Tangled

Unshift 224

Unshift 224

224 Ava The Fae Ward (V

224 Ava: The Fae Ward (VI)

"Magister Orion." A little concerned at how the strange man who claims to be my teacher will respond to my next words, I brace myself once more for the flood of emo..ons that might roll off him. *I understand your wish for me to stay here and learn from you, but it is impossible for me to stay here for as long as you wish. And with my wolf unable to tolerate your wards, it makes it even more impractical."

Wiw be fwine.

"No, it won't be."-

Magister Orion's brow furrows as he scrutinizes Selene, his gaze sharp and assessing. The air thickens with tension.

Finally, he turns to me, his expression unreadable.

"If you cannot remain here in the Fae Ward, Ava Grey, then it is my duty as your mentor to go where you go."

Layla and Tinker erupt into a chorus of protests, their voices overlapping in a cacophony of disbelief.

"Magister Orion, you can't be serious!" Layla exclaims, her eyes wide with shock. "Leaving the Fae Ward? Impossible. Your request would be rejected on the spot!"

Tinker nods vigorously, her mechanical wings fluttering in

agitation. "She's right, Magister. The Fae Ward is your domain. To leave its sanctuary is little better than," and her voice lowers to a whisper, "suicide!"

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224 Ava: The Fae Ward (VI)

But Magister Orion is unmoved by their objections. He rises to his full, imposing height, his voice booming like thunder. "Enough! This goes beyond convention. I will not leave my chance at a student behind." Watching the argument unfold, my stomach twists with unease. The idea of Magister Orion accompanying me back to the pack

lands fills me with dread.

already proven animosity toward the wolves. If an incident were to occur,

postures tense and alert. I can feel their apprehension radiating

measured. "Magister Orion, forgive me for asking, but how can you handle being on pack lands when you

wolves?"

an emotion I can't quite decipher-anger? Resentment? Something else entirely? "My personal feelings are irrelevant," he says, his tone clipped. "What matters is the greater purpose.

nod slowly, trying to process his words. Having to use the word endure when thinking about spending time with a pack doesn't sound like

time? Once a week?" The horror on his face has

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my feet, her discomfort palpable as

sneezes once more.

"Three times?"

rubs between his eyebrows with a sigh. "If only the Crone's teachings weren't lost to us." "Crone's?" This is a new word, but something deep

me of the importance

of the blessing of the gods. The witches of old." His voice resonates through the room, taking on the cadence of a professor in a lecture hall. "They carried great weight on the

words settle in the air, heavy

of Life is someone I've never heard

in the

each priestess," Magister Orion continues, a hint of amusement creeping into his tone, "though none

boring. Let me explain

turns to me, her lilac eyes sparkling. "You see, Ava, the Crone was the one to record the teachings and knowledge

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the earthly realm when all the gods did, which is considered the beginning of the downfall

sounds ominous, which is absolutely what she's going

voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Some say the Crone's book is still out there, hidden away, waiting for the right person to find it. Others believe it was destroyed,

Orion's voice cracks like a whip, cutting off her rambling, "Go do something helpful,

woman pouts. "But Magister, your lecture are so dry! Nobody wants

actually found

off with one massive hand, he ignores her scowl as she scurries away, her wings whirring. "Pay no mind to the vapid gnome, Ava Grey. Her conspiracies are