"Crispus?! Crispus!?" A male cat monster called from the center of the auditorium stage. "Where are you, my friend?!"

Croix floated out from stage right, his eyes taking a moment to adjust to the bright spotlight shining onto both of them. "I am here, King Narmont!" His voice boomed with impressive bravado for a monster of his size.

The cat turned to him with an exaggerated look of worry. "Crispus, why must you hide in the shadows like a specter? Can you not see that I need your wisdom now of all times?"

Croix bowed his head. "Forgive me your majesty, but I was attending to my duties in the villages of White Hall and Nightshade. The citizens are growing restless knowing that Kardius has escaped. They worry for their safety."

'Narmont' sighed. "Did you attempt to explain to them the truth of the matter?"

"Indeed, I did your majesty. I tried to explain that the old wizard means them no harm. Although it seems unlikely they believed me. Perhaps you should consider making an official decree on the matter, your majesty? The people of Chesira would listen closer to their king instead of a lowly adviser."

"Oh, Crispus," the cat chuckled heartily, "always so modest. Words, no matter who spoke them, would still be falling upon the villagers' deaf ears. But you are more than just an adviser to Chesira; you are its foundation. Your wisdom has been sound throughout my entire reign, and I do hope it will remain when my son soon ascends to the throne."

Croix bowed his head once again. "I am most appreciative, your majesty. But is there a particular reason to your summoning of me at such an hour?"

"Indeed so, my friend. Kardius has not returned from his traveling into the Highwoods. I know not to what his fate may be, but I spoke with him on the dangers of such a place. The old man was undeterred, though, and now I fear for his safety. It has been nearly three days."

"With all due respect, your majesty, could this not be seen as a positive matter? If Kardius truly has disappeared into the Highwoods this may convince your citizens that the wizard is no longer among them. Our problems would be solved."

'Narmont' pondered this. "Perhaps, although we'd still have to ensure the safety of the wizard. He is a good man and is most undeserving of falling prey to the creatures that lurk in that cursed place. I would like a proper search to be made of the Highwoods perimeter. If Kardius is still inside then we need confirmation that he is alive before venturing forward."

"Of course, your majesty."

At that moment, a human brunette came clamoring out from stage left, clutching a roll of prop parchment paper.

"Your majesty!" They announced through a dramatic panting of breaths. "A message has arrived from our scouts to the South!"

The cat's eyes sharpened, turning toward the new arrival. "What do they report?"

"Bright lights have been spotted from the edges of the Highwoods, sire! A thick fog has rolled in from the sea, preventing further observation of the area. Sheriff Notting asks for your permission to lead a search party to investigate the light's origin."

"It appears we've found our wizard," 'Narmont' remarked humorously. "Messenger, relay to the Sheriff that he is not to enter the Woods before I arrive. I don't want him inciting Kardius to violence if he feels threatened."

"Yes, sire!" The messenger bolted from the room as quickly he'd entered.

"Do you need me to accompany you, your majesty?" Croix asked in dramatized earnest. "I am happy to serve."

The cat shook his head. "That is not necessary, Crispus. But thank you for offering. For now, stay alert and await my return. Our months of misfortune may be solved in this very hour."

"And, scene!" A blonde human woman called from the front theater seating.

As if flipping a switch, Croix and the male cat monster broke out of their assumed character posture and back into their normal stances. The rest of the class as well emerged from backstage, totaling the entire theater class at little over twenty kids.

Hopping up from her seat, the woman boosted herself onto the raised stage and approached the rest of the class. A bright smile was etched onto her face with an almost sunny brightness that spoke of both enthusiasm and kindness. The youth was still prominent upon her, and her manner of dress was quite stylish for that of a school teacher.

"Class, that was incredible!" She announced giddily. "We of course still have a few more regular rehearsals until the big day, but the costumes are sent to arrive by next week, giving us plenty of time for at least three full run-throughs of the play. Each and every one of you has given it your all these past weeks. I can't begin to tell you just how proud I am of the progress you've made since we started."

The three o'clock bell suddenly rang overhead. The woman grinned at the timing. "Well, I guess I'll save the congratulations for opening night. Have a good weekend and remember to practice your lines. You can never be too prepared!"

The mix of monster and human children slowly began to filter out of the auditorium, leaving just Croix and the woman alone on the well-lit stage.

"And I should congratulate you personally, Croix," she continued with an unwavering smile. "If it weren't for the help you've given me, out of your own free time, The Lonely Wizard wouldn't open till at least next month. But you've done more than I could ever hope to ask, and I am very thankful for it."

The monster nodded. "Thank you, Ms. Velltri. I was very happy to help where I could."

"Croix, you did more than help. You were practically my assistant! If you were in high school, I'd certainly be giving you a college recommendation. You've got an intense passion for the theater; I've seen it in you."

"R-Really?"

"Oh yes. Just because you're not one of our more animated students in the class doesn't make you any less of an actor. It's not who you are as a person offstage that matters, but who you are onstage." She placed a hand on his shoulder. "Now get going and enjoy your weekend. I've kept you longer than I should."

Croix beamed at his teacher and turned to leave, nearly bumping into a human child standing almost directly behind him. The boy mumbled an apology while pushing past him, close to causing Croix's small frame to bowl over. Thankfully, he was able to catch himself and swung around to face whoever was responsible for such a rude display.

