"Where exactly is the Council?" Beauty asked as they packed up their Subaru Forester.
"Ah, well, one of the local offices isn't that far over in West Vail. We'll probably have to stay overnight there, though. Once I tell them you have the gift, they will make you fill out all the forms to attend the school in Canada. Then they cast special ward on you so you too can drive off Hunters and their Hounds of Hel. Not looking forward to filing that report of one so close to a Haven."
"Are they supposed to avoid them?"
"Technically, yes. Just like they're not officially allowed to go after wizards or their families, even if they break the rules." He sighed wearily. "Alas, the system is already broken and Hunters know how to abuse it. As long as they don't get caught, there is no punishment."
"Aren't there protections to stop them?"
"Think of it like the security systems in the world today. Burglars still find ways in, do they not?"
"Yes."
"Magic is the same way. The wards are in place, yet Hunters with the right motivation can get past most of them. Ones put up by your friends are considered harder to slip to through, if not next to impossible. The older, the stronger they are. That is why our ancestral home is so secure." He paused as he fit the last of the supplies into their vehicle. "Can you think of anything we might be forgetting?"
"Nope."
He locked up the house and started the car. "Alright then. It's around a two hour drive to West Vail, so let's get going."
She buckled up in the passenger seat. "I am ready when you are."
He chuckled as he did the same in the driver's seat. "Andiamo!"
They headed out on the road towards West Vail. As her father had said, it took almost two hours to get there. The drive was quite picturesque with all the greenery covering tall mountains, birds flying in the blue sky amongst fluffy clouds, and golden sunshine. The town itself looked very charming, full of ski resorts that would be crowded during the winter season, hotels for all weather and travelers, and plenty of shops to encourage tourists to spend their money.
They went a ways out of the city, to a building similar to a castle that looked like it was from the medieval time period, with the exception of an underground tunnel they took to get to a parking lot with cars, horses, and even a few unicorns settled in spots waiting for their human companions.
"I have never seen a unicorn before." Beauty stared at the one they parked next to who was white as snow save for its horn and hooves that were silver, brown eyes regarding them.
"Oh? How unusual for the daughter of a wizard. My name is Tydal." The unicorn inclined his horned head. "Nice to see you again, Maurice."
"You too, Tydal. This is my daughter, Beauty. If you're still here, that means Joanna is too which is quite handy for us."
"You know each other?!"
"Tydal is an old acquaintance. His friend Joanna and I went to school together a long time ago. She heads the Sorting Division now, which is for making sure all the students get to establishments closest to them. She will be very interested in meeting you."
"Great. How does one become friends with a unicorn?"
Tydal chuckled. "You may meet a few over the years, though only one will stay if you're lucky. I smell you have met many interesting beings, so I would imagine your chances are very high."
Maurice cleared his throat. "Could we keep those a secret? You know what it's like around here."
"For now, I suppose I could. I'm not comfortable withholding information from Joanna. She would understand, you know."
"You trust her, however, she has not given me cause to have the same confidence. You have to remember that I haven't been in touch with my kind for several years and the reasons why."
Tydal hmmmed. "Healing takes time, something you have yet to use. Take it from one of the ancients Maurice, leaps of faith are important too. I will wait until you decide to speak, nevertheless, I ask you not be too long about it. Fair enough?"
"Quite, thank you." Maurice led Beauty inside with a parting wave.
"Why doesn't he come in?" She asked as they passed through a wide foyer to an elevator, watching as he pressed the number six button.
"Not all beings wish to assume a humanoid form, as is part of the agreements made with all the races decree must happen if they wish to enter a place such as this. Tydal is quite old fashioned and I have only seen him use his humanoid form once. Ah, here we are." He said as the elevator doors opened and they exited into a giant room that strongly resembled a floor of cubicles in a skyscraper, only the partisans were stone instead of traditional wood and fabric.
A beautiful woman with long auburn hair looked up from her computer, blinking her unusual lavender colored eyes. "Well my stars, if it isn't Maurice back so soon."
"Hello, Joanna. This is my daughter Beauty. She has my aptitude for magic and needs to fill out the paperwork, et cetera."
"Your little girl all grown up and has your skills? My goodness how time flies." Joanna gathered a stack of papers from around her desk and rose, showing off the hint of a baby bump.
Maurice raised his eyebrows. "That's new. Who's the lucky man?"
"I am not the type to kiss and tell." She replied as she handed the stack to Beauty with a pen. "Have a seat at my desk."
"Is it Tydal?"
"Beauty! It's not-"
Joanna laughed heartily, interrupting the scolding. "That's some child you have there, Maurice. She's really going to shake Magicia Canadia, just like you."
"So she's right?"
"No need to sound so surprised. After all, I am one of the few who met a unicorn of the opposite gender who didn't already have a mate."
"Does the Council know?"
She rolled her eyes. "When did you turn into such a square?"
"I am not-" he heaved a sigh, holding up a hand. "It's none of my business. Congratulations. I'll be upstairs if you have any questions, Beauty."
Joanna waited until he was gone before she said: "That could have gone better."
"Sorry. My dad has been on edge since there was a Hunter near where we live."
"Oh dear, that certainly explains why he went upstairs. Want some cocoa?"
"I don't want to be a bother."
"You sound just like your dad." Joanna chuckled as she waved a hand and two cups of brown liquid flew over, taking one for herself and giving Beauty the other one. "I bet you have his sweet tooth. I know I have one."
"Thanks. What was he like at school?"
"More or less the same, but less cautious. With age, we all change here and there."
Beauty nodded as she sipped her drink, slowly filling out the forms. "Can I ask something personal?"
"I would be offended if you didn't."
"Why Tydal? I know that like most magical beings he can take a humanoid form, but from the way my dad talked it doesn't sound um…."
"Normal?" Joanna smiled at her shy nod. "Not so much nowadays, and if you had asked me a few years back if I'd be married to a unicorn, I'd have laughed in your face. I met Tydal ages ago when your father and I were attending MagCa as we affectionately call our alma mater. Tydal was a dangerous ally we made from the sea foam not too far from a town the locals now call Grand Bend in Ontario, and being a bit of a rebel in those days I kept meeting Tydal secretly. We fell in love, though up until now it's been mostly under wraps as they say. The official ruling on unions like ours is as long as discretion is observed and the Council is informed, it is more than permissible."
Beauty caught herself wondering if she could be romantically involved with Obsidian even if his curse couldn't be lifted, blushing at the very idea.
"From your attractive shade of rose, I would wager you have an interesting special someone on your mind." Joanna winked.
"Erm…well…yes, but we kinda just met and…it's complicated."
"Trust me Beauty, I know all about that. Love is the strongest magic of all and with it often comes all sorts of unpredictable territory."