Mr Wright was abnormally calm listening to my story. His attention on me was complete, but his lack of response or any visible reaction as I go on unnerves me.

He breaks his silence only after I finish explaining everything.

"They're treasure hunters alright, although, it's very rare for them to steal directly from someone. Often times treasure hunters are just grave robbers, raiders of ancient magical sites and relatively harmless. But this, this is most curious. A group of treasure hunters dared to storm a mansion in the middle of a party for a handful of artefacts. They must be quite valuable".

He gets up and walks somewhere. "The Alistair runs an archaeological company, though their archaeological aims are different from others, in the way that they focus more on ancient magical sites to work with".

When he returns, Mr Wright carries an old wooden box. Within its velvety interior is some sort of stone encased inside a pendant. It's a triangular shape with curved edges. The stone's a milky white colour. Its surface is polished, smooth and gleaming despite its supposedly old age.

He says, "You mentioned that you heard one of them say one artefact was missing, I believe this is it. It's the one Rudolph gifted to me".

Despite the overflowing questions that follows the overflowing information, only one stands out. "Why would Rudolph gift anything like this to you?" I ask.

Mr Wright shrugs lightly. "In truth, I've no idea".

I touch the odd artefact with my finger gingerly, as if any small mistake would break the artefact. Its surface is unpleasantly cold yet smoother than I expected. Its either kept its well-polished state all this years—an incredible feat—or its gone through restorations—an incredible feat as well.

"What is this, exactly?" I ask.

"A blood stone".

I retract my finger immediately. My eyes go wide.

"Blood?!"

Mr Wright nods, his eyes planted on the stone, studying it. He doesn't seem disturbed at all by the artefact on his hands. "It's a sorcery stone, a spell catalyst, just like a wand, only that it runs on something else".

I gulp.

Mr Wright, without looking, is aware of my nervousness.

"It's broken, don't worry. I've tested it".

"Tested it", I repeat, breathless. "You tested it how?"

Mr Wright blinks and looks up to me. He answers, "How else are you supposed to test it? I smeared a bit of blood on it and nothing happened".

I visibly fidget.

Now that I think about it, I regret even asking.

Mr Wright takes the stone near a lamp. "This is indeed a blood stone, they've existed ever since humans saw the magical potential in their blood, and that was close to the dawn of magic. They're a catalyst commonly found during the golden era of the Witch Kings. This one is made in nameless kingdom—its name and story lost to time—in Central Asia centuries ago. But now it's broken. If this thing's the same as what the treasure hunters stole, then they stole a bunch of broken, useless stuffs".

People committed to stealing these treasures, they took a big risk breaking into a mansion in the middle of a party, shouldn't they be certain of the pay-off of that risk—shouldn't they be certain of the treasures' values?

As if reading my mind, Mr Wright adds, "Or perhaps they knew they're broken but didn't care—they only see that they're treasures and would sell high".

"That brings us to a roundabout", I remark. "Rudolph wanted me to tell you all this so you would reconsider about keeping the stone".

"He's worried that it's dangerous to keep something coveted by treasure hunters?"

"Yes". I answer, confidently at first, but then my eyes begin searching the ground. "Or at least that's what I think of his request. We didn't exactly exchange many words".

Mr Wright straightens his back and looks somewhere across the room. "That reminds me. He left me with a letter the day he gifted me this".

Mr Wright stands up and goes somewhere outside the room, escaping my sight. Soon, he returns to the living room with a letter in his hand. Mr Wright lays the letter onto the table for me to read, it is written in a beautiful cursive, so beautiful that I keep tilting my head to read the damn letter.

"May I?" Mr Wright offers. I hand him the letter.

Clearing his throat and fixing his glasses, Mr Wright reads, "This one's a mystery: we only have a handful of information about it. We found it in our excavation in central Asia, in the ruins of the ancient city of Askara. Specifically, it was found in the treasure chamber of an underground tomb, a small section of the city's vast complex of interconnected underground temples.

