(you may think it's over, but it's just the beginning. Also, sorry for the long wait. Got to juggle holidays, school and chores at the same time. And thank you, Lillianna, for the kind reviews! I'm really glad you like it!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~CHAPTER 11~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We were walking to the Wizard Tower. Even Beetle and Jenna were going, to celebrate my, to me, insignificant return. It was two days. Only two days I was missing, so there was literally no need to celebrate. The people in the Castle still thought I was an alien here, and not the extraterrestrial kind. But these thoughts were inferior to the fact that someone indeed did love me. I felt so overjoyed and special. Is this what it feels like to be loved? Septimus was lagging behind, acting really sulky. I kind of knew why and I kind of didn't. The only reason I could think of why was because he didn't want to be embarrassed by the others, but this was done by a MindScreen. But why he would be embarrassed, I have no idea. Anyway, Marcia abruptly stopped. "There's something murky in the air here, I can feel it." Septimus stepped forward, but Marcia put her hand out to stop him. "No, it's strong. Let's get going, I don't like this." She quickened her pace, and as I tried to catch up to her, I caught something deep blue at the corner of my eye. I turned around, but there was nothing there. Spooked, I joined the rest. After we passed under the Great Arch, I began to feel safer. Una may have been stupid, but the image of that knife was stuck in my head. However, being inside the Wizard Tower or even the courtyard supplied me with the feeling of safety and protection. I wanted nothing more than to run through the doors and smell the sweet smell of incense, hear the soft chants and incantations, and feel the swirling feeling of Magyk. Maybe I felt protected because it was the only home I ever had. And then I was in my home. My wonderful, Magykal home. Septimus resumed his place in the back and all the Ordinary Wizards stood their normal two feet away from me, though some who had heard of the incident at Gothyk Grotto stayed seven feet away, for luck, and I assumed as a Magykal shield of some kind. This did not make me feel better, let alone welcome, but what happened next did. "Wizards and Apprentices, may I have your attention!" Marcia shouted, her voice echoing against the walls of the Great Hall. Once she was sure all eyes were on her, she continued.

"The Queen, Chief Hermetic Scribe, the Charm Wizard Apprentice, former ExtraOrdinary Wizard, my own Apprentice, and I gather here on this day, of course in the company of you all," she paused, due to some mutterings by a group of Apprentices. "Is there something you would like to say?" she asked, tapping her foot impatiently. One snitchy Apprentice, whom I knew to be Thomas Bellwood, spoke up. "They said, 'Get on with it, old hag!' Madam Marcia!" he said, smiling broadly. "Well they can get out, if they don't want to hear what I have to say."

"Gladly," I heard one of them mutter as they hurriedly walked to their dormitories. Once they were inside and the doors were closed, Marcia continued. "As I was saying, our guests have come here to celebrate the return of my other Apprentice, Sierra Everleigh!" This was met by a chorus of groans, protests, and the occasional insult forwarded to me. I didn't care about this, because, again, the fact that someone loved me overshadowed everything else happening, but it made the fact that Marcia was celebrating me feel a little less good. Marcia, however, was furious. "How dare you!" she yelled, and a hushed silence fell over the Wizards and Apprentices. "What has Sierra done that makes you hate her so much?" A brave voice broke the silence. "She made the workers at Gothyk Grotto bleed!" Marcia gave that boy a withering stare. "For your information, all of you," she glared at her audience. "Sierra did nothing. Her stare did nothing. Una Brakket was after her and was stalking her. To make Sierra hated and alienated, she ripped their knees open. All wicked Darkenesse." Thomas Bellwood shouted, "Stop protecting her!"

