At Any Cost (Ceil's Journey Part III)

By Evan Drake

© 2019, Evan Drake, All Rights Reserved

Ceil closed her eyes and sighed. Simel's monotonous droning was lulling her to sleep. The old hound had been going on all morning about the properties of elemental shifting. It wasn't the most exciting subject, just a very long and torturous description of what happens when a mage casts a spell. She didn't care about any of that especially since she wasn't going to remember most of it and it wasn't going to serve her in the future. For her, casting a spell had to be done on instinct, something as easy as taking a step. She didn't need to think about how her legs worked to walk or run.

            She concealed another yawn in the folds of her robes. This was the sort of thing first-years learned. It still wasn't clear why he insisted on reviewing the basics with her. Her skills had notably improved since their last sparring session, yet despite her growth, it wasn't good enough for him. She couldn't wait for the day when she would smack that condescending smirk off his sagging muzzle.

            “Are you listening to me?" Simel asked.

            Ceil started at the sudden question. “Um, yes?" she flashed an innocent smile for good measure.

            Simel studied her face. Ceil's grin widened. She knew it only made her appear more guilty, but she couldn't help it.

            “I know you ignore me when I give these lectures, but you seem especially distracted today," Simel said at length.

            Ceil's tail tried to seek cover between her legs, flattening against her robe.            Simel's insufferable lecturing had distracted her from the true source of her stress.

It didn't take long for Lianea's disappearance to become known. It took even less time for her body to be found in the dungeons. The exact details were kept hidden, but everyone in the college knew the Arch-mage had been killed. The city guard launched a full investigation. Fortunately for Ceil, magic couldn't be traced back to its caster. The most they could discern was a mage killed her.

            Unfortunately, that was also where her trouble began. Everyone in the college had been questioned. Ceil didn't have anyone to account for her whereabouts, but the foolish guards only believed a powerful mage could've murdered Lianea so an apprentice like Ceil wasn't even on their list of potential suspects.

            But Deana was on the list. Ceil had been questioned on three separate occasions about her sister's activities, and each time she gave some vague excuse or cleverly dodged the question.

            It wasn't something she wanted to think about, that her sister was likely the one who turned Lianea into that…thing, that Deana was the one who trapped her in the dungeons, that Deana was supposed to kill her.

            It put Ceil in a very tough spot. Either save herself or save her sister. She couldn't cover for Deana without giving herself away, but telling the truth wasn't an option, either. Deana was the only reason she was even accepted into the college. If anything happened to her, Ceil was in serious trouble. She didn't have nearly enough standing to earn herself any immunity. And it would be much worse if anyone suspected she was the one who killed Lianea.

The stress of it all was killing Ceil. Every time she noticed someone looking her way or heard her name called out in the hall, she feared someone had learned her secret. She couldn't focus on anything, couldn't eat, couldn't sleep.

            What was more worrying was knowing the real killer was somewhere in the college. If Deana wasn't involved, someone else was. At least one other canid knew Lianea was down there. They knew what she had become, and they were likely just as desperate to keep a lid on the situation as Ceil was.

            But there was no way Ceil was telling Simel any of that. Her mind was swarmed with questions about how much Simel knew and what he could discern from their conversation. “I'm just worried about my sister is all. She and Lianea were close." If she was a mess, Deana was worse. Her sister rarely left her room. Deana seldom spoke, she stopped caring about her appearance, she stopped eating, and she cried herself to sleep every night.

            Simel's expression softened a little. “Understandable. She hasn't taken the Archmage's death very well. How about we end your lessons for today? You can't focus if you're worried about your family, and I won't ask you to. Go and be with your sister. Make sure she is okay."

            Ceil rushed out of the room. She was grateful Simel didn't probe further. The air felt stifling and she couldn't breathe. She hurried out onto the grounds and took several large gulps of air.

            Just breathe, damn it! She told herself. No one knows I was down there. Even if they did, they can't prove anything. I'll be fine so long as I stop acting suspiciously. The thought didn't bring any peace. How could she calm down knowing what would happen if anyone found out about this?

            She almost yelped when a paw touched her shoulder. She whirled around, trying not to let the fear show in her face.

            It must not have worked because the wolf who tapped her looked as if he regretted the decision. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you. I was hoping you had a moment to talk?"

            Ceil straightened her robe and cleared her throat. She knew the wolf, though not by name. He was the one she had caught with that fox in the storeroom. She had seen him around the college since then and every time he avoided her gaze. It was a surprise he was even willing to be anywhere near her. “Sure what did you want to talk about?" she asked.