We've ever since dubbed it the White Stone of Askara, or Askaris white stone, since we discovered it was a king named Askaris who ruled the city during the stone's creation.

We know it's a blood stone, but sadly it's long been broken, expired; and secondly, the stone tablet we found sitting beside it that has some sort of poetic story about it:

'The guardian of time lies powerless as the tides of blood becomes violent, blotting out the mighty sun and blurring her vision blind. Seek her and the day of the twin-tailed comet, the day where doorways open for those desperate to find salvation'.

Curious! I believe anyone would be willing to spend their life understanding that tablet if this stone isn't already broken and useless.

However, I know how much you're interested in what we found there, and I know how much you helped us over the years. Trust me, it's for that reason I gift this stone to you, not that it's broken and useless. I swear.

If you can, do not tell anyone about this gift—not your ministry friends, and not the Guardians, no one. I'd rather not have many people know that I gave you a taste of what my family managed to dig up. Some people are quite greedy!"

Mr Wright concludes the letter and folds it back. He takes off his glasses and says, "That's all he wrote".

For lack of a better word, that was intense.

I'm very surprised that, despite the near death experience just hours ago and the gravity of our conversation, I find the time to be humorous.

In my defence, this is a glaring plot hole in our conversation.

"That sounds very serious, especially the one where he asks you not to tell anyone about it", I say dryly.

Mr Wright doesn't share the humour, he doesn't even glance at me. Instead, he sombrely sighs.

"I wouldn't tell you if I wasn't going to ask you".

I frown immediately, not liking the way his voice shifts to a sombre tone.

"Ask me what?"

Mr Wright pauses, the words hanging on the tip of his tongue. His eyes shift from me to the door and he abruptly gets up and walks towards it.

"I want to make sure that I'm holding is truly a worthless souvenir and not some… thing that I shouldn't be holding".

I follow close behind him.

"But it's broken isn't it? Why would anyone want it from you?" I ask.

Mr Wright doesn't answer, he remains ominously quiet.

Though countless questions race through my mind, I decide to ignore them for now and follow Mr Wright for now.

Our attempt to leave the room was cut short when, as soon as Mr Wright opens the living room door, two figures comes tumbling through the opened door and into the floor.

Aaron and Amadeus now lie on the floor, the latter pinning the poor former on the floor.

Mr Wright and I stare at them with wide eyes, both of us equally silenced by the sight and the implication.

Between the two of us, Mr Wright is first to break out of his shock. He asks, in a hoarse whisper, "Were you two eavesdropping?!"

"It was his idea, sir", Aaron quickly rebuts, gesturing towards his tiny companion, the former looks unnaturally calm in this situation.

Amadeus stares at him with wide eyes that scream terror.

"I-I didn't! I tried to stop you!"

"If joining in after your curiosity got the better of you is trying to stop me, then yeah, you did try to stop me", Aaron says dryly.

I say nothing and look to Mr Wright, wondering how he'll react.

"How much did you listen?" Mr Wright asks, his calculating gaze directed at Amadeus.

Amadeus casts his head downward, his temple nearly touching the wooden floor. "E-everything, I'm so sorry!"

Beside Amadeus, Aaron groans inwardly and rolls his eyes.

Mr Wright sighs unevenly. I'd expected him to be furious of this trespass, if the whole 'keep this thing a secret from everyone even the ministry' told me anything.

Mr Wright's expression is unreadable. His voice is also level—I can't read through them. I have no idea how he feels about this trespass.

There's an uncertain pause, a lengthy one, before Mr Wright closes his eyes and says, "Save your apologies. Go and find Wang. Tell him I have a request, a paying one, for him".

Surprised at the sudden turn in the conversation, Amadeus asks, "Wait, you're not angry?"

"I'm not, I'm furious". Mr Wright says both with a flat look and a flat tone—none of us really knows the truth of his words.

Mr Wright glances at Aaron, he needn't say anything.

Aaron suddenly nods repeatedly, for once he seems scared of something.

"Alright, alright! We're going and won't say anything!" He says as he pushes Amadeus lightly in the back, towards the front door. "Let's go, to your Chinese friend, quietly!"