"You can join those other Apprentices I sent away. And the rest of you will give Sierra respect." Marcia was satisfied by her effect on the audience before her. "We will be holding a party in the Wizard Tower for Sierra's return and I expect you all to be there." She eyed everyone. "And I demand you all give her respect and not treat her like some untamed animal." There were a few murmurings and then everyone nodded and went back to their rooms. She turned to me. "I am sorry, Sierra, I really wish they would treat you like they did before. I expect you are hungry, though." I nodded. The others turned to leave but Marcia stopped them. "You're coming too!" she laughed. I was shocked and so were the others. When was the last time we heard Marcia laugh? Last week? Month? Year? I followed Beetle, Jenna, Rose, Marcia, and Alther as they stepped on the stairs, leaving me with Septimus. I gave him a half smile and we stepped on the stairs. "I expect the others told you about me," he whispered. I shook my head and he looked relieved. "But I know," I said. He flushed. "I'm happy, though. I'm really happy." His expression changed from embarrassment to happiness. "Then I can do this, then." He leaned forward and pecked my cheek. I stepped back a little, a mixture of astonishment and joy on my face. "I didn't deserve that, Sep," I laughed a bit. "Yeah, you did. Rose told us what you wanted." He did it again. "No, really, I don't," I said, backing away. He looked at me quizzically. "Why?" There are so many reasons why, I thought. My insanity is why. Your safety being at risk is why. Everyone's safety at risk is why. I really hoped he would read my thoughts, because frankly, I really didn't want to say it out loud. Septimus loving me was enough, but physically showing it would put everyone in danger.

"Why?" he asked again. "Just read my thoughts, I don't want to say it out loud," I said a little curtly. At this point we were on the top floor of the Wizard Tower. "Oh," Septimus said, who I guessed now knew why. I nodded. He nodded back and we entered Marcia's rooms. "Coffee pot!" I heard Marcia bark as soon as we went through the doors. "End that quarrel between you and the oven! NOW!" I never really got used to Marcia talking to her furniture or kitchen supplies. Today was no exception. I looked at Marcia, confused as she was yelling at her oven and coffee pot to "make up!" as she put it. Soon enough, the coffee pot was making coffee and after, the oven was intentionally burning it. Marcia shook her head and poured the coffee and took out a few biscuits. "Tell me what happened," she said. I took a bite of biscuit and said, "There was the incident at Gothyk Grotto. So Beetle, Jen, Sep, and Rose were scolding me up here. I got flustered and stopped time and-" I was cut off by Marcia. "You stopped time?!"

"It wasn't a big deal. Hotep-Ra said the same-"

"Hotep-Ra?!"

"Okay. I Transported the the House of Foryx-"

"How?" Marcia put her hand on her forehead. I took advantage and continued. "Yeah. So I stopped time and I reversed the spell and I came back here. Then I saw Una Brakket hovering out the window. She Entranced me and weakened the rest to the point where they passed out. Rose shook me so I wasn't Entranced anymore and then she collapsed. So I ran to the Ice Tunnels, took the Wizard Tower sled, and went to Marcellus's house. I sent the sled back and then Una went into the Ice Tunnels. She found me, I blacked out, and woke up imprisoned in the Castle walls." I paused, unsure if Marcia was going to say something. She didn't appear to want to say anything so I continued. "I Summoned Alther because Una was draining me of Magyk and I had just enough left to do that, so I did. I Fetched a big stone-"

"Through the wall?"

"Yes," I said, a little irritated. "Through the wall." I took a deep breath and continued. "Alther Caused it to land on my chains and it broke. There was a weird brick and I pushed it and there was a platform so I stepped on it and there was a ladder so I climbed it and when I was at the top it all disappeared and I Transported down," I quickly finished, pausing to take a breath. Marcia was impressed. "I didn't even teach all that and you managed to do it," she said, shaking her head in amazement. "I feel I should be your Apprentice instead of the other way around." Septimus smiled and put his arm around me. "That's why you took her on," he said. "Sometimes Masters learn from their Apprentices, do they not?"

"Indeed," Marcia replied, looking down at her feet. Then she jumped up, green eyes glittering. "Anyway, don't we have a banquet to prepare?"