After my embarrassing mental slip-up I decided to spend a little less time with Jace, focusing instead on my novice fighting skills. So I went in search of Gideon who right now was sparring with Chandra.
I had only just opened the door to the gym, at least that's what I thought it was, when a blade struck the wall beside the doorway. I yelped, dropping to my knees as Gideon and Chandra turned around.
Knowing my face was as red as a ripe strawberry I slowly climbed to my feet, dusting off the knees of my cloak. "I didn't mean to interrupt." I said, reaching for the blade embedded in the wall. After a slight struggle I managed to pull it free, nearly hitting Gideon on the chin as he walked towards me. "Sorry!" I shouted, allowing Gideon to take the blade from me.
"It was an accident, Ailis. Is there something you need?" Gideon asked and I sighed, fiddling with the sleeve of my cloak.
"I came past to see if you wanted to train me again? I haven't really put any effort into my fighting skills since the last time I broke the wall." I told him and Chandra grinned, looking at Gideon to see his reaction.
"Well that's fine with me but aren't you helping Jace?" Gideon asked and I hurriedly shook my head, grateful that neither he or Chandra could read minds.
"He's working right now and I didn't want to disturb him. So it's okay if I train here?" I asked and Gideon nodded, holding out the sword to me. Somewhat reluctantly I took it from him and as Gideon started to go over some basic sword skills I began to wonder if staying in the Ravnican library had been a better idea.
Especially after spending what seemed like an eternity sparring with both Gideon and Chandra, thankfully not both at the same time. Sweat dripping from my forehead to run down my back and neck I groaned, lifting the sword in front of me only to have it knocked from my grasp. "Ailis, you do need to keep your sword in your hand." Gideon pointed out and Chandra laughed as I turned to retrieve it only to have my legs kicked out from under me. "You also need to watch your opponent." He sighed as I rubbed my now sore backside.
"Hey that wasn't fair!" I complained as Chandra laughed harder and even Gideon raised a smile. "Whatever. Still hurt." I muttered, climbing to my feet once I grabbed the sword.
"Ailis, you can't expect your opponent to go easy on you." Gideon said, shaking his head when I tried to hand back the sword. "We still need to practice." He said and I groaned, raising the sword with a frown.
Even after Gideon called a halt to our sparring, hardly even breaking a sweat I noticed, Chandra stepped forward her fingers raised and I stared at the flame hovering just above her fingertips. "Whoa!" I yelled, immediately stepping back and she stared as I gasped. Eyes wide I flinched when Chandra took a single step towards me, eyebrow raised.
"Ailis, what's wrong?" Chandra asked, the flame spluttering out as I backed into the door still breahing hard.
"No...no flames." I gasped, pulling the cloak around me. "Sorry but I have to go." I quickly told my friends, grabbing the doorknob in one hand. As I yanked open the door I ripped the doorknob off, discarding it as I raced from the room.
I found myself back in the library a few minutes later, Jace notably absent.
"Huh he practically lives here." I muttered to myself, heading towards the towering shelves. i searched the shelves for several minutes before I settled on a book about Ravnica.
As I wandered back to the table with the book clutched tightly in one hand I didn't see someone enter the library only to pause when they saw me. Sitting I set the book on the table opening it to the first page and as I began to read I didn't see my visitor quietly head my way, their footsteps light.
"Ailis, what are you reading?" Jace asked and I jumped, the book forgotten as I turned my head to see the living guildpact standing behind me. With a tiny smile curling his lips he nodded towards the book. "The history of Ravnica? It's nice to see you using your mind as well as your body...I mean your strength." He stammered when I giggled, knowing what he meant but having fun at his expense.
"It's okay, Jace it was just a slip of the tongue. I know what you mean, mind mage." I smiled, motioning to the seat next to mine. Joining me I showed him the hand-drawn map that I found opposite the first page. "Pretty cool right? One of these days I should take a wander around Ravnica."
"You should get some air. Could I see that for a moment?" Jace suggested and I nodded, handing him the book. After a few careful page turns he smiled handing the book back.
"Is that the guilds?" I asked and he nodded as I took a closer look at the page. Taking a moment to read it I discovered a list of the guilds of Ravnica and a brief history of each. On a further more thourgh read I blinked, reading about each guild's leader. "Wait so the Izzet guild's led by a dragon?! How cool is that?"
"Yes, his name is Niv-Mizzet and he's a very old dragon. One of five and the last true dragons left sadly." Jace replied, taking the book from me again and as he flipped through the pages I noticed a tiny smile on his lips.
He must be enjoying himself. At least he's forgotten about that silly daydream of mine.
Actually I haven't.
"Jace, what did I say about reading my mind without permission?" I complained and he chuckled, setting the book on the table with a smile.
