she placed Jewels’s ring above the first mould, a measure so they’d not screw up. Her heart was breaking into a thousand pieces at the betrayal she was about to commit. Her hands were so sweaty she brushed them off her trousers. ‘I can’t – but if I don’t…’ Seth returned with the crucible, snapping her from her thoughts.

“Okay,” Seth balanced the hot metal. His arms still shaking. He was so hyper-focused not to drop it or make a mistake. His eyes lingered on the two moulds and the rings above each. He couldn’t pick them up, still, he double-checked that the rings were placed correctly. Just as the magic stone patterns that they had chosen for the medallions. “What could go wrong…?” He laughed anxiously. He didn’t realise the swap. He simply wasn’t good enough to detect the illusion spell, nor did he expect one.

Blade laughed equally anxious, sweat dripping down her forehead and not just from the heat that that crucible was giving off. “So, now you poor consistently and I’ll steady the pour with magic. Most of the magic will go into making the fitting indentation, so the ring will fit the Medallion like a puzzle piece. The mould runes will also counter any bubbles or air pockets. So we don’t screw up our impeccable work. A bit of a cheat and surely no master craftsmanship.” She joked around to ease the tension.

Seth stared at the alloy tracking its colour, “Just got to work…” He pressed out.

“Indeed…Okay, I’ll use Shadion first, probably will exhaust all my Dark Magic. So, I keep Charmix for the real ring. Its short-time boost is just the kind of magic we need.” She explained once more to calm her nerves as she took in Seth’s worried form, it all showed so clearly. “The mould form will activate doing most of the job for us. It will save hours of work.” Oh, how she would have loved to use Charmix for the first mould, it couldn’t be helped. It would tip Seth off. The colour of the alloy had cooled about enough. “After that, we have only a few minutes where we can dip in the stones from Dusk’s treasury and see if they stick. The alloy will harden out a lot quicker than you’d expect. So, we gotta be precise. Once that’s done, we take the ring click it into the indentation close the medallion and we got to make a solder joint turning our Medallion into an amulet.”

“Right, we file off the excess solder and hinges so it truly looks the part,” Seth had remembered the process correctly.

“Yes, and remember, you can’t under ANY circumstances force that medallion open afterwards. You hear me? We don’t have the time or opportunity to make another medallion. Don’t pry it open. Okay?” She got a bit hissy there. The illusion would fade. If Seth ever were to open that thing… He’d know. He finds out. It would ruin everything. And she already was about to ruin their friendship. ‘If we destroy the plan as well… everything will be lost…’

Seth locked eyes with Blade, “I know. I won’t lose Jewels’s ring to anyone. I swear and certainly not because of some sentimental stupidity.” He promised her. ‘he’s so scared we screw this up. Is it really that hard of a spell? I thought the moulds would make this a safe bet…’ His stomach was turning inside out. “Let’s do this.” He urged her own, if they waited too long the alloy would cool off too much.

Blade glanced at Dusk’s magical stones that already were laid out in a nice pattern. “Shadion,” Blade transformed and closed the mould. Her hands lit up in magic as she aimed them at the casting mould and took a step to the side for Seth. Fine runes glowing first faintly then stronger and stronger on the mould case. “Now!”

Seth tilted the crucible and the alloy like a golden waterfall poured down and quickly filled up the cast. “Careful now…” Seth watched as Blade fired her Dark Magic it flared stronger for the indentation the glow of the runes peaked. “Don’t overdo it, Blade…” However, the black and green flames of her magic ignited a little hope in his chest. ‘This just got to work…’ He sat down the crucible in an empty space behind them.

The runes on the cast hummed quicker and quicker before they abruptly stopped and went inactive. The poured medallion cooled down magically enough for the magic stones to be inserted. “Got it,” Blade let out the breath she had held. She instantly went to open the cast. Such high-level equipment in Hoggar made this nearly child’s play. Their creation held its form like whipped cream. Nearly solid yet more clay-like in density.

Seth’s hand rushed past her and got the magic stones Blade had selected and one by one gave them to her. He watched as Blade placed them into the solidifying medallion's front side. It didn’t look bad, definitely not a masterpiece on Hagen’s level, but pretty enough to at least count as some sort of Smith work.

Blade sure she had placed the stones deep enough, lit up a rune set. It sparked to life and the alloy turned finally cold in an instant. Like a cat, Blade tapped a stone with her fingers just to make sure it had worked. “There…we go. One medallion…now to the important part…” She took Jewels’s ring from the table, which currently looked like Nebula’s and clicked it into the dent. Shortly she turned so Seth wouldn’t see the form of the indentation under the pretence of struggling to get it in. Once inserted, she closed the medallion and shook it in her hand.

