The days at school were more peaceful, Kalego had avoided me at every turn. Being in the study hall I was cut off from all the teachers. I was the little wallflower, and it was peaceful. Eli was safe and did not seem to mind coming with me every day.

He enjoyed it because I was now teaching him how to use magic and fly. He was a little slower at flying as he had a sudden growth spurt, and I had to remind him his wings were not fully developed yet. His use of magic on the other hand was doing well.

He had an affinity for practical magic, able to use the simple spells the first years are taught. Growing plants, creating little flames, and transfiguration. I made a whole playground for him at lunch and dismantled it when lunch ended. Today he wanted a flying course, so I made it easy with walls, rings, and a small landing spot.

While he played, I would right down lyrics that sounded nice. Things were at peace, and I had more free time. When I got home, I could record that sound that had been playing in my head all day. Eli was falling and I caught him, setting him on the ground.

"I hope you are not teaching him more than your actual students." My smile dropped and I looked up at Dali.

"I would never neglect my duties in such a way. During class I am there for the students, at my down time, I am there for Eli."

"He is doing well, there had been whispers of pop-up playgrounds and I had to come see."

"I make sure to not cause damage, and to get rid of it when we are done. If it is a problem I can stop."

"I am not here to lay down law. Just observe. He is young, and he shows great promise. Have you been teaching him everything?"

"I have, but only if he asks. I never forced anything on him. He really wants to master flying…" I held my hand out, stooping his fall, and lowered him to the ground. He kicked the pole and started again.

"As you can see, he is struggling, and it is not his fault. He won't listen when I tell him his wings are not fully developed."

"Do you think he tries so hard because he has someone he has to live up to?"

"What?" I looked at him sideways.

"I mean you. I do not know if you are reading the newspapers, but they were calling you the hero in the shadows for a short time. They only know your name now because of the Deviculum. You left before they could reward you."

"I don't care for trinkets that will collect dust or be put in a box."

"Your rank, I can tell you have been ignoring all news."

"Oh, I read that part. I don't want that trinket. This may offend you, but the ranking system is whack. It was created for peace, but it only created subgroups that are spread out, and controlled by status, jobs, and food. All to weed out the weak."

"That is partially true."

"No, it is all the way true. Derkila was trying to weed out the human blood." I gave him the explanation and an example.

"Where did you learn all of this?"

"I have learned a lot of things that many do not know. Being in the shadows has its…" I caught Eli again, tilting him back on the landing platform. "Perks. Soi and Narnia taught me this lesson."

"He is determined."

"I know, and it worries me. If he tries to do these things without me around, he will end up hurting himself." I looked at Dali, his happy little expression. Eli fell again, this time Dali caught him before me.

"Let me talk to him." He walked towards a frustrated Eli and crouched down to his level. "Your doing great for your age, might I see your wingspan?" Eli looked at me, and then stretched his wings out. "Ah, they have not caught up with your body yet. I think I remember a time this was easier for you."

"It was, I thought I was lacking."

"Give it time, you are still growing. There is no need to push yourself so hard. Might I ask why you are pushing yourself so hard?"

"My mom is a hero; I always must be protected. If I could do that myself, then she would not have to worry about me so much." My eyes teared up, as I walked closer. I held them down; I did not want to scare him with my black tears.

"Oh, bug. It is my responsibility and I do not mind that one bit. I love being there for you and helping you. You are still young and growing, you do not have to do anything but act your age and have all the fun possible."

"But you had to rescue me, it was my fault for trusting a stranger."

I hugged him. "No, honey. It is in no way your fault for what happened. They were bad people, and they took advantage of you."

"But you have to take me everywhere."

"That is why I do not want to be seen as a hero. It makes you a target because it is you, I love most."

The bell sounded; I took down the course. "Come Eli." He took my hand.

"Allow me to take him for some time."

"No."

He typed out something and turned it around. "He should have other influence than you. He is absorbing your anxieties."

I shook my head. "I can't."

"He is safe in this school." I narrowed my eyes. "How about Kalego or Balam?"

