Reimagia

Summary: Now a graduate of Ever Realm Academy, Sofia accepts Cedric's invitation to train in a secret realm called Reimagia, which is home to some of the most powerful sorcerers on earth. However, there's a dark force lurking in the realm, destroying conjurors one by one, all while offering cryptic clues to his identity. If Cedric and Sofia can't solve the mystery, they'll be next.

Disclaimer: I don't own Sofia the First or any characters affiliated with the show. However, I do own the Kingdom of Reimagia and many new OCs mentioned in the story.

A/N: Okay, so the second message was solved in the last chapter. Meanwhile, we have some detective-ish work to do in this chapter, and Cedric is going to get most of the limelight (you'll see why). So let's see what Detective Cedric can uncover. :D

Chapter 9: Feverish

The next morning, on Sunday, Sofia woke up early as usual, but this time she wished she hadn't. She felt awful. Her head was pounding, she was weak, and she felt like she was burning up. "Mr. Cedric," she attempted to call, but she could tell that with this bout of illness—whatever it was—it was affecting her strength to speak above any soft tones. However, luckily for her, he seemed to hear her.

Cedric sat up and peered through the darkness at his friend. "Sofia?" He reached to the lamp beside their beds and lit it, able to see their surroundings better. "What's wrong?"

She sighed, holding one hand to her head. "I feel really bad… I think I'm sick."

He frowned and shuffled from his bed to hers, sitting next to her. Using the back of his currently ungloved hand, he felt just how warm she was against his cool fingers. "You certainly have a fever. What else is bothering you?"

"I was sneezing all last night, which you heard. I don't need to now, but I have a bad headache and feel really weak. I didn't even have enough energy to call for you—just that pathetic little whimper."

He smiled sympathetically and attempted to move his hand, but she grasped it and kept it against her cheek. "What are you doing?"

"Your fingers are cold. With this stupid fever, they feel nice."

He chuckled. "Oh, Sofia." Using his free hand, he reached over and grabbed his wand, conjuring a cool, damp cloth and draping it over her forehead. "I'll give you something that can help with your headache and weakness, but I'm afraid the fever is going to have to break on its own. And you're not going anywhere today."

She smiled sleepily toward him. "I figured as much." She watched as he conjured a medicated potion and passed it toward her, and she sat up a bit to drink it before handing it back to him. She resumed her reclining position.

"And I'll stay with you today to make sure you are all right."

"No, Mr. Cedric," she insisted, eyeing him carefully. "You need to find out if there's anything else to those cryptic messages. And…see if there was actually any truth to Malvino being linked to the crime. Sir Leignton was acting weird yesterday, and that bothers me. Something is really messed up about this whole thing, in addition to all the murders that have happened."

"I quite agree." He nodded. "Very well. I'll see what I can find out. You are to stay here and rest. Understood?"

She laughed lightly. "I wouldn't move even if I could. I think that medicine is making me sleepy."

"It's a natural property of the potion." He removed the cloth momentarily, gently pressing it to her face to cool her down. "I'm going to prepare some food for you before I leave. I'll leave it on your trunk if you feel like eating later."

She nodded. "Sounds good." She then gave him an imploring look, grasping his arm. "Be careful, Mr. Cedric."

Cedric smiled and brushed her hair aside, placing a soft kiss on her forehead. "I will. Get some rest." With that, he replaced the cloth and grabbed his clothing for the day, turning the lamp off and leaving as Sofia drifted off to sleep again.

About an hour later, the Enchancian sorcerer arrived at the last place he wanted to be right now: The Galley. Upon making it to the doors, Cataleya and Guillermo greeted him.

"Sir Leignton is in meetings today," Guillermo informed him, noting the look of relief on his face. "However, if you would like to meet with his advisors instead, they have some information regarding the situation with Malvino and the murders that have taken place."

"I would," he replied, frowning. "Something tells me that there's more to things here than meets the eye."

"You'll see that happens a lot in Reimagia these days, unfortunately," Cataleya sighed as she and her partner led him through the doors and down one of the side corridors. "By the way, if Sir Leignton seemed a bit off yesterday, there's a pretty good reason for it. Well, a few good reasons, actually."

"Do tell," Cedric responded, wondering what on earth could explain his rather crass and punitive actions and words.