Nothing rattled.

They both looked at each other. Their cheeks blushed in joy. They would do a small victory dance but their hearts were racing too much. “By the Great Dragon, you did it!” Seth rejoiced. “Quick the… soldering!”

It took them a minute to finish it up and file off the rest as the second crucible was heating up in the furnace.

Seth turned the finished prototype in his hand. Stared at the dull metal a stark contrast to the glistening magic stones, “It’s missing the polish… but even I can feel a faint magic presence from the magic stones. Never felt that with Jewels’s ring… sooo, that should work for hiding the ring’s presence from aura spells.” A wave of relief washed over him a bit mesmerised by their work.

“Yes, now let’s hurry. We can’t let the second crucible get too hot. Bring it over,” Blade pointed it out and Seth scrambled and ripped from his thoughts to get it.

“Right!” He chucked her the fake amulet. Forgot the tongs, went back to get them and then took a moment to steady his hands before grabbing the next crucible.

Blade stared at the medallion, now an amulet. It had worked. ‘I fooled him…’ But it didn’t feel like a victory. Still, the magic presence was strong enough—and distinct from Jewels’s dormant diadem ring. Her Shadion faded. “Charmix,” she activated her powers put the amulet into her Charmix pouch and made herself ready for the second casting. The fake ring was ready to be drowned in deception and hot metal. “Alright, let’s do this for real.” She fixated on Seth’s dark green eyes that locked with hers.

Seth’s were so full of hope and thankful to a fault that she was helping him.

She kept up a smile. “Ready to fool the worlds?” She joked as she could barely breathe. This felt all kinds of wrong and right at the same time. He simply – none of them – could keep the real ring close. It had to go, somewhere… somewhere where no one would find it, think to search. Where it wouldn’t be sold or go missing. With a loyal friend that no one would consider and most didn’t even know existed. One, that would NEVER betray them, her.

“Ready,” Seth gave a nod bursting with conviction he poured the alloyBlade repeated every step in front of his eyes. She was so calm this time around. It set him a peace. Now his sister’s crown ring was safe and away from their enemies’ grabby hands. This was his ring. His only remnant to remember Jewels by, the only thing left of her. He would never let it go. ‘I’d rather die.’ Blade truly repeated the process with ease. She had much more confidence in this second run. He watched her precision, her care. And once done he smiled at her tears in his eyes. “Thank you. I couldn’t have done it without you,” A true smile on his lips as he cradled that souldered Medallion.

Tears stung Blade’s eyes; the weight of her decision felt gut-wrenching. “Sure…” she barely got out as her voice broke. “Anything for Jewels – and you.” She couldn’t help it as tears trickled down her cheeks.

Seth gave her an unexpected hug.“We got this,” His soothing voice in her ear. The moment lingered shortly.

Blade got a grip again, there was no time to lose and the clock was ticking. “Now, you clean the forge up and I finish off with filing and polishing the metal before Hagen notices we were here…” She turned towards the workbench took the file and started to work.

Of course, they had detention classes after their official lessons. Every student had to go back to their school. Yet Blade looked so pale that Dufour had sent her to her room. Originally she had planned to drink some other concoction she had asked of Misery. The Sorceress always had something at hand, but that wasn’t necessary. Her decision to deceit even Seth made her sick all on its own. She hated all of it. After Griselda had made a check-up Blade was sure Faragonda was in another class for the fifth-graders. She moved to the window facing the forest. The bracelet virus was still active. She had tried with another little cut, despite the detention and being grounded Blade leaped outside and rushed into the forest.

Blade got some coordinates from Amal as she made her way towards Magix City. She dug out a parcel at the given spot. Its contents:

A box for suppressing magical items.

An amulet to transform into another girl her age. That amulet wasn’t just creating an illusion. No, it had a true morph spell. So it was unlike the one Griffin had given her in her first Sorceress mission and was more like the gem between her collarbones that turned her into Lucia, which she couldn’t activate without Iolas’s team. Also, if she were to run into Council Guards at most they’d notice it was a morph spell. But many people of all professions used those for different reasons. Council Guards stayed away unless someone did suspicious things. Nonetheless, once its magic would be used up it’d be useless junk.

In addition, to those those two items that secured a safe route into the city, she got a pouch full of candy rings. Rings made out of sugar that were the spitting image of Jewels’s diadem ring. A silicon form to make other batches. A memory crystal with the blueprints to make more silicon forms and another parcel with more cheap knock-off crown rings that had some magic stone dust within them, which gave off a faint magic presence.

