The Skyhome Academy

Rose, Simon, and Mei were in the library taking notes from reference books. After the guards had made a headcount of the cadets earlier in the day, they had been allowed to move freely about the academy once more.

The noble saw Emma approach. “Hey,” she told her sister. Her companions also greeted the new arrival. But then Rose noticed her troubled expression. “What’s wrong?”

Emma sat down at the table and looked around furtively. However, there was no one else nearby. She then answered in a whisper. “I’m not supposed to talk about this, so please don’t tell anyone. But I was in the infirmary when Mage Charles was brought in⁠—”

“Wait,” Rose said, matching her volume. “If we’re going to talk about something like this, we should use telepathy.”

“I’ll set up the mind link,” Mei offered.

Emma mentally addressed the group. “Mage Charles was brought in with acid burns all over his back! Dr. Ramos had to induce a coma, because if he woke up the pain would be unbearable.” Rose was not happy with whom acid magic immediately called to mind.

“Is he going to pull through?” Simon asked.

“I don’t know. He’s in critical condition now. If he stabilizes, he’ll be moved to the capital for reconstructive magic.”

“Do you know where he was found?” Rose asked.

Emma nodded. “I overheard a guard say that he was hidden on the kitchen level. He was in his bedclothes, and I didn’t see his crystal with him. Dr. Ramos said that he was probably attacked hours beforehand, based on his injuries.”

“An attack would have been noticed if the servants were already preparing breakfast,” Rose agreed.

“I can’t believe anyone would do something like this,” Simon sent in disgust.

“We all know someone who is much more fond of acid magic than he is of Mage Charles,” Mei pointed out.

“I had the same thought,” Rose admitted. “But as much as I loathe him, I don’t think Margas would go that far.”

“I think he’s plenty capable,” Simon sent grimly.

Rose shook her head. “Maybe he’s hateful enough…but it’s hard to believe he’d be that reckless. I mean, what’s his plan? Hide out near Mage Charles’ room after curfew and stalk him when he leaves? He’d have to risk being seen by patrolling guards.”

“I don’t want to believe he’d do something so horrible,” Emma sent. “But whoever did it, murderers aren’t known for making reasonable decisions.”

Rose could not rule out Margas, but another possibility occurred to her. She looked to Mei. “Did you hear about the threat toward Prince Robert last semester?”

“He told me what happened.”

“Whoever those traitors were, they could be involved. What if Mage Charles went down to the kitchen for a snack and heard some talk he shouldn’t have? Then he gets noticed and is taken down trying to flee.”

“Even if that’s what happened, Margas could still be involved,” Simon pointed out. “Wouldn’t it make sense for a traitor to pretend that he hates traitors?”

“I’ve known him since we were little, and he’s always hated the Peasant Army,” Rose explained. “That’s too long of a con to be believed, and I can’t think of anything recent that would have changed his mind. …⁠If he is involved, I like the grudge better for a motive.”

“In that case, Professor Akintola could be in danger as well,” Mei sent. “His differences with Margas have been just as severe.”

“That’s true,” Rose admitted. “But shouldn’t we consider the professor a suspect as well? He knows acid magic, and he lost his temper the first day of Elements class—though he was provoked. He doesn’t get along well with Mage Charles either.”

“I always took their insults as only a professional rivalry,” Simon told her doubtfully.

“I did too. …⁠But what if he’s hiding hatred for Mage Charles, or even all nobles? Having one of the academy staff side with them would be useful to the traitors.

“Anyway, I’m probably getting carried away. Professor Akintola seems like a decent person, and that makes him a much worse suspect than Margas.”

“Rose, if it really was Lord Jame…what if he came after you?” Emma asked fearfully.

“This is all just speculation,” she reassured her sister. “Though if there were a way to spy on him after curfew, I’d take it. Poking around the kitchen level at night might also lead to the attacker.”

“We’d probably get expelled if we were caught,” Simon reminded her. “Especially with our past offenses. Not to mention that we’d be putting ourselves in danger again.”

“I realize I was reckless before. But this time we might be in danger whether we act or not. Don’t forget that this could be related to Griffonskull’s plot to capture or destroy the academy.” But then Rose sighed. “You’re right though. We’re not useful to anyone if we get ourselves thrown out of here. Going anywhere besides the bathrooms after hours is already a serious offense—now that there’s been an attack, that’s going to be enforced even more harshly.”

“There might be a way to reduce the risk of getting caught out after curfew,” Emma sent hesitantly. “There’s an advanced telepathic spell called an ‘empathic field’ that lets the caster sense where people are nearby—even get an impression of their emotions. But only if they don’t have a shield.”

Rose considered this. “…⁠The guards don’t cast their shield unless they think something’s wrong—keeping it active their whole shift would leave them too tired to fight. So that spell could work.”

“I’m not comfortable with being so disrespectful toward Baron Tessel’s authority,” Mei interjected. “And you made quite a leap from the presence of traitors in the academy to a full-fledged plot against it.”

“Did you see those pamphlets that were dropped at the beginning of the year?” Rose asked the telepath. She shook her head. “They claimed that the kingdom would fall within a year. That’s not possible as long as the Phoenix Maw prevents the traitors from getting through Almeric’s Pass.”

“I suppose you’re right then—we could already be in danger. In that case, I’m not outright opposed to this idea.”

Emma looked to Mei. “You’re a telepath, so if any of us could learn the spell it would be you.”

“…⁠I might need your help with some of the math.”

The healer smiled. “I don’t mind.”

Mei then looked to Rose. “I wouldn’t have normally studied this spell until next year. At best it will take weeks to learn—and I can’t guarantee that I’ll be able to cast it over a sufficient range to be useful.”

“That’s fine—I’d like to have the option to do something, but now would be too soon anyway. We should only consider going out after curfew if my dad’s investigation into the attack doesn’t get any results. Things may go better this time, since he has justification for telepathic testing.

“I’ll share our theories about the attack with him. I know it’s a lot to ask, but if you’d start learning the empathic field just in case…?”

“Even if we don’t go through with any rule breaking, I’d enjoy the challenge of learning the spell,” Mei reassured Rose.

“That’s settled then. Let’s just hope the attacker is caught before we have to consider getting involved. And that Mage Charles has a speedy recovery.”

“I’d also appreciate it if the rest of the year had the decency to be nice and boring,” Simon sent ruefully. All three girls expressed their agreement.