"Stress for one," Guillermo acknowledged. "The fact that he's got people turning up dead all around Reimagia—conjurors in particular—has him on edge. After all, he himself is one. His kids are too. Everyone he is close to—all conjurors. They could be next."

"But why would he act so terribly to his own daughter?" Cedric murmured. "Threatening to drain her magic when she expressed her concerns seemed like a rather un-fatherly thing to do, if you ask me."

"Do you have children, Cedric?" Cataleya wondered.

"Merlin, no," he laughed uneasily.

"Then I don't know if you could really understand the frustration a parent feels when their child counteracts what's said to them—you sometimes say things you don't mean, and sometimes those things could be harsh." She shrugged. "I have a teenaged boy myself, and I've sometimes let my anger get the better of me, and I've said some stupid things. It happens to all of us."

"While I'm probably not parental in any way, I'd at least hope that I could withhold my frustration and anger and spare my hypothetical child's feelings… I'm not saying it's always plausible, but…" He sighed. "What I know is this: there's being annoyed or angry with your child, and then there's threatening them with something truly horrible. What I witnessed yesterday was the latter. So please explain to me how that can be justified."

"Did you know he's also a widower?" Guillermo asked, seeing Cedric's face fall. "And did you know that his wife was one of the original thirteen conjurors murdered?"

Cedric stopped walking and gaped at the guards, who solemnly turned to look at him. "What?" To say he was shocked would be an understatement. "W-What are you talking about? Why didn't he say anything about this? What…?"

"Imagine losing someone you love dearly to something truly evil and unpredictable," Cataleya challenged gently. "Imagine losing your princess."

"I have come close to losing her before," he admitted, folding his arms and looking away. "Every time we venture off somewhere new and run into challenges like these, I'm scared of nearly losing her again. That's why I'm so protective of her." He looked back toward the guards. "And while I'll do all I can to help solve this mystery and put this villain away, Sofia is my foremost concern. I want her to be safe."

"We want the same thing for everyone here as well," Guillermo acknowledged. "The goal between you two and the Reimagian citizens is the same, Cedric. Understand that before you meet with the advisors. Because, as you've seen, they can be every bit as callous as you saw Sir Leignton act yesterday."

"Understood, but there's something else I just thought of." Cedric unfolded his arms and tapped his chin. "Sir Leignton said these murders took place a few months ago. Are his children aware that their mother was slain?"

Cataleya shook her head. "He hasn't been able to bring himself to tell them yet. Right now, she's 'away to see family.'" She scoffed softly. "They're eighteen and twenty-three… They deserve to know the truth, but it's none of our business. He'll tell them when he sees the time is right. All they know right now is that 'thirteen conjurors from Reimagia were murdered.' I can't imagine their grief when they realize that one was their mother."

The royal sorcerer had a great deal on his mind when he was guided into the meeting room with the three main advisors and some of their assistants. Indeed, Sir Leignton was not present, which suited him just fine. He didn't know if he could handle seeing the old man right now.

"Where is Princess Sofia?" Lord Palazzo asked kindly as he looked toward Cedric.

"She's under the weather, so I insisted she get some rest," Cedric explained, not wanting to go into too much detail. After all, he still didn't know these people that well, and he felt it unnecessary to elaborate too much. "I'm here on behalf of Enchancia and Princess Sofia. While our original intent was to help her become a full-fledged sorceress, it seems the focus is shifting a bit: helping solve this mystery and stop these murders. We want to assist you in any way we can."

"Have a seat, Cedric," Lord Cadigan said, his green eyes watching as the sorcerer did as requested. "It appears that there have been some developments since yesterday…" He folded his hands onto the table and continued, "Malvino's alibi was indeed very weak. There is no doubt about that. However, a few other sorcerers recall seeing him in a small restaurant the day that the three recent sorcerers were found dead, so he couldn't actually be the murderer, if that's the case. They did say, though, that he appeared somewhat disoriented."

"I see…" Cedric frowned contemplatively. "What of the bags the others said he was dragging around then?"

Another advisor, Lord Hemslor, sighed. "Turns out, after some of our staff looked into it, those bags were filled with some of his training supplies. Yes, they were big enough to hold bodies or whatever rubbish you want to believe, but the fact remains that he did not commit the crimes he's been accused of." He sent a pointed stare toward Lord Cadigan, who glared at him in return. "Not that I ever believed he did."