            “I saw you leaving the dungeons," the wolf said.

            Ceil maintained a calm expression although her insides were in a knot. “I don't know what you're talking about. I haven't been in the dungeons, and I don't like what you're implying." She added a note of anger to her voice, hoping to throw the wolf off.

            “Look, there's no point in denying it; I know it was you," the wolf said. He sounded confident, almost eager. All the fear and anxiety she used to see in his face was gone. She could swear she saw the beginnings of a smile tugging at the corners of his muzzle. “And I saw you out on the grounds late at night, burning your robes. You really should've done that in a more secluded place."

            Ceil tried to maintain a brave face, but her ears and tail betrayed her as her bravado crumbled around her. She thought she had been so careful. She destroyed the evidence including the note in Deana's belongings. There was no proof. It was his word against hers. But then why was she filled with such dread? She looked around and saw they were alone, but it brought her little comfort.

            “You may be leaving me alone for now, but I need to get ahead of you before you drag me into your schemes," the wolf continued. “I don't know why you killed the Arch-mage, and I don't care. I just want to make sure that my future is secure."

            “So if I don't say anything about you fooling around with a non-mage, you won't tell anyone what you saw?" Ceil asked, hopeful. In terms of severity, her crime was much worse. Even if she told on the wolf, once he revealed her secret, no one would care about who he was sleeping with.

“Sounds fair. Just remember that even if I can't prove it, you wouldn't survive the investigation. Not with the rumors currently floating around you."

            Ceil watched as the wolf walked away. She had come outside for fresh air, but it felt more stifling than ever. How long before he realized he had the upper hand and there was nothing she could do about it? How long before he started calling in favors? No, she had to put an end to it now before he realized the power he held over her.

            But how? The wolf was right. Even if there was no proof, she couldn't handle another scandal. Her reputation was hanging by a thread as it was. She could always pass the blame to Deana. Lianea and Deana were lovers, so it wasn't so far-fetched to believe they argued and things went too far. But was that really how she wanted to repay her sister, one of the few canids who stood by her no matter what? Did she care that much about her freedom?

            Ceil followed the wolf. The answer was yes. Her freedom did matter that much to her. But not at the cost of her sister. This wolf wasn't going to take away everything she fought so hard for. The sacrifices she made, putting up with the constant looks and insults, being forced to push herself harder than anyone else. She looked at her scarred paw. The others probably never had to go so far to make themselves stand out. They never had to stare at old books until their vision blurred, to practice magical techniques until they passed out from exhaustion, to be stuck with some old codger forcing them to review the basics like some talentless pup.

            She increased her pace, her hackles rising beneath her robe. She knew what life was like for non-mages. She had a taste before her magical talent manifested. Non-mages were little more than toys, playthings for those with power to use, abuse, and throw away whenever they saw fit.

            There was no way she was going back to that life. She would die first.

She caught up to the wolf just as he reached the main hall. She scratched the back of the wolf's neck then focused on the aether in the air, sending it straight into the wound. The aether burrowed deep into his flesh, forming a bright ring around his neck. The wolf spun around, aether sparking threateningly from his raised paws as he glared at her.

            Ceil squeezed her paw. The ring of aether around the wolf's neck tightened and he quickly ceased his aggression. She seized the wolf by the front of his robes and steered him into one of the side halls.

            Ceil stepped forward until their muzzles were almost touching. At first glance, they would resemble two lovers hoping for some alone time. “I think it's time we came to a new arrangement," she whispered. She lowered her paw. The ring of light faded, but the spell remained. “You will keep your mouth shut and not tell anyone about what you saw, and in return, I won't take your head."

            Panic erupted in the wolf's face. “Y-You're bluffing. If you did that—"

            “I don't even need to be in the room to trigger the spell. And no one will be able to trace it back to the caster. Even if they did, they can't reattach your head. So, do we have an agreement, or do I need to tie up a loose end?"

            The wolf swallowed, his ears flat against his head. “F-Fine, I'll do whatever you want."

            “Good. For your first assignment, you'll keep me informed if anyone approaches you with questions about me. And if you think about telling anyone about this"—she squeezed again. The ring of light around his neck glowed dangerously before fading.—“well, do I really need to say it?"

            She headed back to her room. Putting that wolf in his place felt really good. Her future was secure. She was done playing catch up. It was time she took charge and showed the world her place was wherever she said it was.

            And may the gods help anyone who dared to get in her way.

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