“Holy electron… he did prepare everything we mused about…When? Back then, probably. If you did that in one night you are a beast, Amal…” Blade couldn’t believe her eyes, while for her it had been a fun mind exercise he had taken it seriously and indeed as he had stated was prepared. The amulet made sure form spells didn’t work so easily. The magic stones fooled aura spells. The box would kill off a magic presence entirely as a double safeguard. The sugar rings would create a smoke screen for search spells creating a wild gouse hunt. She simply needed to seal the deal with Mobster Lobster. Quickly she placed the amulet, that held Jewels’s ring within, into the surpressing box. Then stuffed everything into her Charmix pouch. All besides the amulet with the morph spell, which she activated. Blade transformed into a ruffian girl of colour with light brown hair braided in tribal style, street clothes, practical and yet a lot more punk-like than anything Blade’d wear. “Alright…” Blade breathed in. It was now or never. She activated her Dark Magic and enhanced her strength and sprinted like a Deerbeetle through the forest.

Magix City was bustling. It was a nice day outside. Many were coming back from work or were shopping. It was fun to see some Police Officers she knew running after people or writing tickets. But she couldn’t interact with them today. No, today she’d keep interactions to a minimum. Of course, she used her nature spells to search for other magic users so she could stay clear and avoid as many cameras as possible. Twists and turns she walked, streetlights that felt like they would stay forever red. She couldn’t fly, it would make her too visible and stand out.

Yet her quickened steps eventually guided her to a house. A house she barely recognised. The front yard was all cleaned up with some nice shrubs and a blue jump rope for kids. She opened the garden door and strolled along the paved path to the front door. ‘Lilly and John – Welcome home!’ said a painted wooden plate. The colours were a bit dirtied by time. They were still bright and not truly matching, the typical craftsmanship of a child with the help of a grown-up. She rang the bell. Her senses were keen as she tried to find anyone who might be tracking her but there was nothing.

“Hello…?” John stared down at the unknown guest. “And what can I do for you?” He raised an eyebrow. His clothes were ironed yet wrinkled and his hair washed. Just like a dad that had come back from work just a few minutes ago.

Blade breathed in, “It’s been a long time… Jewel thief. Is Lilly better or does she need another bedtime story?” She simply looked him deep into the eyes.

John forced a smile as he looked around and let her in but he was tense. His house was clean, spotless even. No dishes rotted in the sink. Flowers adorned the room and a picture of his late wife was on the wall together with lots of hand-drawn pictures from Lilly on a small stand with an urn.

Blade could feel his hand move behind her, “If you try to knock me out again… I’ll hit back this time around, my friend. How’s your job in Lunar Steel turning out?” She turned around to face him.

“Who is it, dad?!” Lilly’s voice rang from the second floor.

John squinted his eyes at the girl before him. “An old work friend!” He shouted back up the stairs. “Just keep playing! And don’t forget to clean your room before dinner!”

“Awwwww,” Lilly complained with a strong voice.

John went to the cupboard to pull some cups. “So, has life been good to you, Lucia?”

“Sorry, but I don’t have the time, John,” Blade declined the offer. ‘Funny, we never told each other’s names and yet…’ They both had found out each other's name by now. William had told her John’s name. And her face had been all over the newspapers. “I am here for your offer.”

John sighed and shook his head. Undeterred he poured at least some water into her cup, “You should take better care of yourself.” He smirked. His life had changed so drastically ever since she had helped him out. “William will be mad if you get hurt again… He really admires you, you know.”

Blade chuckled, “Yeah… it’s been rough… but life never waits for you.” She took the cup and took a sip as she sat down, after all.

“So…” John checked her over once again, “Is there a reason you come in here all dressed up as someone else? I thought the streets are safe now for Sorceresses.” He could feel something was up not to mention her looming request.

“You meant what you said back then, right?” Blade asked. She had no fallback plan if he said no.

“Yes, you saved me. My daughter, our lives, I’d do anything for you,” John didn’t waver a second. One might think he was ready to kill for her.

Blade breathed out heavily, “I have something I need to store here.” She reached for her Charmix pouch she had called upon already outside and pulled out the item-suppressing box and the amulet. “No one. And I mean NO ONE. Can find this. You cannot speak of this not even to Lilly or William. Secrecy is of the utmost importance.”

John picked up the amulet and turned it around. “Looks a bit dull… is it… dangerous?” To him, this was any other magical trinket.