"Eli, would you like to spend time with other teachers?"

"Who, him?"

"If you wish, yes."

"Sure, maybe he can teach me cool tricks too."

My heart broke a little, but I let him go. I watched him walk away with Dali; Eli grabbed his hand. A flash back to the woman taking his hand and guiding him away. Tears filled my eyes as I shook the image. Leaving in another direction.

It was what he wanted; I should respect that. I could not concentrate; students would ask me for help, and I would tell them the answer. Rather than couching it out of them and letting them figure it out on their own. The last session of the day was a regroup homeroom.

I texted Dali and he informed me he had been in with him, Balam, and now with Kalego. He was playing pass the child, and that was not okay. I went straight to the royal one classroom; relief flooded me when I seen him sitting next to Iruma.

Kalego looked up and back down, waving me over. I just wanted to pick Eli up and take him home, but he was smiling and laughing. Having fun playing his game and showing the others what he did in his game.

I walked up to his desk, and I felt hot tears roll down my cheeks. The stress and urgency to get back to him released all at once. I held in the sound, but the tears poured like a river. He looked up, his eyes narrowed, looking behind me.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm…" My mind struggled; I wasn't fine. I wanted to bottle it up and not let anyone see. Weakness is preyed upon. I had to swallow my feelings. "I am fine." My fingers tapped the desk, say something. Tell me I am being over dramatic so I can get over this and put the cap back on the shaken soda.

"In that case, I have something for you. Follow me." He was still upset with me; I should not have opened my mouth to him. Maybe if I go home, Opera or Grandpa might say something. I followed him, I glanced back for a second at Eli. He was fine.

He closed the door to the teacher's office and handed me a wet rag. My eyes widened as I looked up. "You are not fine. You can talk to me, Viola. You do not have to bottle things up to the point you burst." He leaned on the desk, crossing his arms.

"I thought you were mad at me." I pressed the warm cloth to my face, wiping the tears away.

"I was frustrated for a short time, but that does not mean I will not talk to you forever."

"Did you have them bring Eli here so you could talk to me? Was all this your idea?"

"No, I was clueless until Balam showed up with Eli. He wanted to see me next."

I looked down, and behind me I saw the chair and sat down. "I watched him walk away with Dali and I saw her holding his hand. It took every part of me to not shout or take him back. The last half of the day I was on edge, the minutes like hours." I covered my face in the cloth and sobbed.

"I know it must not be easy, and I am sorry you are going through this. How long have you been holding this in?"

"It had always been a fear to lose him. The fear became reality, and I fear it might happen again the second my attention is not on him. Just like the carnival, they waited until we were separated. I hoovered to close, and I know that is a problem too."

He placed a hand on my shoulder. "What happened was not your fault."

"I won't make it through this dinner."

"I know you can, summon your familiar and have him stay with Eli. You already know where our power hails from, and you trust him, right?"

"Yes, and that was the plan. My mind will not let it rest, and I wish it would. It is like, if I cannot see him, then I am right back to where I was when he was taken. I feel the eyes watching me, whispering about me. When I look no mouth is moving.

I am sorry for accusing you. I've always had to throw my shots before the other side could do it first. It seems from the second I was born I had a loaded gun, and all I know how to do is take shots." That was great lyrics, noted.

"What is a gun? Sorry, I am curious."

My smirk was hidden by the cloth. "Two different worlds, but so the same." I chuckled lightly. "A gun is like a bow and arrow, but it's faster and smaller. It contains small ammo called a bullet, but that bullet can cause substantial damage and kill with one shot." Without removing the cloth, I made a gun hand gesture and brought it to my head. "Bang."

"Is this dinner mandatory."

I nodded. "Grandpa told me not to worry about it, and also not to run."

"I know you afraid to lose Eli again but is there something more or else you are afraid of."

I dragged the cloth down my face and looked up at him. "Myself." His eyes furrowed. "I brew the teas, and use medications, but I have not slept in three days. That's not even the bad part."

"How long has it been like this?"

