Priscilla's Secret
A few months go by and the air is still tense between Mason and Priscilla. Mason has decided to head over to Priscilla’s dormitory and clear the air. As Mason approaches the door to her room, he overhears Priscilla, who seems to be hurriedly talking with someone.
“I have a few major leads to the identity, Just give me a few more days. Sending other agents to the school now could cause a crisis!”
The mysterious voice responds to Priscilla.
“Very well. I’ll give you another 48 hours. Time is of the essence, don’t let us down.”
The talking seems to have ended. Mason debates knocking on the door but turns away.
‘I want to… no, I need to get to the bottom of this whole thing with Priscilla. I’ll follow her after class today.’
After class, Mason begins to follow Priscilla and follows her out of school and to the nearby town. Suddenly, Priscilla heads down an alley. As Mason waits around the corner, Priscilla stops walking.
“You can stop following me now. I know you’re there.”
Mason comes out as Priscilla turns around.
“Did you need something?”
Mason begins to think of an excuse but then decides against it.
“I overheard you talking in your dorm room. Something about…”
Before Mason could finish talking, Priscilla dashed over and pinned Mason against the wall.
“Who did you tell?!”
Mason raises his arms.
“I didn't tell anyone, not even Cole.”
Priscilla releases her grip.
“Good. I can’t risk the mission being jeopardised at this stage.”
Mason gets curious.
“What is our mission?”
Priscilla brushes his question off.
“Leave now and pretend you heard nothing.”
Priscilla turns away from Mason and begins walking away.
“I want to help you. How can I help you if I don't know what it is?”
Priscilla pauses for a moment but thinks about how Mason is the only person who she trusts.
“I suppose desperate times require desperate measures.”
Priscilla turns back to facing Mason and explains the situation.
“I’m hunting someone in our school. Someone who inherits the power of The Black Mage. It could mean the end of this world if I don't find them.”
Mason seems confused.
“The Black Mage?”
Priscilla sighs.
“I’ll explain it to you.”
Priscilla begins to recount a fundamental story she was told.
“A long time ago, a powerful and evil mage known as The Black Mage tried to use magic to take over the regular world and the magus world. Manipulation, forbidden magic and causing chaos. So a group banded together to fight him and called themselves ‘The Jaeger’. They hunted him down and killed him. However, before his death, he put a curse on the world that his dark powers will always reincarnate and attach themselves to someone in this world. Whoever possesses this power has a chance to be absorbed by the darkness and pick up where The Black Mage left off. The Jaeger has dedicated itself to finding and eliminating all of the reincarnations. Whoever it may be, we find no qualms in eliminating them.”
Mason finds a point in this story that irritates him.
“So, there’s a chance he might not do anything at all?”
Priscilla is confused.
“What?”
Mason seems stern.
“The person who inherits those powers, they might not be absorbed by the darkness, right? Do they even know they have The Black Mage’s powers?”
Priscilla seems to respond fastly, as her ideological teachings push themselves into her mind.
“No. But that’s not…”
Before Priscilla could finish her sentence, Mason interrupts.
“I’ll help you FIND The Black Mage but that’s all I will do. I’m not going to fight him or kill him.”
Priscilla agrees.
“You’re not one of us. I don’t expect you to go that far.”
After finding this mutual point, Priscilla focuses on the task.
“I’ve narrowed it to three suspects. Alan Redeye, Marco Bernard and Ivan Dutch.”
Mason thinks if the names are familiar to him but they don't seem to ring a bell. Priscilla continues to speak.
“Tomorrow, we’ll follow Alan Redeye all day and see if we notice anything suspicious. Let’s head back to the school and plan it.”
Mason nods and they begin to walk away. As they begin walking back to the school, Mason sees someone familiar to him. The melancholy Artemis.
“You head back, Priscilla. I’ll be there soon. There’s someone I need to see.”
Priscilla seems confused but shrugs and continues walking back to the dormitory. Mason walks over to Artemis.
“Hey.”
Artemis glances over at Mason before glancing back at the ground.
“Glad to see you’re still alive. If you don't mind me asking, what business did Alister have with a student? A rookie student at that.”
Mason thinks about when he was saved.
“He knows my father.”
Artemis seems intrigued.
“Oh? So, you found who you were looking for?”
Mason shakes his head.
“No. What about you?”
Artemis looks solitary.
“No.”
Artemis begins to change the topic.
“Have you found a teacher yet? I mean, have you become someone's apprentice?”
Mason seems reserved.
“No, nothing like that.”
Mason begins to think about the power that Artemis displayed in his confrontation.
“Would you consider it? Being my tutor.”
Artemis finds this amusing.
“You should think carefully before you decide who to choose. It isn't just about strength, your tutor will shape the type of magus you become. Besides, I'm too busy to teach. Find someone admirable, the type of magus you would aspire to become.”
Artemis begins to walk away.
“Until next time.”
Mason heads back to the school to rendezvous with Priscilla. As Priscilla sees Mason come into view, she looks impatient.
“You took your time.”
Mason scratches the back of his head.
“Yeah. Sorry about that. So, what's our plan?”
Pricilla looks determined.
“Alan Redeye has an offensive spells class in the morning. You don't happen to share that schedule, do you?”
Mason shakes his head.
“No.”
Priscilla sighs.
“Me neither. That makes things a lot harder.”
Priscilla remains determined.
“In this case, we’ll follow him after class and hope we can catch a glimpse of his ability. Meet me outside of my dorm room in the morning.”