"Oh, come off it, Hemslor," Lord Cadigan returned in annoyance.

"What about when Malvino indicated that he couldn't remember things, and he even forgot who I was?" Cedric folded his arms.

"You mentioned a migraine," Lord Palazzo suggested. "That's highly possible. More recently, according to his workmates, Malvino has been prone to episodes of memory loss. They're not sure why or how, but according to Dame Dellareese, it got so bad one day that he didn't even know who he was."

"Strange…"

"Despite all of this," Lord Hemslor added, "he still spent enough time in the Magic Depletion Cell to lose a majority of his magic, and I'm afraid it won't return until one of our higher-ranking officials opts to reinstate it: namely Sir Leignton or someone of the same caliber."

'Not that he would,' Cedric thought to himself, recalling how adamant the man had been about sending the boy to the chamber. "Is it possible to say that someone took advantage of the knowledge of Malvino's condition and used it against him? Perhaps setting him up as a scapegoat?"

"It is possible," Lord Cadigan responded seriously. "Unfortunate, but possible."

This was unsettling to Cedric, and he was now utterly baffled. If Malvino wasn't the murderer, then who was? Anyone could be the killer now—maybe even any of the very men he was speaking with. With that thought in mind, he shook his head and stood, watching as the other three stood as well. "I, um… I beg your pardon, gentlemen, but I really need to return and check on Princess Sofia. With her ill, I'd prefer not to leave her alone too long. You understand."

"Certainly," the main advisor responded, nodding. "The guards will see you out." After Cedric left, Lord Cadigan narrowed his eyes at the closed door before turning to his assistant. "Follow him."

The young man nodded. "Yes, sir." Quickly yet quietly, he slipped out of the room.

Sofia woke up when she heard a strange rustling sound in the room she and Cedric shared. "Mr. Cedric?" she asked, still feeling a bit weak. Her vision was rather blurry, and her fever and headache persisted despite the medicated potion, so she couldn't process everything very well. What she did notice was that there was an outline standing at the edge of her bed: he was coated in a very dark haze, and there appeared to be a large mark surrounding his left eye. And the figure seemed to be creeping slowly toward her, causing her heart to pound erratically.

Before she could react, footsteps fell on the stairs to the left, and Cedric entered the room; as he did, the figure vanished.

Cedric walked over to Sofia's bed and sat down, frowning at her disconcerted features. "Sofia? Are you all right?" He brushed her loosening hair aside, noticing how clammy her skin was, despite the persisting fever. "You're still feverish, I'm afraid…"

"Mr. Cedric, I saw…" She tried to gesture with her hands but sighed, realizing she wasn't able to aptly describe the image with just gesticulations. "Dark figure… Mark on his eye. He was right there."

Cedric turned, seeing the edge of her bed. "There's nothing there, Sofia…"

She appeared disheartened as he looked back toward her. "Maybe my fever is playing tricks on my eyes?"

"With all that's gone on?" He shook his head. He could tell from her expression that she was scared, and it really bothered him to see her in such a state. "It's quite possible that what you saw was real. And at this rate, I'm not going to take any chances." He stood and scooped her into his arms, startling her a bit.

"What are you doing?" she asked with a blink.

"I'm not going to let anything happen to you, Sofia. I will stay with you from here on out, until this is resolved." He maneuvered the both of them over to his bed and moved closer to the wall as she curled up next to him. He pulled the covers over them. "Get some rest, my dear." He smiled gently as she drifted off to sleep again. Before long, he also fell asleep.

Outside, Lord Cadigan's assistant watched the two through a pair of binoculars. "Maybe that sorcerer is the culprit," he mumbled to himself, frowning. "He is an outsider, after all." He gasped sharply as he heard a low chuckle from behind him. He whirled quickly, only to freeze in his spot, his eyes widening.

"'Fraid not," the mysterious and low voice cooed before literally disintegrating the man before him. Nothing was left—not even an eyelash. Those peering eyes gazed through the same window, noticing the two friends cuddled close together. "Cute. And so innocent… Such light and life between the two of them. I wonder what would happen…" He sneered as his eyes trained specifically on Sofia, who was now sleeping soundly. "…If that light were to be snuffed out." He chuckled wickedly before vanishing into thin air.

To be continued…

Next Chapter: Friction