"If you could shield you mind better I wouldn't be able to read your surface thoughts so easily, Ailis." Jace replied and I frowned, annoying he thought this was my fault. "I don't mean to intrude on your private thoughts and upset you. I could train you if I wasn't so busy with my work." Jace sighed just as we both heard a woman's voice. When he quickly glanced towards the door I tilted my head, curious as to why he looked so pale. Well, paler than usual.
"Something wrong?" I teased as he glanced at the door just as it slowly creaked open. Before my eyes he vanished, making me climb to my feet just as a young woman entered the library.
"Excuse me but have you seen Jace? He was supposed to check these papers and give his signature." She asked, holding an armful of papers and I raised an eyebrow, silently wondering where Jace was myself. "Why does he always disappear when he's supposed to be working."
"I'm sorry but who are you? I'm Ailis by the way." I replied and she sighed, glancing around the library and its many shelves.
"I'm Lavinia, aide to Jace even if sometimes I wonder why I agreed to this job in the first place." Lavinia sighed, giving me a tiny nod before she dropped the armful of papers on the table.
"I''m sorry but I haven't seen Jace at all today. The Guildpact might know where he is. Have you tried them yet?" I suggested and she gave me a quick smile, heading for the door as I watched with my eyebrows raised. The moment she left the library I heard a throat being cleared and I turned just as Jace reappeared.
I stumbled back in fright knocking the papers to the floor as I started to fall backwards only for Jace to quickly reach for my hands, pulling me into his arms. Startled I didn't react as I leant against his chest his eyes on me the entire time as I waited for my heart to slow.
"Ailis, was that you?" Lavinia called out from the hallway and Jace swallowed as her footsteps headed our way. In a heartbeat Jace used his mind powers to make us vanish just as the door opened, Lavinia poking her head in with a frown. "Huh I thought I heard her scream." She muttered and I blinked wondering why she couldn't see us when we were standing in front of the shelves. I lifted a hand about to wave it at her when Jace quickly pulled me back, nearly bumping the back of his head against the book shelves.
Jace, why can't Lavinia see us?
I used my powers making her think the room is empty of us. Just keep quiet until she leaves, okay? That's all I ask.
So she can't see us at all? What about sound?
She can't see us but she can definitely hear us. Hey just what are you planning, Ailis?
I couldn't help a grin as I carefully untangled Jace's arms from around my waist. He raised his eyebrows glancing at Lavinia only to freeze when I turned around, lightly pressing him against the shelf behind us with my palms. Lavinia was about to leave when she heard a thud and she spun around though after finding the library empty she shook her head.
"Why does he always disappear when he has important work to do? Ailis, why did you have to make a mess in here?" Lavinia complained, standing over the table to gather the papers into a neat pile.
Sure blame me, Lavinia. It's not my fault Jace nearly knocked me on my backside.
Ailis, will you stop...whatever it is you're doing? My allusions don't work to hide sound.
I just ignored Jace's mind speak as I put a little more force in keeping him pinned to the bookshelf. That same daydream from before popped into my head this time with a little more detail and sound, my cheeks flushing. In front of me Jace caught the image as it appeared in my mind and even he blushed, though I noticed he didn't move away when I couldn't resist giving his lips a light peck.
Which left us both staring into each others eyes, my own widening when his hands moved to the back of my head. Wrapping one arm around my neck he kissed me back, gently at first though once I responded by pressing my body against his kissed me harder. His arm slipped to my waist keeping me steady as his other reached around to my neck, his fingers slipping through the long strands of my hair.
Surprised but pleasantly so I pressed my palm onto the bookshelf my other arm wrapping itself around his slender waist before I opened my mouth, my tongue flicking against his. At first Jace didn't respond and I began to think he had just kissed me as a spare of the moment thing then I felt his tongue lightly wrap around mine. I felt a groan emerging from my mouth only to be muffled by Jace's tongue his grip on me tightening when Lavinia spun around.
"This is ridiculous. If I find this is a joke I'll..." Lavinia growled staring right at us. Annoyed she stomped towards the door before she flung it open. When I heard the door slam I jerked, eyes widening before I felt Jace's tongue slip from my mouth. I took a breath, eyes widening in shock at how close we'd been to being caught making out. "Did we just...that was...wow." I mumbled and Jace just smiled, fingers reaching for a loose strand of hair in danger of falling into my eyes. "That came out of nowhere."
"That was pretty amazing." Jace agreed and I giggled, cheeks a little red as I took my arms from around Jace's waist.
"Smart move with the allusion spell. I'm just glad Lavinia didn't find us...for your sake more than mine." I said, taking a step back. With that same smile on his face Jace reached over lightly flicking a lock of my hair over my right ear before he kissed the right side of my neck.
"To be truthful I have never used my magic like that before. I wouldn't mind trying that again if you would?" Jace offered, chuckling softly when my whole face turned a bright shade of red.
"I really don't know if you're joking with me or not, Jace. I'm not the mind mage like you." I replied, giving him a quick grin. "Though I really wouldn't mind repeating that...if you do get a spare moment."