Silence befalls the two of us the moment the door closes. Only minute later, once we're sure no eavesdropping is in the process, are we brave enough to start talking again.

I open up with one of my trademarked bad and improperly-timed jokes to lighten up the mood.

"Well, that's keeping this a secret out of the window".

Or should I say door? Hah!

Mr Wright runs a hand through his face, pushing his thick glasses up to his wrinkled temple that starts to wrinkle even more. It's safe to say it's not a good time for humour.

Through the cover of his hand, he says, "At least now we don't need to go to Wang ourselves. And at least those two won't hear our next conversation".

His statement was oddly optimistic.

A sigh from Mr Wright surprises me. With a sombre look, he faces me and whispers, "I want you to keep the stone for me".

My eyes feel like they almost fall off their sockets.

"What?!"

My voice definitely cracked there.

Mr Wright continues, his calm tone and expression comically contrasting mine, "As I said, treasure hunters were somehow brave enough to steal artefacts like this one tonight. I don't feel safe about it".

I stare at him blankly, thinking I heard wrong, hoping, I heard wrong.

"You think they still want to loot this thing off you for the money so you want me to keep it?! Wait, I thought you said this thing's useless!"

Mr Wright shakes his head urgently. "No. Well yes, but—"

"Which is it?! Yes or no?"

"You're correct in assuming I feel in danger, but you're wrong that I think this thing is useless. I believe those treasure hunters weren't just in it for the money, it was something else. See, this here is a magical artefact, or at least it was. But I think we're wrong on that one, I think we've overlooked something. Perhaps despite losing its capability for magic, this stone, this blood stone is not entirely useless".

Mr Wright breaks away, turning to reach for the letter. "It's like a key, a key to a door that we've yet to know and thus think the key to be purposeless, to be useless".

An uncomfortable nervousness soon follows like ice climbing up my spine. The way Mr Wright used his words just doesn't settle well with me.

It takes me a minute to break out of my shock. "You really think this stone isn't junk yet? You're that paranoid?"

"It's just a gut feeling". Mr Wright admits. "If I have time, I think I can research about it more. During that time, I want you to keep the stone; you are the most capable of keeping this stone safe".

I pause. I try to find any hint of humour in the old man's aged but calculating eyes.

"…You're joking, right?"

"No I'm not", he responds without delay. The letter on his hand becomes crumpled as Mr Wright clenches his fist. "I have a powerful believe that this stone is more than meets the eye".

He pauses after that. I keep staring at him intently, unblinking.

Despite him not having any proof, I can't bring myself to argue against Mr Wright's gut feeling. Something tells me he really knows what he's talking about.

"You're really certain there's more to this, aren't you?" I ask.

Mr Wright nods.

"If I have time, I could find out more, but I'm worried that I wouldn't be able to keep the stone safe here, in a flat. Jericho, you live in literally one of the safest place in Europe for wizards. Hundreds of capable witch students and dozens of talented teachers, not to mention the respectable security the school has maintained for years and years!"

My features contort at the thought of bringing such artefact to my dormitory room.

What I hate is that in the end, despite how terrible and ugly the idea is, Mr Wright is very right that, compared to him, my dorm room is much safer place to keep something valuable.

I stare at Mr Wright, his features are humourless. Then I look down and stare at the stone he's trying to shove to my hands.

I say, "So you want this stone to be somewhere safe, away from you, while you find out more about it. Why not just hand it over to the ministry, or the Guardians, that would be easy".

"I'd rather not have more people know I possess this stone", Mr Wright answers. "So far, only you, me, Rudolph, and those two troublemakers know about its current whereabouts, but that's about to change soon".

I sigh unevenly and study the stone again. "So let me get this straight, I just need to keep it?"

Mr Wright nods, "Precisely as simple as that. For a civilian like you, holding onto a magical relic without reporting to the ministry isn't illegal".

I look at Mr Wright in confusion. He soon elaborates.

