“We’re going to use a translocation spell,” Agate told her companion. “but before that, I suggest you put your old clothes back on.” She pointed at a duffle bag by the side of the wall. “It would look weird if you turn up in campus looking like that.”
Seb looked inside the bag and reached out for his cloak first. He was about to take his robe off when he heard a whistling sound coming from the east. He looked up just in time to see something sparkling crossing the sky at lightning speed. It was heading towards where Major General Muller had parked his truck!
Seb quickly pulled his cloak on and ran to the direction the light was headed, Professor Althea was quickly at his heals.
“That’s a messenger!” she yelled as she overtook him, “It’s heading towards Dorin!”
The two of them tried to reach their companions in time, but before they could, a blinding light suddenly flashed before them. They both shielded their eyes. When the light finally subsided, an image of a tall woman with wavy black hair appeared, her back to them.
“Dorin!” said the woman’s image, her hands on her hips. “How dare you leave the house without my permission?!”
“Mother?” Dorin answered from inside the truck, his face going pale. “How did you find me?”
“You think I’m stupid to not put a tracker on you?!” answered the image, “What are you doing there in Aubrianne University?!”
“Didn’t you see my note?” he asked, eyebrows raised.
“I specifically told you not to go to that useless photography class! How dare you disobey my orders! Is this how you repay me for all I have done for you?!”
“With all due respect, mother, it was just small a request for a short period of time. It’s more vexing that you couldn’t allow me to do this one little thing!” Dorin stepped out of the truck and stood closer to the image of his mother. “I have always done everything you have told me!” said he, “I have never said ‘no’ to you before! Never disobeyed you, never let you down... until now...”
“Until now...” repeated his mother, “I have never thought you would betray me.” She hissed.
“Hermione...” Agate called from behind them. “Hermione, is it really you?” The image of Dorin’s mother stiffened then slowly turned around.
“Agate.” Hermione recognized her cousin.
“Hermione, where are you? How have you been, all these years?” asked Agate, “I have been waiting for you for so long! How come you never visited me again?”
“This is not the time nor the place for explanations,” Hermione answered sharply. “Right now I just want my treacherous son to come back.”
“Treacherous?” Dorin said hotly, “All I did was go to a photography class! In what way did I cause you treachery?!”
“Silence.” Hermione looked back at his son, her green eyes glowing dangerously. “You will not speak to me that way.”
Just then, Marcus came out of the truck, his hands raised in the air. “Now, now, you lot, this conversation is starting to heat up, why don’t we all just calm down and talk this over like the respectable people we are?”
“Marcus?!” Hermione looked surprised, “You knew about this?!”
“I was just as surprised to see the boy in campus,” the other replied, “I would have called you, if I knew how to reach you.”
“Who else knew about this?” the image asked, “Damien? Is Damien there? Of course, you are at the edge of the Dark Forest...”
“Damien has already left, Hermione.” Answered Agate.
“Then...” Hermione looked around and noticed Sebastian for the first time. He had gone around the truck and now stood behind Dorin. “Who is that?” she asked.
Dorin looked behind him and saw Seb. “This is Sebastian,” He took his arm and pulled him closer. “I met him here, as well as a few others,” he explained. “He is my friend, and a sworn brother.”
Hermione looked at Seb, her eyes narrowed. “Sebastian...” she repeated. Suddenly her eyes opened wide. “You... are sworn... brothers?” she sounded uncertain.
“There are many things that I have learned here mother,” said Dorin, “so many more I could discover. So many people I can meet. Why do you want to keep me away from them?”
“Did you tell him these?” Hermione addressed Seb who vigorously shook his head.
“No one taught me that, mother. I simply had to open my eyes and my ears, as well as my mind.” He took another step closer to her mother’s image, pulling Sebastian behind him. “Mother, even with all the books in the world, nothing could ever take the place of true experience. Nothing can compare to actual sight and sound of the world I only read from the books you give me.”
“The kid has a point, you know.” Marcus piped in.
“Hermione, perhaps you should reconsider this...” Agate started to say.
“So, you are all in on this!” Hermione says indignantly.
“No, Hermione...” said Agate, but once again, her cousin cuts her short.
“You, boy.” She addressed Seb, “What have you got to say?” Seb pulled out his slab.
[A mother would want nothing but what’s best for her child] he wrote. [They also want to keep their child safe from all harm, but you can’t give him both] he added. [The best you can do is let him be, as you guide him on the sidelines]
Upon saying this, Seb felt Dorin grip his arm tighter.
“Mother,” he said, his steady gaze unwavering. “I would like to study here.”
A moment of silence.
They all waited for Hermione’s reaction.
“Very well,” she finally spoke, and pointing at her son said; “Hear my words, Theodorin.” she hissed, “From this day forth, until the time you graduate in this Royal Aubrianne Imperial University, you may not, can not, set foot beyond the university city walls. You will remain here until the time the title of arch mage is given unto you.” she drew a rune in thin air and directed it at Dorin who shivered where he stood. “This is my geist! This you will obey until all conditions are met.” Dorin’s legs gave way at the weight of the geist. He fell on the ground, pulling Seb down with him.
Hermione then looked at Marcus who was now standing beside Agate. “I leave my son to your care. If anything should happen to him, you will hold full responsibility.” She glared at them, her green eyes as cold as ice, then at the boy who sat beside her son. “Flesh for flesh.” She hissed. “Blood for blood.”
Sebastian felt a chill run down his spine.
Hermione returned her gaze at her son. He was still slump on the ground, but when he noticed his mother’s gaze, he sat up straight and kept his chin up.
“Rejoice, my son,” said his mother, “You finally got what you wanted. You finally got rid of your mother.”
“Mother, it’s not like that...” Dorin tried to explained, but his mother raised an arm to silence him.
“Enjoy your student life. I will see you when you graduate.” She turned her back on him. “If you graduate.”
Before any of them could say more, the image disappeared in another blinding flash of light. Everything was silent, except for Dorin’s racing heart.