"Since I woke up from my extended nap. I stopped Behemoth and still did not sleep that night. It was a fingernail to the pool. I am capable of terrible things, that is what scares me most. What happens when I've had enough and just go off on everything around me?"

"You are also capable of great things, like stopping wars and saving lives. It is you who makes that final decision, nobody else."

"You are right but think about all the things I was willing to do because Eli was taken from me. I feel like I am one incident away from a mental breakdown. I fear myself, and all I am capable of."

"Come to me to talk or someone you feel comfortable with. If you keep us at a distance, we will not know what is going on, and be unable to help you. If you want, I can be at your house tonight as an extra preventive measure."

I pressed my lips, eyes narrowing. "You would do that, even if Opera would be there?"

"If it puts your mind at more ease, yes."

He was willing to endure Opera for my sanity. Eli would be safer with him there, but I already would have Opera, and Yodh there to protect him. Three was more of a lucky number here, being half of six. Was that three together or three of a thing, third times a charm?

I spent homeroom time reflecting on what we discussed. I did not have to do all these things on my own. The thought of it all going sideways was playing over in my mind. What if they choose now to attack the mansion?

They could all storm in and leave casualties. Eli could be one. What if they sneak in like Soi and nab Eli while they were not looking? Did it while he was sleeping. What if, what if, what if. It all cycled like never ending movie events.

I carried Eli home by the sides as we flew home, letting him spread his wings and feel the wind in his hair. He smiled, hands out like he was a superhero. I let him go close to the ground and he fumbled his landing. I picked him up and put him on his feet, brushing the dirt off.

He looked off to the side. "Thanks, but you don't always have to take care of me." He ran inside.

It was starting, and he was not a teenager. Was I hoovering to much? Was I not doing good as his mom? I bit my lip, going over the list. A roof, food, clothes, and love. I supported anything he wanted, from learning to the games he played. Was he becoming spoiled?

Kalego landed next to me. "What are you staring at?"

"Am I being a bad mom? Am I hoovering to much?"

"Hoovering, yes, but that dose not make you a bad mother. Why?"

"He gave a short thanks and told me that I don't have to always take care of him."

"How old is he?"

"Six, almost seven."

He rubbed his chin. "He looks older, closer to eight or even a short nine-year-old. Do not think so hard, he is growing up and eventually he will want his own independence."

I pressed my lips, walking inside. Eight? I did not know her son's exact age, but I thought they were close enough. I had seen some bigger six-year-olds. Just because he was physically older did not make him older by the latter.

I summoned Yodh, he walked next to me to Eli's room. He had thrown himself on the bed, laying on his stomach as he played his game. He did not look up as I walked in. His toys were not replaced, but that was his choice. All he wanted was that game.

"Yodh, I will be leaving tonight. One job, Protect Eli."

"I don't need him, I have Opera." I bit my lip; all three heads took turns rubbing under my chin.

"We understand."

"Eli, I will be home later. Most likely after you go to bed."

"Sure. Nothing is going to happen. Why do the same thing twice."

"Because…" I bit my tongue. "You wouldn't understand." He continued playing his games, he sighed as he died, and the game laughed at him.

I spoke to Yodh in his mind. 'I trust you most, make sure nothing happens.' He nodded.

I left him there, and I found Opera, Kalego and Grandpa talking in his office. "There is my most precious granddaughter." He got up skipping me and hugging me.

"Opera, if he has not told you already, best behavior. No chasing or playing around. Promise me."

He held a hand up. "I promise to make this the worst night of Kalego's life."

I picked up a spray bottle. "Opera?"

His ears flattened. "I will be a good kitty." I handed the bottle to Kalego, Operas eyes narrowed on it and his tail swished.

Sullivan chuckled. "She can tame even the demons with something as small as water." Grandpa put a hand on my shoulder. "I would fly, but we would be late doing so."

The world blinked, a tunnel of places morphing around me. I held my mouth as it all slowed down. I usually close my eyes; I see now why Kalego did not want to travel this way. I held my stomach, every muscle in my stomach recoiling.

"This way."

"Warn me next time to close my eyes." I followed him into an empty dining hall.