"For someone in my position, receiving an arcane artefact without reporting to the ministry is already a breach of rules. If I were to continue keeping this stone, sooner or later I'll be obliged to tell the ministry I have it, least they'll punish me".

I blink a few times. "Huh, then, if anyone does find out about this stone and asks me about it, I could just say it's mine and not yours then".

Mr Wright nods, an amused smile on his lips. "Very smart, that way none of us would be in any legal danger".

A loophole in the rules, I understand now.

"I'll just tell them I found it in my school's labyrinth. So that's the legal dangers out of the way, but wouldn't it be dangerous to hold a stone that treasure hunters seek?"

"I doubt they knew this was gifted to me at all", Mr Wright says.

Mr memory justifies his confidence: I remember one of the treasure hunters thinking this stone is still in the Alistair's possession.

"There's also a chance that they actually no longer seek this stone since they thought it's gone for good and we're all just being overly careful", Mr Wright adds.

Truly after his persuasions I feel like this isn't too big as I thought it to be at first. Yes I saw people try to steal something akin to this, but as Mr Wright said, we could be overestimating the gravity of the situation or their tenacity. Not to mention only so little people know about the stone's current whereabouts, and even less on where it will be tomorrow.

"What about telling someone in the school, someone I know can help me keep it safe?" I ask.

Mr Wright shifts on his spot. From the thoughtful silence he has, I can feel that he's thought of this not too long ago. "Better not, really. We already have too much people knowing about this stone".

Considering one of said people recently tried to steal my school's treasures, I understand his sentiment completely.

Mr Wright once again returns to his serious look and tone.

"I know I can count on Amadeus, but can I count on him, Jericho?"

"I've no idea, but what I do know is that he won't return to Luna Nova. I've… convinced him". I say rubbing my fist.

Though he still looks unsure, Mr Wright nods. "That's… good, good enough. Anyway, as soon as I discover what this stone truly means I'll let you know right away, and if then I discover that it entails danger for those who keeps it, I'll tell you much quicker. Rest assured, I'll tell you everything I managed to find about the stone".

"I… understood. Just keep it close to me and tell no one else, yeah?"

A light smile graces his lips. "Then I suggest you make leave for Luna Nova as soon as possible", Mr Wright says. "Mr Wang will help you there. I'll cover his expenses, of course".

Mr Wright's expression eases and he places a hand on my shoulder, "Don't fret over it, boy. Your place is safe, I assure you. And as I said, who knows that maybe we're overreacting here. Maybe all this is much simpler than what we make it up to be. Maybe there really is no reason to worry after all".

I nod silently and look to the stone on my hand, wondering whether this is a bad idea or a terrible one.

The door opens and we stop our conversation, It's Aaron.

None of us says anything for a moment. Mr Wright and I are naturally awkward at the sudden arrival of the blond haired boy.

I hide the stone inside my pocket the moment I notice Aaron's gaze nearing it. He says nothing and soon redirects his gaze to Mr Wright.

"That Chinese dude is here", Aaron says casually.

"Well, I better go ahead downstairs", Mr Wright says to me, patting my shoulder lightly.

When Mr Wright is gone, the room goes to an odd silence. I speak nothing, my mind still cluttered with too many things.

Anything on my mind stops however when Aaron with his cocky smile remarks, "So, super ancient stone".

"Shut it, Aaron. Now's not a good time".

Aaron doesn't seem fazed, he says, mimicking Mr Wright's voice, "'No one can know'. I get it, I get it".

I sigh and slump down to the sofa. Aaron stays beside the doorway. The two of us says nothing, the ticking of the pendulum clock and the silent swinging of the ceiling fan the only thing filling the void. I open my mouth to end the growing awkwardness, but Aaron got the better of me.

As if reading my mind, he says, "I'm not going to steal it".

I lay back and stare at the ceiling. "Right".

"I'm going home tonight, that's why I can't steal it. So, this is sort of goodbye I think".

Still staring at the ceiling, I say, "Just remember our deal".

Aaron nods his head. "Yes, yes, never ever stepping my foot on your beloved school again. See? How could I steal the stone if I keep to my words?"

