21

  The quiet corner of the embassy hall on the seventh floor of the mage's building remained silent during their mandatory study hours. The bustling market underneath the hall echoed with many students walking about the busy courtyards and small shops. The bright sky bathed in stalls of warm light creating a lively atmosphere free of the carnage going on in the world.

  Luna leaned against the stone brick window looking down at her sister Amy, slowly fitting in with other newcomer mages preparing to start their journeys at this academy. She watched the crowd of candidates with a blissful smile. The candidates and Amy started to play a small game with bags. Amy’s face brightened as her heart was filled with joy. Luna grinned, her face flushed with a small whimper seeing her sister the happiest she had been in years.

  “She’s in good hands, you know?” Maeve approached, with a basket wrapped in a soft red cloth. She sat the basket on Luna’s bags beside a wooden door next to the window.

  “Sorry. Just found myself lost in thought seeing her here.” Luna gave a playful smile. “Still cannot believe my sister and I just packed our bags and left. Think it will be for the best?” Luna gripped the window, seeing her sister have the time of her life.

  Maeve chuckled, she flipped her long braid to her side. “Omar told me a little bit about your life. I can’t imagine.” She stuffed her hands in her pockets, searching for something.

  Luna turned to Maeve, raising her brow, and slowly a smile broke out. “Omar talks about me?” She looked at Maeve for confirmation. “Really?” She didn’t believe her.

  Maeve took out a key. Her smile broadened on her face as she laughed. “Oh, he does. He doesn’t seem like the type, but when he is home every so often, he catches me up.” She winked. “On everything. He needs to go ahead and make things official, just saying if you ask me.”

  Luna blushed, she leaned in, and her tone softened. “Thank you, for being, well cool with me. I worried my presence would not be welcomed here with your family.”

  “Luna. Think nothing of it. From what he tells me about you, you’re a wonderful young woman. My brother tends to put himself in a lot of danger with this crusade he is carrying. Seeing him have a woman who cares for him, makes me feel safer.” Maeve confessed. She rolled her eyes. “My mother and his father. Well… let's just say she has it for anyone that comes around our family. She was loads worse when Malakai brought a girl home.”

  Luna paused, holding her hands behind her back, as Maeve approached the door. “You do not have the same father?”

  Maeve unlocked the door and pushed it open. She made sure to turn around. “Hell no.” She sternly assured.

  Luna grabbed her belongings from the door side and moved them with Maeve into the little square room. No one had stayed inside of it for quite some time. Cobwebs built up and furniture was covered by sheets in the corner. Luna observed the two windows and sloped roof in shock. It wasn’t the luxurious home she had been using, but it felt much better.

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  “My mother and his father married at a young age. A royal marriage. They had my brother Malakai not long after.” Maeve explained, dropping Luna’s stuff on an old armchair. “Darius. Omar’s father went on a voyage that spanned for two years when the blade returned. He and my mother found other people they cared for. My mother had me with the great Mystic Hawk, the world’s greatest mage. Darius had a child with a Queen from Leviathan to create a child to rule. Then came Omar and Jai after the two made up, years later.”

  “Oh. Wow.” Luna was lost for words. “Quite a life.” She slowly nodded.

  “So.” Maeve laughed. “She bases her life on her children’s and thinks the same would happen. I can’t blame her, but wish she would not be that way.” Maeve grabbed Luna’s hands. “Think nothing of it. Just worry about being the best you.”

  “Thank you, Maeve.” Luna smiled, hugging her.

  The door room lit up with a blend of scholarly charms and the mystical blue mage light mages conjure. The walls were painted with a warm chestnut brown striped paint, with swirling white patterns dancing around the walls. Both large windows framed beautiful views, one of the market, and another of the courtyard entrance. A pot with two midnight roses danced with the smooth breeze.

  Luna and Maeve ripped the sheets off together, and a queen-sized bed in woven chocolate brown quilts adorned the symbol of Belkos, a white lion. The wooden tables underneath the sheets next to both sides of the bed were in good condition. Luna dusted off an old bookshelf, putting her collection on it. Maeve cleaned a stainless wooden desk with a black fabric top on the tableside.

  “It isn’t the best.” Maeve joked. “But may you enjoy your accommodations, princess.” The two laughed. “What even are you doing here? I didn’t hear your role.”

  “An ambassador. Of sorts… I am going to be teaching politics from what Omar said.” Luna nervously laughed.

  Maeve couldn’t help but allow a slight giggle to come out. “Oh, that is rich. And he didn’t even ask our mother yet.” She rolled her eyes. “He may very well be dead the next time we see my dear brother.”

  Despite the clutter from the door to the bedside, the room held a sense of warmth and clutter. Even with the downgrade from her capital mansion of a room, the air buzzed with magic. Luna found herself in a sanctuary aspiring to change to navigate the world's challenges. New memories to come.

  A knock on the door caught the two’s attention. “Getting settled?” Omar asked.

  The quick gorgeous smile of Luna rose from cleaning. She wiped her face and arched herself upright. “Yeah. I am glad to be here.” She fixed her hair. “How did meeting with your angel go?”

  Omar moved closer to her. Luna’s eyes became lightning in a jar, as her heart skipped a beat. She brushed a lock of her hair behind her ear. “My angel?” Omar side-eyed her. Omar rubbed his hand softly against her cheek. She took his hand in her warmth. “She’s in front of me.”

  Luna blushed, while Maeve made fake barfing sounds. “It went how it went through.”

  Omar stuttered. “Magnus is waiting on me.” He pointed towards the door. “I just wanted to see you before we got to work for the night.”

  “Ah, fuck me then, huh?” Maeve raised her brow. Omar jarred a look at her.

  “Love you, Maeve.” He said.

  Luna hugged him. “Thank you for checking on me.” She whispered, placing her hand on his heart. “You know where I stay now if you need a break. Things will be okay.”

  Omar nodded. “I know.” He turned back cold as he always does. He rubbed her back, “But I have to look into something. Wait for me.” He walked away, outside the room. Maeve approached Luna, both feeling something amiss.

  Omar and Magnus walked down the hallway with a pep in their step. They kept their heads down and eyes vigilant of those around them. “We need to know who he is,” Magnus muttered, but Luna and Maeve could both hear him.

  “Be ready for anything,” Omar confirmed.