When he got home from the coven, Edric was exhausted.
He had flown back to the coven with Frederick, and then reported that the house was old and crumbling, but abandoned. As promised, Frederick didn't report the second floor collapse. The dispatcher asked if they had anything else to report, likely noticing the dust relentlessly clinging to their uniforms, but Frederick kept his word. He just said it was dusty from being empty for so long.
As soon as Edric made it to his room, he changed out of the uniform into his casual clothes. He only had to wear it for one more day; he wouldn't miss it. Especially the mask, which he had no intention of returning.
No, he had other plans for it.
That would come later though, once all of his other business was settled. Now though, Edric settled down to plan. He had started to form a loose plan earlier, as they flew towards the coven, but now he sat at his desk and wrote it out. He crossed out and redid a few steps, wanting to make sure it would go smoothly.
By the time he heard Em getting home, the plan was almost done. As expected though, he wasn't going to be able to do it alone.
Edric folded up the paper and put it in his pocket, then stepped out of his room and into the hallway. Em had gone into her room, so Edric cast a small spell to call her to the attic. He didn't wait to see if she sent an illusion back, just went to climb up the ladder.
He used an illusion ladder, not trusting the real one and not wanting any unpleasant eight-legged surprises. When he looked over the edge and into the room, a small illusion trap activated. A polka dotted image of a spider scurried across the ground in front of him.
This was likely so Em would be alerted if someone came up here, but when the light flashed all Edric could see was the floor collapsing beneath Frederick's feet. A flash of panic surged through him, his hammering heart screaming to drop back down, to get away.
Edric quickly climbed the rest of the way up, assuring himself that nothing like that was happening now. He dusted off one of the boxes and sat down on it, trying to calm himself. It was just an illusion spell, nothing bad was going to happen here.
By the time Em's face appeared over the edge of the hatch, Edric had composed himself. "You look like you've seen a ghost." She jabbed at him as she climbed all the way up. Well, maybe he hadn't completely recovered.
"It's been a rough day." Edric admitted, sagging further against the box. "A building almost fell on me."
"No way." Em leaned against a different box, eyebrow raised in disbelief.
"Seriously." If it hadn't happened to him, Edric wouldn't have believed it either. "But I know who did it, and I have a plan to catch them." He took the paper out of his pocket and handed it to her.
Em opened it and skimmed over the words quickly. Her mouth was drawn in a firm line, unchanging as she read. "I'll help you." She replied to a question Edric hadn't even asked when she reached the end, and then handed the paper back.
That brought a smile to Edric's face for the first time since that morning. "Tomorrow's the day." He said, folding the paper back up. "We'll do it at the jail, after the internship ends. Bring your scroll with the camera."
"Got it." Em nodded. "I'll signal when I'm there."
The two continued to discuss the plan, making sure they had all of the details ironed out. If it went well, then Edric would catch the culprit for sure. If it turned out he had the wrong suspect, then there wouldn't be any harm done.
The twins ended the meeting when they finished, splitting up to head back to their rooms.
They had a big day tomorrow.
The morning felt like it came too soon, snapping Edric out of a peaceful sleep. His arms were still sore from yesterday, but they didn't hurt quite as much.
He grabbed a quick breakfast and walked to the coven, following the now usual routine for the last time.
Frederick was waiting for him at the locker room, his uniform completely clean of the dust from the day before. He brushed a speck of dirt off Edric's shoulder before the two went to the dispatcher for their post.
"You've had a busy week." The dispatcher said, once they were inside the office. "So you'll be training today."
That made sense, since they had assignments outside of the jail all week so far. This was good, since it would make Edric's later plans easier. Still, it made for an underwhelming last day of the internship.
Frederick seemed happy though, after yesterday he was probably still tired. "Thanks, let me know if you need us."
"Of course." The dispatcher nodded, then waved them out of the office.
The walk to the training room was a familiar one, and Edric criticized himself for feeling nostalgic. It was his nature to not like change, but he really wouldn't miss coming here.
Maybe though, he would miss Frederick. The witch had really grown on him, despite his protective streak. His efforts to teach Edric new spells had been valiant, if foolhardy, and he had done his best to train him. He even made him passable at the sword.
Today would be their last day together. When they reached the training hall, they went to the same corner they normally used. Frederick brought a wood sword with him, probably for later use.
"Let's see that plant spell." Frederick said to start, causing Edric to remember exactly why he disliked training.
"If I must." Edric said, drawing the spell circle in the air. After a month, he was able to complete the circle without issue. Once it was cast though, it still had minimal effect. A couple roots poked out of the ground, sticking up a couple inches in the air.
Frederick leaned over to look at them, shaking his head. "As good as it's going to get, I guess." He then laughed, a deep ringing sound. "I won't ask about the healing spell."
Edric smiled at that, unseen beneath his mask. "Thank you." They both knew how that would go.