They were male, short, and adorned in all black clothing. They gave him a brief, irritated raise of an eyebrow and approached Ms. Velltri. Croix's shadowy face froze in shock.

"Ms. Velltri," Aamodt greeted flatly.

"Yes, Aamodt?" The woman replied with her trademark positivity.

"I have a few concerns about my part in Scene Seven, Act Two."

Velltri's face wrinkled in confusion. "What seems to be the matter?"

"The matter is that I believe Kardius being captured and subdued by the city guard is unfaithful to his character and should be altered. The scene in of itself is inconsequential to the play and wouldn't be missed if it was cut."

The woman's query only deepened. "I'm not sure I understand what you mean, Aamodt."

The boy's face darkened at her lack of understanding, his voice beginning to rise. "What I mean, is that the scene should be cut. A person like Kardius wouldn't allow himself to be beaten by just a gang of constables, and I reject having to portray such a scene. By this point in the play we've already seen the true extent of his power, making his capture completely contradictory to what the audience is to expect from him."

Ms. Velltri cast Croix a pained look, motioning her head towards the door while mouthing an apology. Taking the hint, he promptly scooped up his backpack from the stage's edge and floated toward the side exit. As he moved away, he could still hear trickles of the conversation.

"Aamodt, I'm sorry that you feel that way, but that's how the play was written. We can't just go back and change the script for one small scene. Besides, several of your classmates will have their own roles during that scene."

"Minor characters," the child in black shot back coldly. "If this was a real stage production the director would be listening to the wishes of their leading role, not of how a few talentless hacks might have their parts shortened for story's sake."

Ms. Velltri shrugged. "Again, I'm sorry you feel that way, but that's just how things are going to be. You having the role of Kardius doesn't give you permission to change the play however way you want it to be. You're still student which makes you same as everybody else in the cast, no matter what."

Aamodt looked at her for a long moment. His eyes meet hers sharply as he inhaled softly. "So that's it?" He said with his words suddenly softening, their edges hanging and lingering as they turned to mist. "You're not going to see reason?"

Croix froze in place. He was almost half outside into the empty corridor when the glacially calm voice reached him. It was just as Landen had described: sleepy and intoxicating. Despite the words not being intended for him, they still rattled faintly along the fringes of his mind, leaving traces of sickly fatigue. Whatever he was doing to Ms. Velltri, it was the same thing he'd done to Landen just a day prior.

Instinctively, he dropped to the ground and scooted his way back into the theater, careful to keep his head down and eyes up at the lit stage. Then, the idea dawning on him suddenly, he flipped open his cellphone and scrolled over to the video application, aiming it covertly towards the action. Whatever was happening, he'd need to record it for later.

"I don't matter to you?" Aamodt continued in his serpent silk voice. "Everything I've sacrificed for this production doesn't count in your eyes?"

"I...I…" Ms. Velltri brought a shaking hand to her head as she attempted to reply but found that her voice refused to obey.

Aamodt grinned at her attempt. "You certainly show gratitude towards that Croix kid. Your little 'star pupil'. Yes?"

The blonde woman gritted her teeth and made as if to scream. Once again her vocal cords remained silent.

She cast a quick, frantic look at the boy standing before her, suddenly feeling the energy sapped from her body as soon as their eyes met. Her body lurched forwards while the color drained from her face. Little by little her mind slowly surrendered itself to the boy's power, until finally, any form of resistance had left her will entirely.

Aamodt sighed.

"I've never liked you, Ms. Velltri. You run your class poorly, lack necessary discipline, and always let your personal biases get in the way of even-handed teaching. I've seen the little clique you've formed among your favored students. That's probably why they have such prominent casted roles in the first place. If it wasn't for my natural...talents, I doubt I would've gotten a part at all in this pitiful little production."

He took a step forward, outstretching his hand as he spoke. "I think it's time that you get a new favorite student, Ms. Velltri. Or at least, acknowledge that there are other kids in your class." He paused, stressing his words deeply for further emphasis.

"Now, for the last time, I'd like for Scene Seven, Act Two, to be removed from the play. I don't care how you edit it, but I want that entire section to be omitted on opening night. And while you do this, I don't want you to tell anyone that it's being altered. We can't be too obvious about it now can we?"

"And once you've done this, I want you to forget we've ever had this conversation. You'll see the reasoning in my argument and believe it to be your own. If questioned on this reasoning you will evade the topic as adamantly as possible and do whatever it takes to maintain this necessary alteration, Ms. Velltri."

Then there was silence.

Croix expected the human boy to list more demands to the enthralled Ms. Velltri but was instead met with an odd stillness in the auditorium. He waited for a few more moments in case the boy was merely pondering his next command or relishing the strange feat of persuasion.

Croix raised his head up over the theater seating he'd been using as cover, surveying the room the best he could from such a position. Ms. Velltri was still facing lifelessly out toward the invisible audience. But he could no longer see the back of Aamodt's ebony clothing and ink-black hair.

Instead, he saw the gaping silver reflection of two spectacled eyes, a pale face observing him with quiet intensity. A hand was reaching for something in his pocket.

Croix yelped. He bolted out of the theater without a look behind him, clutching his phone tightly and making sure to find Landen as soon as possible. Not once did he look back.