"~Not really..." she smiled. "After all, there are so many glamour
and illusion spells that it must have been hard for you to catch
magical criminals! I thought you were going to say something like
meeting me while you were on sentry duty! I always tried to be kind
to the ones positioned near us..."
Oh he knows... we need to find out what he's going to do about
it
All in good time!
"I know there were some underworlders operating near the apothecary
I worked at! Who specifically were you in charge of?" She said.
"And Theo, if Kendo won't tell you what the note said, you should
know better than to ask. He doesn't seem the forthcoming type." Ivy
smiled at the beanbag.
kendo's eyes flashed blue for a second. He grinned. "Ah, sorry. I
went a bit overboard there. Didn't mean t'scare you." Kendo
shrugged. "Anyways, I need to go bother Theo"
"Let him sleep." Ivy thought furiously. "What are the odds you'd
sign a magical contract not to reveal a word said in a conversation
to any living, dead and undead soul? You have questions. I have
questions. And I think we could figure out some answers if we...
work together~"
I approve of this course of action...
Thank you. I'm trying.
She grabbed a piece of parchment from under her cloak. Words
appeared on it in spidery black handwriting. She looked at it
meaningfully.
Was Kendo deflecting the conversation? Ivy knew that there
was a veiled threat somewhere in his earlier statement. She turned
to leave, but then thought better of it.
"I'm going to bother you with more questions later~" she said, back
to smiling. "Think about my offer! I'm sure you'll realize its
value in time!"
"Eww, cuddling..." she muttered under her breath.
"Are you coming Sobble? Or are you going to stay and watch~?"
Ivy was still lurking in the library. She was still clinging to a
slight hope... and one magical contract.
I don't think he's coming, Ivy...
I know, Akhmar. But maybe he will.
You've always been the skeptical one of the two of us...
I'm serious. You need to prepare for this mysterious tournament,
not wait around for a flirtatious schoolboy...
5 more minutes. Besides~ I want to try
and find a book about the history of the academy...
This is a library after all, and I
intend to use it...
Fine. But this will be your first chance to impress your
classmates and rise through the rankings... Don't ruin it. You only have one chance to make a first
impression...
I know, I know. You worry too much.
I'll be fine. Better than fine. You know as well I as I that i
always am...
Ivy froze. No one could hear Akhmar except her. They were the
literal voice inside her head. But she had already noticed that
Kendo had a knack for reading body language, and knowing what
people were thinking from that.
"Are you willing to sign a contract, or are you going to walk me to
the dorms~?" She said, trying to gauge his reaction with humor.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa... hold up, Kendo." Ivy summoned a magical
shield. "I don't suppose you'd believe me if I denied everything?
No?"
She sighed. "Contract first, schoolboy." She held it out in her
free hand. "I promise I'm not trying to curse you, and I'm not here
for trouble. Okay, that last part is a teensy-weensy lie. But I'm
serious. Read the terms, and you'll find it straightforward
enough... We talk, I physically can't spill your secrets, you
physically can't spill mine. I'll even add a clause if you want to
confide in your beloved Theo."