Chapter Two

Yurick was summoned to Lady Calista's presence in the middle of a class session. Mirania took over for the afternoon as the Lady explained her concern about the new Arena.

"You think someone is trafficking?" Yurick asked. She nodded.

"I've had numerous reports of children going missing, young girls being kidnapped and never seen or heard from again," Calista said.

"Does Zeal know about this?" Yurick asked.

"Y-Yes, but he's been caught up in an archeologist dig below the castle. I pulled Mirania from the operation to cover for you. Zeal is needed here. That's why I thought to ask you."

"M-me?" Yurick said. "I guess I could check it out, but I'm not a knight, I'm a mage-"

"Our most powerful," Calista smiled. "Your magic is second to no other. I'm afraid even my magic would be surpassed. Please, Yurick."

"All right, all right, I'll do it. Just let me finish up here."

"Thank you!"

Sighing, there were rumors and whispers among the nobles of Lazulis that were hard for Yurick to ignore. Luckily, no noble children were abducted yet, but he knew that if Zeal heard about this, there would be a full investigation. That would raise trouble. Now understanding Calista's intentions, Yurick finished his class session with Mirania at his side. After answering a multitude of questions, the two were released from their duties for the day.

"Oh, she wants you to investigate the arena?" Mirania said.

"Yeah, but you can see why I don't want to take Lowell or Syrenne..."

"Of course," Mirania said. "But, who will protect you? We're both mages."

"True, but I'll cover you the best I can."

"Yurick!"

"Come on, Mirania, please."

The forest child gave in. Yurick took his dagger, handed Mirania a magic dagger, and the two set off together to the arena. The two waltzed through Lazulis Island's North Gate Plaza at sundown. Mirania was being cautious every step of the way. Passing the civilians, Yurick equipped himself with Brave Armor and Greaves.

"Yurick..." Mirania said, looking at him from top to bottom. "You're getting serious."

He glanced back at her, but he kept going and he snuck around the back of the arena. Franklin and Jeffery were co-announcing the current match, and the two mages found themselves with a top seat to watch. He commanded that their presence not be announced. It was just the two of them, but Mirania quickly pointed out Lowell and Syrenne in the crowd below.

"It's fine, we'll get passed them. Just tell me if you see anything weird," he said. She nodded, looking around the backstage and the Reptids front and center.

"Remember, these could be Reptids, Gurak, or people," Yurick said.

"Over there!" Mirania pointed.

"Oow, that's gotta hurt!" Franklin said, his voice echoing throughout the stage.

"A moment's negligence can be fatal on the battlefield folks," Jeffery said.

Yurick caught Mirania's spot. There were a few people dressed in robes in the corner of the backstage. The two kept their eyes out, making absolutely sure this could be a lead before striking.

"Let's just keep watching."

"Wait!" Yurick said, grabbing her wrist to prevent her from moving any closer. There was a green cloak tossed aside as the body was wrapped in black. The mage clearly didn't want to be there. There was a spark of fire against the other man, but the cloaked person did not run. The green cloak was lying on the floor, and Yurick knew who that belonged to.

He sighed but ignored Mirania's questioning. She watched the arena for a few moments then looked back, pointing out that there would probably be more if they looked outside. Yurick agreed, and as the two of them walked around the back, the group was called into the arena. They disguised themselves in black robes too, making their way into the storeroom where competitors hope to gain glory.

Mirania announced her presence, looking for information, but Yurick kept his head down. He watched through the crack of the door. Once the hoods came down, there was no doubt about it. Yumi got herself involved in this. Her fire magic tried to come through, but he could tell there was a struggle. It's like she didn't know how to handle it.

As Mirania unmasked the people behind the robes, a reptid scout came around, but Yurick took care of it.

"More might be coming," he said.

"Master Yurick!" a girl exclaimed. He spun his head around, looking for the one who had called his name. A young girl from his class was sitting in the corner, masked by a robe. She let her hood down.

"What are doing here?" he asked. She put her head down in shame.

"My friend was taken, so I followed the people who took her, but I got caught. I'm sorry, Master," she said. Yurick shook his head.