“Not directly. I simply can’t have the wrong people find it. So, I need a place where I know no one will look for it and it won’t be sold… or given away……….” She glared at him.

“Hey, my heist days are over…” John held up his hands in surrender shortly before turning the little thing in his hands again. “Would someone kill for it?” He asked seriously.

“Yes,” Blade answered truthfully. “But if it would come to that… just give it up. If they find it here everything is lost either way. And every other plan has failed. At that point, it is inadvertently that it falls into enemy hands. Just give me a call through William that it was taken. Neither you, nor Lilly have to die for it. Or even get hurt.”

John nodded, “So a secret space for safekeeping.” He went silent for a second before he laughed relieved, “Ahhh, and I thought you’d actually ask for something equal to at least the worth of one life. You saved us. You’re way too kind, Lucia.” He shook his head. “So, that box?”

“Will hide its presence. I prepared everything as best I could, I’m sorry…” Blade looked into her cup and let the water swirl. It was so clear, unlike her conscience.

“Fighting alone, this time?” John looked at her with pity even fatherly. He placed the amulet in the box before he reached for her hand. “You should trust people… remember? That is the lesson you taught me.”

Blade snorted, “As I said, I prepared as best I could.” She of course wouldn’t say anything about the rest of the class or Amal… or her next stop. “So?”

“As I said, I’ll do anything for you. You saved me and Lilly more than that you gave us hope,” John closed the box with the amulet inside and the runes reacted and lit up shortly. He whistled, “Fancy. Must have cost a fortune.” His eyes wandered through the room, “So, any idea where to place it? Under the bed would be a bit too easy. And dumping it in the trash yard is stupidity.” He tried to lighten up the mood. He basically could feel the looming cloud of doom that was hanging over Blade.

“I hoped maybe in your cellar under the concrete…” Blade mumbled considering everything.

John shook his head, “Well, if you can fix the floor someone else could take it without me ever knowing. The idea is good but not practical. Would it be that bad if I put it into my safe?”

“I wanted to avoid burglaries…” Blade tensed up so much that the cup handle gave in. A crack before she even realised it. “Sorry, I-”

John squeezed her hand again, “Breathe. It’s just a cup.” His eyes were fixated on the shrine they had built for his wife. The box wasn’t all too big. “How about the urn…?”

Blade’s breath got stuck, “I – we can’t defile your wife's ashes like that!” She nearly raised her voice too loud but stopped herself in time. Both peeked their heads but Lilly hadn’t heard.

John shook his head, “My apologies I misread the situation. You indeed brought me something equal to a life. And whichever one it is, whomever you are trying to save, my wife wouldn’t waste a second to help you after all that you did for us.” He swiped a tear away, “She was as practical and hands-on as you, Lucia. Those are ashes. She is long gone. If I put it in there I can remember two people who made my life better. Who taught me to live it to the fullest. And I can check on it daily. Plus, burglars never steal urns. Even thieves have some code of honour. Also, Lilly doesn’t play with it. So, it’s safe from kids' hands. You’d be surprised what kids find and where they hide things.” He grinned lost in some memory.

“You’re crazy…” Blade stared at John still in disbelief.

He stood up, “Learned from the best.” He placed a hand on Blade’s shoulder and quietly opened the urn. It was such a serene moment as he let the tiny box vanish and swirled the ashes a bit so it wouldn’t show on the surface. “Watch over it, my beloved…” He whispered ever so quietly.

Blade watched with a profound ache in her chest. She couldn’t hide some tears. It all was so much. Betraying Seth, asking this of John, Jewels’s death was so much more vivid now. All because some assholes couldn’t let the past sleep. Those who had escaped justice before, couldn’t be connected to the coop de’ tat. She rose from the chair. It was getting late and the clock was ticking. Blade had to get out of there and as far away as possible. There was no telling when Amal’s virus would be cleansed from the system. “Thank you,” she uttered dryly as she turned towards the door one step after another growing more steadfast. It was a hand on the shoulder that made her stop for a second.

“Let me hold you for just a moment,” John asked ever so quietly and slung his arms around her. The silent embrace spoke louder than anything he could say and the way the girl sunk into it for this fleeting moment screamed her desperation to the world. A burden suffocating her, just like his decision back when he had decided to steal jewels, to sell them, all to help his Lilly. The most important person in his world.

Hey ho!

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English Fanfiction.net https://www.fanfiction.net/story/story_preview.php?storyid=14286980

German fanfiction.de: https://www.fanfiktion.de/s/6523e530000c51892c2be649/1/Wie-man-nicht-nach-Geheimnissen-jagt

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