"You're my aunt?!" Dorin went closer to Agate, his eyes wide, face flushed with excitement, "I never knew I had an aunt, it has always been only mother and me! I didn't know I had such a cute aunt!" He threw his arms around Agate and hugged her tightly.
"Your mom and I were cousins, so yes, I am your aunt. Now, let go!" It took some time before she could push Dorin away. She looked at the two students in the room and called their names again. "Margarette, Sebastian, tell me, what were you doing with Dorin?"
"They are my new friends!" Dorin exclaimed, a huge smile on his face.
"I'm not asking you!" Agate retorted. "Margarette. Sebastian. Your answers?"
"We met him by the University gates," Mar said, looking pale. "Some other student was trying to take his charms from him... because he couldn't pass the gates..."
"That was your cousin Lance, right?" Dorin said with a smile. Mar threw a murderous look at Dorin who immediately decided to shut up. But it was too late.
"Lance Gunner again, huh," mumbled Agate. "Noted." She turned back to Dorin. "Pull up your sleeves." The boy did as he was told, showing his aunt the remaining wards and charms on both arms.
"Are there others?"
At this, Dorin began to strip, taking off his coat first, then the long-sleeved tunic. Mar turned around and averted her eyes, blushing a bit as the boy took off his pants.
"That's enough!" said Agate before Dorin could take off his baggy underwear. She then said some words of magic and pointed her wand at the boy. The tip of the wand gave a soft glow, and as it swept past the boy's body, it illuminated several symbols, particularly on his knees and shoulders.
“Turn around,” she ordered him and saw a hexagram on his back surrounded by several runes.
"I know your mom is a worrywart, but this is ridiculous!" Agate said with a sigh.
"Mother says it's a guarding spell..."
Seb took his board from the table and wrote excitedly. [No. That is a very potent hiding and binding spell!]
"That's correct," said Agate, "while the runes on your knees and shoulders are wards against lightning magic." His aunt gave another sigh, she suddenly looked much older.
[Can I study them?] Seb was suddenly standing beside her, the slate in front of her face.
"No. Put that slate back on the table!"
"Professor, there are others in the university vault," said Mar who is still staring at the corner.
"The key." Agate held her hand out to Dorin who eagerly handed it to her. She then checked the bands on her nephew's arms and took most of them off. "You won't be needing all of these in or around the campus, as long as you follow the campus rules." She threw the bands on the bed, one at a time. "Tell me, what is your element?"
"My elements are wind and earth..."
"Earth is a second-level element derived from fire, it’s highly unlikely you have a wind and a fire element, unless...” she trailed off. “How are your fire and water skills?" she asked instead.
"I try not to use fire... I had an accident in the barn once when I was younger..."
"So, you decided to skip it?"
"Mother said I didn't need it..."
"Thus all the wards and debasers to keep them at bay..." sighed Agate, "And you say your mother is usually out somewhere?"
"Yup, sometimes she leaves me behind for weeks! That's why it was so unfair that she wouldn't buy me a camera! It was my only request! The last time I asked her for something was when I begged her to buy me my own silver knife to cut herbs with. That was when I was 5 years old, and she refused to let me sharpen it until I was 8!"
Dorin heard someone snorting and saw Mar's shoulders shaking.
"Haa..." Agate sighed and rubbed her temples. She took off some more charms and left only a thin golden band on his right arm. "I guess that equilibrium band won't hurt. You can use an 'elemental buffer' to balance your powers. Since your mother was a level C elementor, we can't know for sure which element you excel in until you have proper education."
She threw the rest of the charms on the bed and noticed Seb closely studying them.
"I counted those, boy." Seb looked at her, his hand on his chest, looking hurt. "Now Dorin, take these and put them on in the bathroom."
She handed him a set of clothes and underwear and pointed at a part of the bookshelves that was slightly sticking out. Dorin went closer and noticed that it was a door leading to the bathroom. When the door clicked shut, Mar slowly turned around and looked around the room. Seeing the half-naked Dorin gone, she stood up straight and faced professor Althea once more.
"The bathroom is soundproof, we are free to speak. But before that, you two must swear that nothing I am about to do or say is to leave this room. You are not allowed to tell another soul about this, especially not my nephew." The professor's voice boomed once more inside the room. The 2 students were forced to listen and obey. "What is your reply?" she asked.
"Yes, professor Althea," said Mar. She reached into her cloak, and from her side, pulled out a rapier. "I, Margarette Gunnar, of the Gunnar family, masters of the sword, do solemnly pledge my word." She kissed the plummet of her rapier and sheathed it.
"Sebastian?" Seb was still silent. He turned to reach for his slate. "Speak," Agate commanded. "I will not be affected by your charm." Seb looked at the professor, then at Mar who stood beside her. Agate pointed her wand at the girl, drawing a protective spell around her. "Speak now."
Sebastian turned his back on the professor. He raised a hand to his face and took off his glasses. "I..." said a cool soothing voice "Sssebastian Rrreviousss... do herrrrreby... pledge... my worrrd." the words were carefully spoken as if they were being said for the first time, yet there was a kind of melody in it that touches the soul.