At the time, his words went over my head.

Aaron turns and opens the door to leave, I look just in time to see him leaving—he doesn't look back nor say anything else. Finally rid of my kidnapper and identity stealer, relief mixes in with worry—I've no idea whether him knowing about the stone to be a good or bad thing.

—

The sun hasn't shined when we begin to see the rolling hills of Blytonbury. The old car bumps up and down on every hole or bump on the road. On the front seat is Wang, humming a merry tune to the song that's playing on the old radio.

Beside me is Amadeus, sleeping peacefully and using my arm as a pillow.

Wang stops his humming to speak. "I gotta say, haven't been to a small town like Blytonbury in ages, wonder what it's like". Wang says, he looks to me through the rear view mirror and asks. "What are ya gonna do?"

"Sleep, hopefully till tomorrow undisturbed".

Wang nods to my answer. "What happened to your other friend? The tall one".

"He went to his own home, wherever that is", I answer offhandedly, my eyes kept busy with the view outside.

Silence fills the car once again. Wang takes this opportunity to tune his radio, it whizzes and bugs out until it properly finds the right frequency. A merry tune begins to fill the silent trip.

Wang bobs his head to the music, I find myself almost doing the same thing.

"Nice song", I mutter.

"Oh this?" Wang says, looking back to me from the rear view mirror again. "It's Vera Lynn".

He said that like I'm supposed to immediately know who that person is. My silent respond caught Wang's attention. He says, surprised, "You don't know Vera Lynn? The Forces Sweetheart? She's huge during the second World War!"

"This may sound surprising, Wang, but I wasn't even a thing at that time. But it's a nice song though, albeit a bit depressing".

Wang smiles to himself. "It's called 'We'll meet again'".

"Touching".

The car arrives at the front gates of the academy. The already familiar look of Luna Nova's white walls and towering architecture stands tall and proud despite the destruction it faced mere days ago.

Wang whistles at the sight of the academy, rolling down his window to get a better view outside.

I awkwardly shake Amadeus off my arm and move, waking the boy up. Judging from his drowsy eyes and yawn, he appears to not yet realize what he'd been doing in his sleep.

"Here already?" the young wizard rubs his eyes.

I nod. "Yeah, I'll see you next time".

Amadeus's hand search his massive backpack, tossing numerous items into the air as he tries to find what he's looking for. Once he found it, Amadeus tells me to give him my hand and he immediately puts a fancy bracelet on my arm.

"Is… this some sort of friendship bracelet?" I ask warily. "I've bad experience with getting friendship bracelets for free".

Amadeus frowns. "No it's something so much better. It's something I made with my teacher when I was still enrolled in… in…"

Amadeus's words hang in the air, it's apparent that he's lost the name of the school. But the boy was quick to get back on his track and just move on. "Anyway, that doesn't matter, what matters is that the bracelet is a communication device, I have one too, see?"

Amadeus pulls his left sleeve and reveals a similar looking bracelet, a smile plastered on his face as he does.

"There's this thing called telephones, you know?" I say.

Amadeus laughs just to please my snide. Reaching inside his backpack again, he procures a familiar ring. "I finished fixing the ring you found, here".

The ring is the one that Rudolph used that night of the attack, the one broken after taking heavy punishment from that mysterious apparition's attack.

The ring, a signet, has a unique symbol etched on it, one of a twin tailed comet. It doesn't miss me that the name 'twin tailed comet' was mentioned in Rudolph's letter, which makes me to believe more and more that this ring has some sort of connection with the stone.

I'd taken it and showed it to Mr Wright earlier last night, he urged me to keep it for now, not before asking Amadeus to fix it of course.

The old car rolls down the dirt road, leaving a trail of dust and exhaust smoke as it slowly disappears into the rolling green hills that leads to Blytonbury. I wave towards the shrinking sight of the car, even though no one could possibly see it at this point. Returning the ring to my pocket, I turn and begin my walk towards the school, feeling my other pocket once in a while to make sure that a stone is still in there.