"You have a lot to catch up on," he said. She'd missed two days of his lecture, and this was probably why. He hadn't received word from her parents as to why she wasn't in class, so he figured she was just sick. Why hadn't her parents reported her missing?

"But," he said, walking over to her. "You've been studying wind magic, yes?" The girl nodded. "Can you use Gale?"

"I can...sometimes."

"I'm going to need you to try for me," Yurick said, lifting her hair out of the robe. "If you can't it's fine, but it would help me out if you could. Don't push yourself too hard."

Mirania began casting her leaf magic through the crack of the door while Yurick dealt with another Reptid. A man came behind the stage, startled at Yurick's appearance as he slit the Reptid's throat. He ran out, but Yurick didn't care. He was already casting.

The arena's performance was being hijacked as Mirania used her magic and Yurick struck at the gladiator giant that was about to attack Yumi. Mirania walked out onto the arena floor, and the announcers went wild. Using her magic, she projected her voice to tell everyone what was going on.

Yurick's student used gale on his and Mirania's magic circles, leaving the enemy to fall and Yurick ran backstage with his student to retrieve the girls and children who were forced to fight on behalf of trafficking.

All bets were off, and those responsible couldn't even find a way out of the arena amongst the crowd. Yurick found that Yumi had been dealt a blow of damage on behalf of an arachnid. Mirania picked her up as Yurick released those in captivity.

He knelt down in front of his student. Her name was Cassandra. Her heart was racing and he could see she was getting worn out. He took her hands, looking her in the eye.

"Hey, you did it," he said, "Don't cry. It's over."

Cassandra wrapped her arms around Yurick's neck, expressing her gratitude as her body shook. She was probably just over excited about what had happened. After telling her to get some rest and return home, he turned back to Mirania who was holding up Yumi.

"You know this girl?" she asked.

"Sort of," he replied. "Let's go back to the tavern." Syrenne and Lowell hadn't even know Yurick was there. All Syrenne knew was that the bet she almost won was ransacked due to the ambush and they were walking up to Mirania complaining about it.

"Oh will you just relax? There'll be other fights," she said, "Now if you'll excuse us..." The two carried Yumi upstairs as Yurick explained their little encounter earlier.

"Yurick," Mirania said, looking at the girl now sleeping on the bed. "She's special."

"How do you mean?" Yurick asked.

"It's impossible to posses conflicting elements of magic unless you have a synthesis power. She must be a synthesis mage!" Mirania exclaimed.

"Really?"

Mirania explained that a mage possessing synthesis abilities could absorb any power that is thrown their way. Then they could use that same power. Since Yurick's circle hit her last, she absorbed the fire element and he must have been the last person her magic came in contact with.

"That explains why she didn't know how to use it," he said. "But, does she get my strength too?"

"I don't believe so. If she did, all those her type would be unstoppable. Controlling that kind of power must be very difficult."

"Yeah, you'd have to know how to handle every element to even be useful," he replied.

"So, what about your nosy student?"

"Ah, she'll be fine. I'll be giving her some slack. She's only 13," Yurick said. Mirania left the room after her healing magic could do no more. Yurick watched the girl sleep for a little while before returning to his work. He'd brought some back to the tavern, it seemed sometimes that was the only logical place he could think straight and focus on his magic.

He spent the evening planning out his lessons and the final exam for his students. He was tempted to ask if Zeal and Calista would allow Yumi to take a few lessons in the castle with him. She seemed...stubborn. To a point where she was so fed up with herself that she didn't even want to deal with it anymore. Yurick knew that feeling, almost too well.

Ariela came up to check on Yurick and the girl sleeping in the bedroom he was writing at.

"I was afraid you'd fallen asleep yourself," Ariela said. "I'm about to lock up. Are you staying Master Yurick?"

He looked a Yumi sleeping and back to the bartender with a hint of doubt. "Yeah, I'll stay. I just hope she doesn't run off on me."

"I'll make sure to let her know if she decides to leave. I won't stop her, not after what she could've done to the place."

"I understand."

"Good night, Master Yurick."

"Good night, Ariela."