In the cathedral, in the city's heart, a man waited with large dark eyes to match his spiky hair and wide smile. He stood on a stone balcony that towered high above every other structure in the inner district. Gravel in the courtyard below floated upward, changing into multiple pieces of glass. They emerged carrying the tinkle of a falling mirror and breaking into a thousand pieces, before coming together like a puzzle. The form of a woman appeared. She lost balance for a second but composed herself quickly. 

“Ladies and gentlemen, here she is!” said the man, clicking his fingers as he danced his way down the stone staircase towards the garden in the great stone balcony. “Breaking a record. How can you match the speed of a Lumen, anyway? By a few microseconds, give or take. But you have to tell me.” He came to a full stop in a leap. 

“Don’t flatter me, Raven,” she spoke firmly. “I’m the High Enchantress now, and you will address me as—” Amber rebuked. 

“Excellent! I knew you were going to kill that old man someday. How does it feel?” Amber tilted her head to the side, making eye contact, and Raven felt struck with a heaviness that crushed his body. With her eyes piercing into his soul, he couldn’t decide if she was trying to read his mind or punish him for something he committed. 

“The Holy Council summoned the High Priest to the battlefield. Darklight Academy is under my care until his return—” 

“Oh, that is heartbreaking news. Old people are so fragile,” Raven said, smiling. 

He passed her and placed his hands on the stone parapet that led into the city below. 

The Holy City had never been more beautiful, full of life, and most of all clean. But the many districts of the King painted a different picture. King Baron IV of Etenia shared the same inhabitants and lands as the former kingdoms of Eden. Those that begged for the coin in the slums existed within the city walls, random murders in alleyways happened often, and even the king visited the brothel houses from time to time. Now they were the last. 

“I hate you,” Amber spoke. 

“It’s nice to see you too, sis.” Raven lifted his hand to invite her inside first. 

Signs of the past skirmishes of war filled the wide stone staircase that led to the main corridors and some pillars, each as high as the tallest tower in the kingdom. Alongside the Wolflight siblings, in the great hall, strode many warlocks and sorcerers going about their mundane routine. 

Raven came to a full stop in front of his sister. “This year will not be any different,” he said and handed over a parchment covered in vermilion symbols. 

“The list is short this year,” Amber replied. 

“Well, we can’t win every time. Fresh blood comes and goes each year, dying to start a career at the outstanding, fabulous, and glorious Division of Global Magic Affairs that protects the world from evil,” Raven jested, “if they survive the academy, anyway.” 

“All students get six months for the initial familiarisation period at the Academy—” 

“Yes, yes. I know. Training comprises six months per year, sixty days off with pay, and they send young bloods on assignments to the battlefield for the rest of the year to die.” 

“We do not have time. We are losing the war.” Amber looked at him with an analytical expression. “What about the Council? They will not like that you left quite a mess in London.” 

“The old fart? Nobody cares.” Raven looked around the great hall of the cathedral and spotted a short-haired teenager sitting on a bench a few feet ahead, staring into empty space. 

“Panda boy, what was your name again?” Raven called. 

“I never told you my name, your Grace.” 

“Doesn’t matter, boy. Listen, my sister here believes that killing is wrong. Isn’t that what they teach you at the Academy?” Raven smiled in reminiscence. 

“I wouldn’t know, my Deliverance,” the youngster mumbled with a blank expression. Raven frowned, crossing his arms. “I-I... I’m sorry—” The shorthaired girl on the bench waited next to the infirmary doors, rubbing her black eye. 

“Bah! New blood these days can’t even distinguish the difference between a sea-draugr and Jörmungandr,” Raven scolded. 

“That witty attitude of yours will get you killed,” Amber murmured as she pulled him into an unoccupied area behind one of the large pillars. “Listen. I’m tired of cleaning up after you. The body had your imprinted magic on the wound and the council will find out.” 

Raven’s face changed to one of serenity and boredom. 

“You didn’t assimilate the body? This changes things. But it is fun when they are the ones that matter.” 

“What are you going to do?” 

“I’ll take care of it.” Raven stepped out behind the column and headed to the stairs on his right into the chambers below.