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222 Ava: The Fae Ward (IV)
222 Ava: The Fae Ward (IV)
Selene sneezes several times, drawing Magister Orion's attention. "Ah, it seems your companion is allergic to our wards," he remarks, his tone sympathetic.
I frown, glancing down at Selene. "But she hasn't sneezed once since entering the Fae Ward."
Behind us, Layla snorts, amusement coloring her voice. "Magical wards and the Fae Ward are two completely separate things, you
know."
Magister Orion nods, his expression kind as he explains, "Magical wards are a form of protection, and some wolves are particularly sensitive to their existence."
Selene sneezes again, as if to punctuate his point, and I reach down to stroke her fur soothingly. The enormity of the situation sinks in -I'm standing in a magical tower, in a place that doesn't really seem to exist in my world, surrounded by Fae and a powerful (presumably?) wizard, about to embark on a journey to control powers I barely understand.
It's like a freaking movie.
This doesn't feel real at all.
Our world has always been bigger than what you've experienced, Selene says, with the faint hint of sneezing even in her mental voice. Full of magic and power and fantastic things you'd be shocked to see. Your world as you know it is quite desolate.
Even so, knowing that all this has been hidden away in a city not
222 Ava: The Fao Ward (IV)
far from humanity...
Now that I'm here, Selene says, sneezing once again, I can sense it. I don't know about the others, but this city was created at a natural convergence of realms. It's a fascinating place. I'd love to explore it
more.
to a circle of comfortable-looking armchairs. "Now, sit, Ava Grey, and let me look at
halt, I look at this man who's declared himself to be my teacher, and the short little Fae. Or is she a gnome, like Layla?
in the Third Ward," Tinker reports
can see
much frequency, worried that we're already too late. It's been paralyzing. To know
cheerfully. "Because she has been compromised, Ms. Randall has been denied access
"Then-"
and charging over my words with her
sets. "I
apologies, but that would be
18:16
2/8
Ava: The Fae
right at this moment, and Magister Orion clears his throat. "We have pulled in quite a few favors in order to interfere in the
phonetics," Tinker
device, Tinker." Layla pops into
again from behind
Vanessa says at
All three of them turn to look at Vanessa, who
can
phone," Tinker muses. "What an
deep dive into worldly and cultural differences that will sidetrack
throat. "Now, about your tutelage. Apprenticeship is hard to come by these days, and I know your life span is much shorter than ours. Assuming you only have another thirty years to live,
to impart, we have conservatively estimated that we should aim for 175,000
man, I can only splutter, "Thirty
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3/6
sleeping time. Sixteen-hour days give you a solid eight hours to sleep. We've heard this is necessary for your kind."
I'm
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