black tower, Archmage Gallagher Vargas poured amber liquor into

of Will suddenly flared bright red. Then, with a sharp pi

r overflowed, spilling over his knuc

napped to the broken crystal

n. Eleonora Frye, his second-in-command, w

ora said, her voice shaking slightly. "

and walked to the massive floor-to-ceiling window. He loo

oard in her hands. "The transit t

His boots scraped hard

It tied the all-time record set by Julian S

Gallagher demanded,

led transfer writ Pip had sen

Alina Padilla. He looked at th

d across Gallagher's scarred

ed, tapping the paper. "They had a monster living

Ring?" Eleonora asked, stepping forward. "A talent

ished. His eyes turne

N

ipped it in red ink. He crossed out the section la

letters, he wr

a record-breaking prodigy in the Menial Ward? They scrub f

isn't the blade I need," Gallagher said coldly. He st

Alina stood calmly in f

ciples stared at her

tepped forward, his hands shaking s

Her voice was steady, giv

landing heavily on the disciple's table. It

e saw the Archmage's red se

vaporated, replaced by deep conf

y, making sure the crowd heard. "Looks l

d erupted in

ut she survived

functioned. Look at her, sh

must have given her some priceless, illegal family artifact to survive in there. The Archmage pr

art rate didn't spike. Her face

ppening. Gallagher Vargas was a pa

injustice. She didn't de

ignment paper from the smirki

ay?" Ali

credibly uncomfortable. He pointed a shaking finger toward

rap of her bag and wa

r through a spyglass spell. He saw he

out a booming laugh. He slamm

Eleonora. "She knows I'm watching. She knows it's a g

hen back out the window. A deep se

f the staircase, heading straight in