Chapter 2: The Dark Prince
Cephera woke to start her second week of classes. Her first week had been a bust. She had made sure to touch the teachers on the way in after her second day. The first day she had tried to learn by book only but soon realized she was was incapable of it. Touching the teacher afforded her the knowledge of the spell but not the know how on how to cast or use them properly.
Her first spell had been easy. But after being forced to practice it more then once her nose began to bleed as she knew it would. But it was a start. Her classes continued much like that. She was able to perform everything asked of her, though technically she cheated, but with repetition she would get a bloody nose. She had yet to pass out.
She got a nosebleed so often their teacher had actually laid a package of tissues on the wooden table near her usual spot. Today was no different then the passed seven days.
She finished wiping her nose after her last few casts and looked up. The teacher was talking to that man again. He was every bit as tall, dark and handsome as one would think looking at him. He was at least a head taller then herself, with his black hair reaching his shoulders and had striking green eyes. His clothes screamed important.
"Him again!" Kat whispered in her ear.
"You noticed him too." Kat nodded.
"Everyday since we got here."
"Who is he?"
"You don't know?" Cephera turned to fully look at her. The entire class had stopped to stare at the man. "That's Prince Loki."
"Odin's son?"
"Well I hear he's adopted but yes." Cephera looked back over to the prince of Asgard. He hadn't looked away from the teacher.
"What's he been doing here?" Cephera stopped staring to face her friend again. Her blond curls bounced back and forth as she shook her head.
"I don't know. But nothing good I'm sure." she narrowed her eyes toward Loki.
"Why?"
"They don't call him the dark prince for nothing." Cephera remained confused. She didn't know anything about the royals. She hadn't bothered to find out. Never thought she'd see or meet any of them. "Do you know anything?"
Cephera sighed and shrugged.
"Ten years ago he tried to take his place as king on the throne here in Asgard. He had some kind of battle with his brother and at the end he fell into the abyss beyond the Byfrost. Everyone thought he was dead. But of course he wasn't. He showed up on earth a year later, killed a bunch of people and even mind controlled some of them and made them kill for him. He tried to use an army from an outer realm to take the earth as his own and become its king. He failed and was brought back here as a prisoner."
Cephera knew her mouth was gapped open but she couldn't help it. If he was so dangerous and a traitor way was he free and walking around the palace? She voiced these concerns to Kat.
"He spent five years being punished for his crimes but ultimately he was forgiven and given a chance to prove himself to the people. I'm not sure what he did but it obviously worked. Though many still distrust him."
"I can't imagine why." Cephera said her sarcasm thick. She was looking now back to the prince with Kat at her side and when he turned they turned away in case he might see them staring.
***
The next three days Kat had been asking around to try and find out what it was the prince had been doing talking to the teacher. Both girls were curious as to what he was up too. It was almost like a spy mission. When he entered the courtyard they would attempt to read lips.
By the end of the week Kat had everything they needed to know. "Ok so here's the deal." she said sitting in Cephera's room. "It seems he's doing some research of his own."
"Research for what?" Cephera sat on the edge of her bed feeling giddy like a young high school girl.
"Not what, who." Kat seemed just as excited. "He's been asking about the progression of the students. He's been looking for one or more students who seem to excel in their talents in magic to take and train privately himself."
This wasn't as exciting as she thought. After all with her inability to use magic in great lengths she didn't fit the excelling bill.
"But..." Kat said pursing her lips and scouching forward to whisper. "I know you hate rumors but I've heard something a little different, you know if you wanna hear em..."
Cephera rolled her eyes. "Just tell me. You know I won't say no."
"Some of the students have been saying that they heard he's secretly building his own army of magi. He's going to take students and mold them into his elite followers and try to once again take the throne." Cephera sighed. It was as absurd as she thought.
"And you think the gatekeeper wouldn't know about this?" she scoffed falling back to hit the mattress in a bounce.
"Well he's probably being very careful about it. I would."
"And you believe this rumor?"
"I think we should be careful no matter what the rumor is. And I think he's bad news." Kat said standing and stretching. Cephera laughed.
"You, need to be careful." she said emphising the 'you' "You're actually good at magic." Cephera laughed as her friend left through the balcony door.
I hope everyone is enjoying so far. Not enough Loki? Don't worry there will be.