"At least you learned how to use the sword." Frederick said with a chuckle. "Let's work on blocking, so you don't forget the minute you're back at school."
Edric didn't really want to do that either, but as he had learned there was no getting out of it. "Alright." He lifted the sword off his belt, holding it out in front of him in the correct defensive stance.
Frederick lifted his sword as well, and then lunged in to strike. For a while, they practiced. Frederick trying to land a hit while Edric deflected his blows.
After a while, Frederick changed it up. "Try to strike back, you can use spells like the one from before." He was referencing the anti friction spell Edric had used to trip him.
This would take more focus than just blocking, but Edric was confident he could do it. The next time Frederick lunged in, he quickly cast the spell with his left hand. Surprisingly though, Frederick didn't slide. He just kept coming, smashing his wood sword against Edric's.
"Surprised?" Frederick sounded smug, like he was smirking beneath his mask.
Edric drew another spell circle, this time creating an illusion clone that lunged at Frederick from the side. Frederick stepped out of the way masterfully, leaving Edric off balance from leaning against their crossed swords. The clone vanished a moment later.
"How did you do that?" Edric had to ask, even in the middle of sparring. Besides, this could distract Frederick and let him get a hit in.
"Coated my shoes with anti slip potion." Frederick replied without letting his guard down.
He'd been planning this then. Edric changed his tactic, abandoning the anti-friction spell. Instead he cast another illusion circle, creating a rope that was tied around his sword. This wasn't as well planned as his first strategy, but it maybe it would work.
Frederick watched as he completed the spell, then lunged in for another attack. This time, when their swords crossed, Edric used his left hand to sling the rope around them. He caught it on the other side, and then stepped to the left and pulled.
Initially, this had the desired effect. It pulled Frederick off balance, as he refused to let go of the sword. Unfortunately, Edric couldn't take advantage of the opening. By using his own sword as the base, it left him unable to use it. If he brought it back to swing, he would bring Frederick's sword back with him.
This would only work if the opponent dropped their weapon. Edric frowned as he released the rope, allowing Frederick to retreat.
"You almost had me." Frederick admitted once he was out of reach.
The two continued sparring for a while, with Edric unable to land a hit. When they took a break for lunch, Edric insisted it was a draw. Frederick initially said it wasn't, but he gave in.
For the afternoon, they went back to magic training. Edric took the chance to show Frederick some more illusion magic, and helped him pick up a couple of the easier spells.
After they finished training, there was another task Edric needed to accomplish. It related to his plan for the evening.
"Do you know where Nick is assigned today?" Edric asked casually, while resting between spells, hoping Frederick wouldn't find the question odd.
Frederick paused to think, clearly picking up on the strange vibe, but answered it anyway. "I don't keep track of things like that. The dispatcher could probably tell you."
"Hmm okay." Edric mulled that over; he guessed it didn't really matter, so long as Nick came back to the coven later. "Have you seen him today?"
"Not since yesterday morning." Frederick hesitated before answering, and Edric could practically see the gears turning in his mind. This conversation was not going as intended. "You don't think⦠What are you planning?" The question was accusatory, as if Frederick already suspected what was going on.
"Nothing dangerous." Edric tried to mitigate the damage. "I'm just going to find the truth." He hoped it wouldn't be dangerous.
"I don't think you'll find anything." Frederick said with a shake of his head. "But be careful."
"I will." Edric promised, despite making only the bare minimum arrangements.
The conversation died out, though Frederick still seemed concerned, and they practiced magic for a couple more hours.
When the end of the day came, it was time to say goodbye. They were still in the training hall, near the exit. Edric handed Frederick the sword he'd been carrying for the last couple weeks; he wouldn't need it any longer.
"You should keep it." Frederick gave it back to him. "You never know when you might need it."
Though Edric despised the wood object in question, he still felt touched to be offered it. "Won't they miss it?" He slid it back onto his belt, where he'd grown accustomed to having it.
"We have plenty." Frederick replied, gesturing to the rack full of swords on the wall.
"Okay, thanks." Edric wasn't going to argue against it any further. He might need it later today, if things went south with the plan.
"You know," Frederick said, then paused for a moment. "Even though you didn't want to be here, you did a fine job. When you graduate, I'd be happy to work with you again."
Edric was one hundred percent sure that Frederick didn't have the authority to offer him a spot in the coven, but it was the thought that counted. Besides, even after a whole month there he still didn't want to join the Emperor's Coven.
"Thanks for looking out for me." Edric said in response, thinking back to the times Frederick had saved his skin and all of the training he put him through. "I'll see you around."
"Absolutely." Fredrick extended a hand to shake, which Edric accepted.
Soon after, they parted for the last time. Frederick went to the locker room, while Edric stayed in the training hall for a bit longer. He cast a spell, to start the first part of the plan.
Soon Em would join him, and the next phase would begin.
